I wanted to take the time to provide you with more information on the one-time payment to persons with disabilities in hopes that you will share it with your networks so that all Canadians with disabilities who are eligible can receive this payment.
Our government understands that persons with disabilities have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is continuing to take steps to ensure that their needs are supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 17, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a one-time $600 payment in recognition of the extraordinary expenses faced by persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This payment of up to $600 will be automatically issued to persons with disabilities. Payments are expected to be issued beginning this Fall.
The payment information will be provided on the One-time payment to persons with disabilities web page once available: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/covid19-emergency-benefits/one-time-payment-persons-disabilities.html
These individuals include those who:
1. Have a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate provided by the Canada Revenue Agency; or
2. Are beneficiaries as at July 1, 2020, of Canada Pension Plan Disability or Quebec Pension Plan Disability; and/or
3. Are beneficiaries, as at July 1, 2020, of disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada:
o Disability Pension;
o Disability Award;
o Pain and Suffering Compensation;
o Critical Injury Benefit;
o Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program;
o Income Replacement Benefit; and/or
o Canadian Forces Income Support.
Seniors with disabilities, who were eligible for the one-time seniors payment announced on May 12, 2020, and are also eligible for the one-time disability payment, will receive a total amount of $600 broken into 2 payments:
· If they received the $300 one-time seniors payment for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, they will receive an additional $300
· If they received the $500 one-time seniors payment for both the OAS pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance, they will receive an additional $100
Persons already receiving any of the above programs or benefits do not need to apply for the one time disability payment. They will receive the payment automatically. This one-time payment will be non-taxable and non-reportable, meaning that it is not necessary to report it on your income tax return and no tax will need to be paid on it.
The Government understands that many persons with disabilities who might qualify for the DTC have never applied for it, especially persons living in low-income who have not needed the DTC to reduce their income taxes.
Persons with disabilities, who meet the eligibility criteria for the DTC and have yet to apply to the Canada Revenue Agency, can apply until September 25, 2020. Persons with disabilities who have a certificate that expired in 2019, and have yet to re-apply to the CRA, should do so by September 25, 2020.
To note, a qualified medical practitioner must fill out part of the DTC application form. A medical doctor or nurse practitioner can fill out all sections of the form. Other health professionals can fill out certain parts of the form as follows:
· Optometrists – vision;
· Audiologists – hearing;
· Occupational Therapists – walking, feeding, dressing and the cumulative effects for these activities;
· Physiotherapists – walking;
· Speech-language pathologists – speaking; and
· Psychologists – performing the mental functions necessary for everyday life.
New DTC applicants should complete their application process right away so that they have a completed form submitted before September 25, 2020.
The government continues to work tirelessly during the pandemic to process applications for disability programs in a timely manner. However, applications for disability programs require detailed review and analysis to confirm eligibility. While the number of DTC applications the CRA will receive by September 25, 2020 is unknown at this time, the CRA will aim to process the inventory of applications in an expeditious manner in order to continue to meet its expected turnaround times of 8 weeks, 95% of the time.
Recipients of the payment are encouraged to make sure their address and banking information is up to date in order to receive prompt payment. Recipients who need help with changing their address, updating direct deposit, accessing My Account, or questions related to their DTC application, they can call CRA’s Individual Enquiries Line at 1-800-959-8281 (English) and 1-800-959-7383 (French) between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (local time) Monday to Friday.
More information on applying for the DTC can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website:
CRA also offers Outreach services to organizations who support persons with disabilities.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/outreach-program.html
Please feel free to forward this information to your contacts in the disability community.
I look forward to continue working with all of you on behalf of Canadians with disabilities.
Yours sincerely,
Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
