The federal government has announced the details of the proposed legislation that would expand COVID-19 support for people with disabilities.
Last month, the federal government announced a one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment of up to $600 for Canadians with disabilities to assist with additional expenses incurred during the pandemic.
The payments included:
- $600 for Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate.
- $300 for Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and who are eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension.
- $100 for Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and who are eligible for the OAS pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
On Friday, Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced that Ottawa intends to propose legislation that would make the benefit available to more people and expand the one-time payment to include approximately 1.7 million Canadians with disabilities, who are recipients of any of the following programs or benefits:
- A Disability Tax Credit certificate provided by the Canada Revenue Agency;
- Canada Pension Plan disability benefit or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefit; and
- Disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada.
“We recognize that Canadians with disabilities are disproportionally impacted by the pandemic,” Qualtrough said in a statement.
“This includes the increased cost of food, transportation, medication, personal protective equipment, personal support workers, and other disability supports. We have worked closely with the disability community during this time of crisis, including our COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group. We will continue to work hard to increase accessibility and remove barriers, and remain committed to a pandemic response and recovery that is disability-inclusive.”
If enacted, eligible Canadians would receive the payment automatically.
Additionally, Canadians with disabilities who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit but have not yet applied would have a 60-day window of opportunity to do so after Royal Assent.
Seniors who are eligible for the one-time payment to persons with disabilities would receive a total of $600 in special payments. The one-time payment to persons with disabilities would be adjusted to provide a top-up for eligible seniors, including:
- $300 for Canadians who are eligible for the Old Age Security pension and who received the
one-time seniors payment of $300; or - $100 for Canadians who are eligible for the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement or Allowances and who received the one-time senior’s payment of $500.
More information on the Disability Tax Credit can be found here.
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