RDSP, grant and bond issuers

Disclaimer: RDSP issuers

The information contained on this page is technical in nature. The target audience are issuers of:

  • Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
  • Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG)
  • Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB)

For general information, visit the RDSP section.

Consult this page frequently for newer versions. The following laws and regulations take precedence over information contained in InfoCapsules in the event of discrepancies:

  • Income Tax Act
  • Canada Disability Savings Act
  • Canada Disability Savings Regulations

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for the administration and delivery of the CDSG and the CDSB into RDSPs. This site provides RDSP providers with information to administer the grant and bond. Questions about this content? Please contact us.

Please visit our information bulletins section to find important information about RDSPs changes.

Systems Documentation

Systems Documentation

User Guides and Publications

User Guides and Publications

  • InfoBulletins: Provides information about updates and changes to Registered Disability Savings Plan.
  • InfoCapsules: One-page quick-reference documents that explain the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Canada Disability Savings Grant and the Canada Disability Savings Bond.
  • RDSP - Userguide: RDSP Provider User Guide provides information about RDSPs and the disability savings incentives administered by ESDC. It also assists the financial industry to successfully complete and submit RDSP transactions.
Forms

Forms

Application Forms

Revocation Form

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Transfer

Issuer enrolment process

Issuer enrolment process

In order to become an issuer of Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG) and Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB), there are a number of steps to follow.

These steps are not necessarily in sequential order and some may be completed simultaneously:

  • the issuer submits their specimen plan(s) to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for approval and advises the Canada Education Savings Program (CESP) accordingly
  • the issuer completes and/or submits the following documents to the CESP for the signing of the agreement including:
    • RDSP issuer identification Form
    • RDSP Agent Identification Form (if applicable)
    • Proof of Signing Authority
    • Extract of the Agency Agreement (if applicable)
    • Notice of Delegation of Duties to an Agent (if applicable); and
    • Direct Deposit Form
  • the issuer requests a training session from RDSP
  • the issuer completes industry testing of the CDSP system
  • the issuer signs an agreement for the purpose of the exchange of information and the payment of the Grant and the Bond with ESDC
Training

RDSP issuer training

To register for the RDSP training, please view our schedule below and complete our new bilingual online registration form.

Virtual group training (instructor-led)

Here are the training descriptions:

RDSP fundamental principles training series

Schedule: The following sessions are about 1 hour long.

1. Opening an RDSP

  • This session covers the rules and requirements on how to open an RDSP account

2. CDSG and CDSB

  • This session covers the following topics: CDSG and CDSB, rollovers, shortened life expectancy, carry forwards and the Specified Disability Savings Plan rule

3. Withdrawals and repayments

  • This session covers the following topics: assistance holdback amount repayment, loss of Disability Tax Credit, proportional repayment, disability assistance payment, lifetime disability assistance payment, SDSP and formulas

4. Transfers and closure

  • This session covers the receiving/relinquishing issuer responsibilities when it comes to transfers and closing an RDSP

Participants for this training series typically include:

  • financial advisors
  • sales representatives
  • call-center agents
  • trainers
  • administrative staff or staff that needs to understand how RDSP work

Our training remains high level and intended for those, with little to no experience with RDSPs. Therefore, we recommend completing the training in the order listed above. Should you be more experienced and looking for a refresher, please register for any session that interests you.

Processing of RDSP transactions series

(Prerequisite: RDSP fundamental principles training series)

Schedule: The following sessions are about 1 hour long.

  • 1. CDSP system overview and reports
    • This session covers an overview of the Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP) system monthly cycle and the reports that are generated
  • 2. Interface Transaction Standards (ITS)
    • This session covers the Interface Transaction Standards (ITS). The delivery of this course is over 2 consecutive days, 1 hour a session
  • 3. Understanding error codes and refusal reasons
    • This session covers the error codes and refusal reasons as well as the Canada Disability Savings Plan system response to transactions

Participants for this series typically include:

  • system analysts and developers
  • data integrity and compliance staff
  • trainers
  • administrative services staff who interpret error reports

Training sessions

This training is for representatives of financial institutions that administer RDSPs and not for the general public.

Please note that these sessions will take place virtually in Eastern Time (ET).

Table 1: RDSP fundamental principles training series
Session name Date Time Language
Opening an RDSP March 7, 2023
April 4, 2023
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
9:30 am to 10:30 am
English
English
CDSG and CDSB March 14, 2023
April 11, 2023
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
9:30 am to 10:30 am
English
English
Withdrawals and repayments March 21, 2023
April 18, 2023
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
9:30 am to 10:30 am
English
English
Transfers and closure March 28, 2023
April 25, 2023
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
9:30 am to 10:30 am
English
English

Table 2: Processing of RDSP transactions
Session name Date Time Language
CDSP system overview and reports May 9, 2023 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm English
Interface Transaction Standards (ITS) Part 1: May 15, 2023
Part 2: May 16, 2023
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
English
English
Understanding error codes and refusal reasons May 23, 2023 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm English

For registrations only, please complete the registration form and if you have any questions regarding our training, please complete the contact form.

Note: If you can no longer attend our virtual training, please advise us as soon as possible, as space is limited.

eLearning videos (self-directed)

These videos will help you learn the basic concepts about disability savings, such as the CDSG, and the CDSG.

It is also a helpful resource for employees of RDSP issuers that only require high-level details, such as:

  • tellers and front-line staff
  • tax and estate planners, and
  • file managers
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