CHRIS IN THE COMMUNITY: Information on the Disabilty Tax Credit

In our community, thousands of people with disabilities have never been made aware that they are eligible for an important tax credit that often includes a significant refund. It’s time Hamiltonians learned about their legitimate entitlement under the Income Tax Act.

Some of you may already know that the Income Tax Act provides a non-refundable Disability Tax Credit to all eligible individuals. This tax credit could be as high as $1,400 per year applied against any income tax you may owe. If you are eligible, this claim can be made retroactively for up to ten years!

I want to make sure that every eligible Mountain resident knows how to access this legitimate entitlement under the Income Tax Act.

It doesn’t matter whether your disability is the result of a workplace injury, an accident, declining health, or a chronic condition.
If you, or your spouse, meet one of the following conditions, you may be eligible for this credit:

• you are unable to walk normally for 100 meters (which is the length of a football field) without angina, pain, the need of a cane, wheelchair or walker;
• you have vision loss in excess of 20%;
• you are markedly restricted in communicating;
• you are unable to hear clearly, even with hearing aids;
• you require assistance in feeding;
• you are unable to bathe or fully dress yourself without assistance;
• you have poor bladder or bowel functioning;
• you have problems perceiving instructions, thinking, or remembering (eg.: people suffering from Dementia or Alzheimers);
• you need life-sustaining therapies such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy 3 or more times a week.

Remember, you don’t need to be in a wheelchair to be eligible.

For more information on the Disability Tax Credit and to obtain a copy of the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide and the Information Concerning People with Disabilities Guide, please contact your local Tax Services Office or visit the Canada Customs and Revenue web site at:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4064/rc4064-e.html#P123_6617.