Living with a disability

Income sources when living with a disability

A disability may impact your income. You may have access to certain disability benefits and tax credits to help you pay for your expenses. Income sources you may have access to include the following.

Disability benefits

The federal and provincial governments offer disability benefits to help people living with a disability.

Government of Canada Disability benefits

The Government of Canada has many programs to help you supplement your sources of income if you're living with a disability. These include disability pensions, children’s benefits, savings plans and more.

You may be eligible to get disability benefits from different sources. Apply for benefits as soon as possible. It may take up to several months before you receive any benefits.

Learn more about the Government of Canada’s disability benefits.

Provincial and territorial disability benefits

Your province or territory may have benefits to help you if you're living with a disability.

Use the Benefits Finder to find disability benefits in your province or territory.

Your province or territory may also offer other resources for people living with a disability. Examples of other resources may include family support, community living and more.

Find disability support resources in your province or territory.

Disability tax credits and deductions

Many tax credits and deductions are available for people living with a disability. These credits and deductions may include the following.

Disability tax credit

You may be eligible for the disability tax credit if you have a severe and prolonged disability. This credit helps reduce the amount of income tax you may have to pay when living with a disability.

Getting approved for the disability tax credit opens doors to other federal, provincial, and territorial programs.

Learn more about the disability tax credit and how to apply for it.

Medical expense tax credit

You can claim the cost of certain medicines, devices and treatments.

You can claim these expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, or your children.

Learn how to claim eligible medical expenses on your tax return.

Refundable medical expense supplement

You may also be eligible for the refundable medical expense supplement if you have a low income and high medical expenses. It will reduce the amount of income tax you may need to pay. If you don't have income tax to pay, this tax credit will give you a refund.

Learn how to claim the refundable medical expense supplement.

Disability supports deduction

If you have an impairment in physical or mental functions, you may be able to deduct expenses from your income taxes.

You may get the disability supports deduction even if you're not eligible for the disability tax credit.

Find out if you're eligible for the disability supports deduction.

Federal Excise Gasoline Tax Refund

You may have a permanent mobility impairment and are unable to use public transportation safely. In that case, you may get a refund on the tax you pay on gasoline.

Learn how to apply for the Federal Excise Gasoline Tax Refund.

Find more tax credits and deductions you may be able to claim.

Insurance benefits when living with a disability

Different types of insurance benefits may help you cover expenses when you’re living with a disability. These benefits may include the following.

Disability insurance benefits

An unexpected illness or accident may leave you unable to work and earn an income. In this case, disability insurance may help you with your expenses.

Learn more about the different types of disability insurance.

Credit and loan insurance benefits

You may have credit or loan insurance.

This type of insurance includes:

This insurance may cover your credit card or loan payments if you can’t work because of a disability.

Learn more about credit and loan insurance.

Saving when living with a disability

Different plans may help you save money when you’re living with a disability.

Registered Disability Savings Plan

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a savings account for people with severe and long-term disabilities. It's registered with the federal government.

Some things you should know about RDSP:

Learn more about Registered Disability Savings Plans.

Use the Account Comparison Tool to find a no-cost account.

Canada Disability Savings Grant

When you or another person contribute to an RDSP, you can apply for the Canada Disability Savings Grant. The grant adds money to your RDSP. The amount depends on how much you contribute and your family income.

Learn more about the Canada Disability Savings Grant.

Canada Disability Savings Bond

You may be eligible for a Canada Disability Savings Bond if you have a low income. The bond adds money to your RDSP. You don’t have to contribute to your RDSP to get the bond.

Find out if you're eligible for a Canada Disability Savings Bond.

Education funding when living with a disability

If you’re a student and have a disability, you may be eligible for programs that help you pay for your education.

Learn more about education funding for people with disabilities.

Be sure to apply to all sources of funding that may help you reach your education goals. These include grants, scholarships, loans and bursaries that are open to all students.

Learn more about education funding opportunities.

Repaying your Canada Student Loan if you have a disability

If you're having trouble repaying your Canada Student Loan, you may be eligible for help.

Learn more about the Repayment Assistance Plan for borrowers with disabilities.

You may have a severe and permanent disability that will prevent you from working and studying. In that case, you may apply to have your debt cancelled.

Learn how to apply for the Severe and Permanent Disability Benefit.

Other resources when living with a disability

There are other helpful resources available that can support you when you’re living with a disability. 

Accessibility resource centre

Employment and Social Development Canada has developed the accessibility resource centre. It lists federal resources and tools to help improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

Find useful resources with the accessibility resource centre.

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