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In June of 2023, The Canada Disability Benefit Act (Bill C-22) officially received Royal assent and became law. With applications opening in June of 2025, the first payments were issued to disabled Canadians in July that same year. Eligible recipients of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) are between 18 to 64 years of age, with … Read more

A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) becomes a PGAP at the beginning of a calendar year if the total of all federal grants and bonds paid into the plan exceeds the total of all private contributions during that same period.  Conversely, the RDSP becomes a non-PGAP if personal contributions exceed government grants and bonds.  PGAP … Read more

Retirement planning for a Canadian with a disability is different from standard financial planning.  A non-disabled individual typically aims to accumulate wealth in an Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), where a disabled individual may have Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).  The RRSP holder can contribute to the account until … Read more

In Canada, being in a relationship by marriage or common law can be disadvantageous when it comes to disability support programs.  For a person living with a disability who relies on income from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or from the new federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), entering a marriage or common-law relationship can … Read more

When an individual passes away, their estate automatically becomes a legal trust in the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).  While most people are familiar with filing a final personal T1 tax return for the deceased, many are unaware that the estate may also have to file its own annual tax return, namely the … Read more

If a person with a disability receives an inheritance directly, they may lose their provincial disability benefits because these programs have strict asset limits. One of the goals of creating an inheritance plan for a disabled child is to allow them to maintain their quality of life while ensuring they are not disqualified from provincial … Read more

When estate planning for a family member with a disability, terms like Trust, Henson Trust, Qualified Disability Trust, Lifetime Benefit Trust, Bare Trust, and Standard Trust are used frequently, but what do they actually mean?  Understanding these distinctions can be the difference between safeguarding a loved one’s access to government benefits and accidentally disqualifying them. … Read more

One of the more common mistakes is assuming is that the caregiver must share a roof with the disabled dependent to claim the Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC).  Physical residency is not the requirement, dependency is. If a dependent with a physical or mental impairment relies on their family caregiver for some or all of the … Read more

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is one of the most powerful wealth building tools available for Canadians with disabilities, offering up to $90,000 in lifetime federal grants and bonds.  Those eligible will often open an account at the same financial institution they do their daily banking with without realizing there may be better options … Read more

The Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) is a non-refundable tax credit designed for renovations that make a home safer or more accessible for seniors (65+) or individuals eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).  For the 2026 tax year, individuals can claim 15% of the first $20,000 in eligible expenses per year, resulting in a … Read more