$600 disability payment in Canada: Where to Apply?Updated a month ago
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government introduced a one-time, tax-free payment of $600 to support Canadians with disabilities facing increased expenses.
Eligibility Criteria
The government later expanded eligibility to include approximately 1.7 million Canadians with disabilities who were recipients of any of the following programs or benefits:
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits: Individuals under 65 years old who had contributed to the CPP for at least four of the last six years and had a severe and prolonged disability that prevented them from working.
- Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) Disability Benefits: Similar to the CPP, but specific to residents of Quebec.
- Disability Supports Provided by Veterans Affairs Canada: Veterans receiving disability supports due to service-related injuries or conditions.
Application Process and Where to Apply
- For individuals who were already receiving the DTC, CPP/QPP disability benefits, or disability supports from Veterans Affairs Canada, the $600 payment was issued automatically, and no application was necessary. These individuals received the payment without any additional steps.
- However, Canadians with disabilities who were eligible for the DTC but had not yet applied were provided a 60-day window to submit their application after the proposed legislation received Royal Assent.
- To apply for the DTC, individuals needed to complete the Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201), which requires certification from a medical practitioner. The completed form could be submitted online through the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) My Account portal or mailed to the CRA.
Documents Requirements
Applicants for the DTC were required to provide:
- Form T2201: The Disability Tax Credit Certificate, completed and certified by a qualified medical practitioner.
- Medical Records: Supporting documentation detailing the nature of the disability and its impact on daily living activities.
- For those already receiving CPP/QPP disability benefits or Veterans Affairs disability supports, no additional documentation was required for the $600 payment, as eligibility was determined based on existing records.
Payment Details
The $600 payment was designed to offset increased costs related to the pandemic, such as expenses for personal protective equipment, medication, and support services.
Seniors with disabilities who had already received other COVID-19 related payments, such as the one-time seniors payment, had their $600 disability payment adjusted accordingly to ensure equitable support.
Conclusion
The one-time $600 payment exemplified the Canadian government's commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By expanding eligibility criteria and simplifying the application process for the Disability Tax Credit, the government aimed to ensure that financial assistance reached those in need, helping to alleviate some of the additional burdens faced during this period.