For many Canadians living with a disability, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is the gateway to benefits by unlocking access to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), the Child Disability Benefit, and the new Canada Disability Benefit. But there is a hidden roadblock at the very beginning of the application by way of the doctor’s fee. Patients who have asked their medical professionals to fill out Form T2201 can be handed a bill of a few hundred dollars they cannot afford.
In 2024, the federal government acknowledged this exact problem. They recognized that the cost of medical certification is a barrier to access, especially for low-income Canadians who are on provincial disability supports. To address this concern, the government proposed a supplemental payment of $150 to help cover the cost of filling DTC forms. Payments are expected to be available by the 2026 or 2027 fiscal year, however, this does little to help cash strapped Canadians right now.
2026 update
Starting September 1, 2026, the federal government will issue a automatic $150 lump sum payment for each approved Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate. No application is required, and anyone who has ever received a Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) payment prior to September 1st, 2026 is eligible.
Can’t ODSP just pay this fee?
Unfortunately, the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) will not cover the doctors fee for filling a T2201 form.
Can doctors forms can be claimed as a medical expense?
For many Canadians who do not work and are on provincial disability supports, claiming the doctor’s fee as a medical expense on their taxes does not change anything. Because ODSP benefits and the Canada Disability Benefit are non-taxable, reducing their income taxes owed does not provide them with any financial compensation.