New Application Form
Disclaimer: RDSP issuers
The information contained on this page is technical in nature and is intended for Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), Canada Disability Savings Grant (grant) and Canada Disability Savings Bond (bond) issuers. For general information, visit the RDSP section.
Information Bulletin
- Number:
- CDSP/ PCEI -2014/15-003A-200
- Date:
- Subject:
- New Application Form
Purpose
The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to announce the launch of the new application form for the Canada Disability Savings Grant (grant) and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (Bond) and to provide RDSP issuers with an overview of the form.
Background
Amendments have been made to the Canada Disability Savings Act (CDSA), Canada Disability Savings Regulations (Regulations) and the Income Tax Act (ITA) in 2010 and 2012 that required revisions to the application for grant and/or bond.
Most notably, the application form needed to collect the required information to determine the amount of unused entitlements that a beneficiary may be eligible to access from previous years.
The opportunity was taken to simplify and streamline the form and processes at the same time. This included the consolidation of the two previous application forms into a single form, the simplification of the form to collect only the required information needed to administer the grant and bond, and the addition of information for the holder and beneficiary to better understand how the program operates.
In 2014, the revised application was presented to the Registered Disability Savings Plan Advisory Committee (RDSPAC) for comments. Input received from RDSPAC members was integrated into the revised application form being released today.
New form number
The new Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant (grant) and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (bond) form, ESDC EMP 5608, Annex A - Joint Holder, ESDC EMP 5609, and Annex B - Primary Caregiver, ESDC EMP 5610, together replace:
- HRSDC EMP5463; and
- HRSDC EMP5464.
Use of the form
The new application form, which includes a main form and two annexes, can now be used to apply for the grant and bond, regardless of the age of the beneficiary.
In many situations, only the main application form (ESDC EMP 5608) needs to be completed. The annexes can be completed separately from the main application as needed:
- Annex A (ESDC EMP 5609) to identify joint holders of the RDSP; and
- Annex B (ESDC EMP 5610) to identify the beneficiary's primary caregiver.
Overview
Main form - Application for: Canada Disability Savings Grant (grant) and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (bond) (ESDC EMP 5608)
The application form is used by the holder to apply for the grant and/or bond.
The form has been changed such that the holder must identify if they do not wish to apply for the grant or bond. The default for the application form is now such that grant and bond is applied for unless the holder explicitly elects not to receive one of the incentives.
Note:
If the holder does not want to apply for either of the incentives, it not necessary to submit an application to indicate this.
Note:
If there is a joint holder of the RDSP, annex A (ESDC EMP 5609) must be completed for each joint holder not identified in the main form.
Note:
Annex B (ESDC EMP 5610) must be completed if the beneficiary is 18 years of age or under at the time of the application or was 18 years or under during any part of the ten-year period (starting in 2008) prior to the application.
Annex A - Joint holder (ESDC EMP 5609)
- Previously, if there was more than one holder of the RDSP, the first two were identified on the main form and any additional holders required an "additional page" to be attached to the application.
- Now, an annex is completed for each holder not identified on the main application.
Annex B - Primary caregiver (ESDC EMP 5610)
- Previously, information was collected on a "Current Eligible Individual" and/or the "January Eligible Individual" and applied to only the current calendar year.
- Now, terminology has been aligned with language more commonly used (primary caregiver).
- Also, this annex is designed to collect the information necessary to determine if there are any unused entitlements to grant and bond from prior years that the beneficiary may be entitled to.
- In addition, this form captures the required information when there is more than one primary caregiver in a given year or different primary caregivers over the past ten-year period. The previous form could not capture this information.
- A separate annex is required for every primary caregiver. The year or years that the person was the primary caregiver of the beneficiary is not required as this information will be validated through information holdings of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Format
To better meet the needs of RDSP issuers, the new form is being provided in a fillable PDF format.
Please note that this form can be integrated into the issuer's automated systems, however:
- The form cannot be altered; and
- All signatures must appear on hard copies.
Accessing the form
The form is available on the RDSP, Grant and Bond Issuers Page of the ESDC web site.
Key dates
Effective date
The new form is available for use immediately; however, EDSC is allowing issuers until the end of the year for implementation.
Mandatory date
The new form will become mandatory on January 1, 2016. Issuers are to ensure that they inform ESDC in writing when they have migrated to the new form.
User Guide
The RDSP Issuer User Guide and other training and support materials are currently being revised to reflect the new form. You will be notified when revised versions are available.
Contact Us
Questions on this Information Bulletin should be directed to Employment and Social Development Canada by email at rdsp-reei@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-204-0357.