Questions, answered honestly

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit (it lowers tax you owe, but does not pay you extra). It helps people with severe and prolonged impairments — or a family member who supports them — pay less income tax. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) decides who qualifies. They look at medical certification and how your impairment affects daily living. Diagnosis alone does not decide it.

You or a dependant may qualify if a severe and prolonged impairment markedly restricts a basic activity of daily living. Life-sustaining therapy can also qualify under CRA rules. Both physical and mental health conditions count. What matters is how daily life is affected, not the diagnosis name. A short qualification check can help you see if applying makes sense.

Sometimes. If the CRA finds you were eligible in past years, you may be able to ask for changes to those past returns. CRA rules and time limits apply. Whether past years count depends on your situation and CRA's decision. It does not depend on our service alone.

The DTC is a federal tax credit run by the CRA. It lowers tax. CPP Disability (CPP-D) is different. It is monthly income through Service Canada for contributors who can no longer work regularly at any job. Provincial programs — often called disability assistance or PWD — are income and support programs run by each province or territory. Each has its own rules. We can help you see which path, or mix of paths, may fit.

Yes. A qualified practitioner must complete the medical part of Form T2201. You do not do that part alone. We help you pull together a clear summary of how daily life is affected. Your clinician can then use it to complete their section with confidence. We never replace their medical judgment.

It varies. Some people hear back in a few months. Others wait longer. It depends on CRA workload, whether your file is complete, and whether CRA asks for more detail. We help you send a thorough file. If CRA asks for follow-up, we stay with you.

Every situation is different, so we do not list fixed prices online. Start with the qualification check. Book a free consult if that would help. Then we give you a clear written quote before you decide anything. You only talk about payment if you choose to move ahead. No pressure.

It means we work in a way that does not add to the stress you already carry. You set the pace. You choose what to share and when. We explain each step before it happens, we never rush you to retell painful details, and you can pause or stop at any time. Many people who come to us have had hard experiences with health and benefit systems. Our job is to make this process feel safe, predictable, and respectful.

No. No honest provider can promise CRA, Service Canada, or provincial approval. Only the decision-maker can approve you. What we can do is help you share your lived experience in a clear, complete, and respectful way — so they have what they need to decide fairly.

A denial does not always close the door. You may be able to reapply or try a different path. Start with the qualification check or book a consult. We will look at what happened last time and talk through what could come next.

Yes, we handle your personal and health information with care. We share it only as needed to support your application — for example, with your provider when you give consent. Our contact and intake tools may use trusted third-party platforms (such as Jotform or Calendly). See our Privacy Policy for details.

Yes. We support clients in every province and territory. The DTC is federal, so it works the same across Canada. For provincial programs, we follow each province's own criteria. Consults are usually virtual, by phone or video. That keeps things accessible and easy.

No. Canadian Disability Specialists is an independent private practice. We are not affiliated with the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, or any provincial government program.