Government of Canada extends deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit to receive the COVID-19 one-time payment for person
Canada NewsWire
GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 23, 2020
GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 23, 2020 /CNW/ - The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected the lives and health of all Canadians, and disproportionately affected Canadians with disabilities as they continue to face many long-standing barriers further heightened by the pandemic.
It is for this reason that the Government of Canada is continuing to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are supported. This includes the one-time non-taxable and non-reportable payment of up to $600 to support Canadians with disabilities to help with additional expenses incurred during the pandemic.
Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced that the deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to receive the one-time payment has been extended from September 25, 2020, to December 31, 2020. This will help more Canadians with disabilities access the benefit, as the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for some to collect the information needed to complete the DTC application process. An extension of the deadline will give clients more time to submit their applications, and the Government of Canada time to issue decisions regarding eligibility.
The one-time payment will help persons with disabilities deal with the expenses incurred during the pandemic, such as:
The vast majority of eligible Canadians – nearly 1.6 million people – will begin receiving their payment on October 30, 2020, using direct deposit and mailing information from existing government programs. These are individuals who, at the time the information for the one-time payment was collected at the end of September 2020, had an existing valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate, or were a beneficiary as at July 1, 2020 of:
As part of the government's efforts to increase and expand access, payments will go out in a phased approach. Using information from November 2020, a payment will be made in January 2021 to those individuals who, at the end of September 2020, had not yet received a decision about their eligibility for one of the eligible programs, or did not have accurate direct deposit or a mailing information on file. A payment may follow in Spring 2021 for those who submit their application by December 31, 2020 and are determined to be eligible; or receive a decision about their eligibility for one of the eligible programs by the end of February 2021.
Being eligible for the DTC can also open the door to other federal, provincial, or territorial programs such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Canada Workers Benefit, and the Child Disability Benefit. By acting now and putting the right measures in place, the Government of Canada strives to create the strong health, social, and economic foundations we need to build a better and more inclusive Canada for everyone.
As outlined in the Speech from the Throne, the government will continue to support Canadians living with disabilities, including through a new Canadian Disability Benefit.
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"The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on every Canadians' life, and particularly so on the lives of Canadians with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are dealing with increased costs for many of the essential supports they need, like safe access to food, medication and services. We have extended the deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit so that more Canadians with disabilities can access the benefit and get the financial support they need. We will continue to work closely with the disability community to support Canadians with disabilities and their families through this difficult time. Our Government remains committed to a disability inclusive pandemic response and recovery, and we continue to work to remove barriers and increase accessibility across Canada."
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough
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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada