RDSP, grant and bond issuers

Systems Documentation

• Assistance Holdback Amount (AHA) and Repayment Obligation: This document is intended to guide Financial Institutions in the calculation of repayment obligations and the submission of system transactions
• Data Operations and Connectivity Guide: Provides detailed information about setting up secure encrypted bi-directional telecommunications operations between financial institutions and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
• Industry Testing Guide: Outlines the guidelines and processes for Industry Testing of the CDSP system.
• Interface Transaction Standards: Contains detailed data formats for the electronically exchanging financial and contract transactions between financial institutions and ESDC.
• Production Cut-off Dates: Provides the production cut-off dates for monthly production runs.

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

Application Forms

• Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP5608E): This form is used to apply for and administer the Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond. The Application must be submitted by the financial institution to ESDC without delay upon receipt from the holder of the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
• Annex A - Joint Holder to the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP 5609E): This form is used to provide additional information to apply for and administer the Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond. Annex A must be submitted by the financial institution to ESDC with the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond.
• Annex B - Primary Caregiver to the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP 5610E): This form is used to provide additional information to apply for and administer the Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond. Annex B must be submitted by the financial institution to ESDC with the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond.

Revocation Form

• Revocation of Request for Canada Disability Savings Grants and/or Canada Disability Savings Bonds: This form will be used by RDSP Holders to revoke a request for payments of the Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond to the Issuer in respect of the beneficiary's RDSP.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Transfer

• Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Transfer (EMP5611E): This form allows the receiving Issuer to correctly submit the required transfer information on the new contract registration transaction, and to administer the RDSP on an ongoing basis.
• Holder Consent to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Transfer (EMP5612E): This form is used when one or more holders of the existing plan will not be named a holder of the new RDSP. Under these circumstances, the relinquishing Issuer will collect consent from all holders on the existing plan.

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.

Please note 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.
  • Specimen Approval Process and Requirements
  • Sample Pro Forma: provides trustees with a platform from which to customize a Declaration of Trust
• The Issuer completes and/or submits the following documents to CDSP 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 Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Onsite training

Individual issuer training

Did you know that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provides onsite training to individual issuers? If your organization is interested in receiving RDSP training at your place of business, please send us a request using the contact form. Here are the course descriptions:

• RDSP fundamental principles (duration: 7.5 hours)
  This course provides a detailed walk-through of the purpose, rules and requirements of RDSPs, the CDSG and the CDSB, the application process, carry-forward entitlements, repayments, transfers, rollovers and Specified Disability Savings Plans. This training is ideal for financial advisors, sales representatives, call-center agents, and administrative staff or staff that needs to understand how RDSP work.
  
  
• Processing of RDSP transactions (duration: 7.5 hours)
  (Prerequisite: RDSP fundamental principles)
  This course focuses on transactional and system information throughout the production cycle. Participants will be able to apply trouble-shooting techniques and solve common processing problems. Participants for this course typically include system analysts and developers, data integrity and compliance staff, trainers, as well as administrative services staff who interpret error reports.

Note: For alternative arrangements, please inquire using the contact form.

Group issuer training

Register now! Upcoming training courses for all RDSP, grant and bond issuers!

ESDC wishes to invite RDSP issuers to its facilitated group training in cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. RDSP fundamental principles and Processing of RDSP transactions descriptions are available in the individual issuer training section. Participants can choose to attend only one day of training or both days.

Note: This training is offered to representatives of financial institutions that administer the RDSPs, the CDSG and the CDSB. These courses are not intended for the general public.

To register, please complete the contact form and indicate:

• the city
• the training dates
• which training session(s) you wish to register for
• the number of participants from your organization (up to 4 participants per issuer)

Note: If you are unable to attend any of the training, please advise us using the contact form link as soon as possible.

Training course

Distance learning

Virtual classroom training

Did you know that ESDC also provides the same onsite training courses listed above to individual issuers using a distance learning internet-based platform (WebEx) or Polycom videoconference? Participants can login as a group (such as a boardroom) or as an individual from their own desktop. If your organization is interested in receiving RDSP training via distance learning, please send us a request using the contact form.

eLearning

This self-paced online training is designed to help RDSP issuers learn the basic concepts about the grant and the bond. It is also a helpful resource for employees that only require high-level details, such as tellers and front-line staff, tax and estate planners and file managers.