Resources for Registered Disability Savings Plan 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.

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 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

RDSP issuer training

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

Virtual group training (instructor-led)

Here are the training descriptions:

1. RDSP fundamental principles

Schedule: The delivery of this course is over 2 consecutive days, 2.5 hours a session.

Part 1 - Opening an RDSP, CDSG and CDSB

This session covers the rules and requirements on how to open an RDSP account as well as Canadian Disability Savings Grant (CDSG) and Canadian Disability Savings Bond (CDSB), rollovers, shortened life expectancy, carry forwards and the Specified Disability Savings Plan (SDSP) rule.

Part 2 – Withdrawals, repayments, transfers and closure

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. We will also cover the receiving/relinquishing issuer responsibilities when it comes to transfers and closing an RDSP.

Our training remains high level and intended for those, with little to no experience with RDSPs. 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

2. Processing of RDSP transactions

(Prerequisite: RDSP fundamental principles)

Schedule: The delivery of this course is over 2 consecutive days, 2.5 hours a session.

This course focuses on:

• Canada Disability Savings Plan (CDSP) system overview and reports, an overview of the CDSP system monthly cycle and the reports that are generated
• Interface Transaction Standards (ITS)
• understanding error codes and refusal reasons as well as the CDSP 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

Virtual training sessions schedule

These training courses are intended for representatives of financial institutions that administer RDSPs and not for the general public.

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

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

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