Recently, I shared a court ruling where the judge approved Ms. Green, a woman struggling with anxiety, for the disability tax credit.
https://taxinterpretations.com/content/528346
There was a lot of positive reaction thanking the courts for expanding the definition of disability and giving her access to the disability tax credit.
Let’s look at what benefits Ms. Green will now enjoy. As an adult, she will receive a non- refundable tax credit. Only if she needs to pay taxes will she save. Meanwhile, Ms. Green suffers from an anxiety disorder. She has a hard time holding down a job. Will she even need to pay taxes? If not, she gained nothing!
Just to compare, a child struggling with ADHD or anxiety, if approved, will receive an income-based tax benefit of up to $230 per month until the child turns 18.
Another benefit is the RDSP, a generous government match program for children and adults that helps save money for the future. To really reap the rewards of this government program though, you must have money to invest. Individuals with a disability are struggling through the everyday expenses and many times there is not even an extra penny.
So, yes, I agree that it’s great that the government is making a push to expand the criteria for the Disability Tax Credit. But I find it very disheartening that as an adult you may not even reap the benefits! A disabled adult without a job and without funds to squirrel away in an RDSP will not emerge in a better position than before.
If you want to advocate for the disabled, the conversation cannot only be about who gets approved, but what kind of assistance the government can extend to really help improve the life of the disabled community. Disabled adults don’t need a rubber stamp! They need more money in their pockets for basic necessities! They need access to better therapies and therapists. Their caregivers and supporters need larger breaks for the time they take off from work to care for their loved ones! They need to be able to save for the future! Let’s talk about getting some real help for the disabled community.