The child disability benefit (CDB) is a government program that provides monthly payments to families with children under 18 who are living with a severe and prolonged disability. Various conditions may be covered including autism, ADHD, and down syndrome.
Receiving these tax-free payments can help to cover any related medical costs, such as medications, specialized equipment, and therapy sessions.
You’re automatically eligible to receive the CDB if you’re already receiving the Canada child benefit, and your child is receiving the disability tax benefit.
Curious about the eligibility requirements or how much you can expect to receive? Here’s everything you need to know about the child disability benefit and how to claim it for your dependant.
Key Takeaways
- The child disability benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to families caring for children under 18 with a mental or physical impairment.
- Payment amounts are based on your annual income, marital status, and number of dependants.
- Those receiving the Canada child benefit and disability tax credit for their child are automatically eligible for CDB.
- You can get 2 years of retroactive payments if you’re receiving the CDB for the first time.
Who’s eligible for the child disability benefit?
To receive the CDB, there are several criteria:
- you need to be eligible for the Canada child benefit (CCB),
- your child qualifies for the disability tax credit (DTC), and
- the child must be under the age of 18.
A medical practitioner will need to certify that your child has severe and prolonged impairments, whether physical or mental, to be eligible for the DTC. They will need to fill out a portion of the T2201 Disability Tax Credit Certificate. It must then be sent in to the CRA for review and approval.
How much is the child disability benefit?
The CDB amount you can expect to receive will depend on 3 factors:
- number of children who qualify,
- your adjusted family net income (AFNI), and
- your marital status.
The child disability benefit (CDB) guideline table for the July 2022 to June 2023 year shows the payment amounts per month for up to 3 eligible children.
For example, a family with one eligible dependant who has a family net income under $71,060 can expect to receive $248.75 per month, totalling $2,985 in a year.
In July of each year, your payments will be adjusted based on your AFNI from the prior year. If it exceeds $71,060, then the benefits will be reduced by 3.2% with one child, and 5.7% with 2 or more children.
The child and family benefits calculator can provide you with an estimate of the amounts you can expect to receive.
Is the child disability benefit retroactive?
As a first-time recipient of the child disability benefit, you can receive payments for the current year along with the 2 previous years.
Here are the CDB payment amounts for each eligible dependant for the past several years:
| Base year | Annual amounts |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $2,832 |
| 2019 | $2,886 |
| 2020 | $2,915 |
How to apply for child disability benefit payments
Good news – for those of you who already receive the Canada child benefit for your child who is eligible for the disability tax credit, you’ll automatically receive payments for the child disability benefit. This means you don’t need to apply for it.
Be sure that you, along with your common-law partner or spouse, file your taxes on time each year to prevent any delays in receiving your payments. This is how the CRA calculates your child benefits each year.
If you have any questions or require more information about CDB, you can call 1-800-387-1193. For inquiries regarding the DTC, you can call 1-800-959-8281.
Is your child eligible for the child disability benefit?
Have you enrolled and received the child disability benefit? Share in the comments below how this has helped your family take care of your loved ones.
FAQ
Can I get child disability benefit back pay?
Yes, you can receive retroactive payments from the past 2 years. Beyond those years, you’ll be required to submit a written request to your province or territory’s tax centre.
How long does it take to process the child disability benefit?
As long as you file your taxes by May 1st, 2023 then the CRA will calculate your payments for your family. The benefits begin in July and continue until June of the following year.
How much are the child disability benefit payments?
Your CDB amount depends on a couple of factors, including the number of eligible children, your marital status, and adjusted family net income. The CDB guideline table displays the amounts per month for up to 3 eligible children based on the adjusted family net income.
When are the CDB payment dates?
The child disability benefit is paid out with the Canada child benefit. Payment dates for the CCB are around the 20th of every month.
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