The Underused Disability Tax Credit: Eligibility and Tax Savings

In this episode of the Canadian Retirement Roadmap podcast, host Patrick Briscoe speaks with Christine Brunsden, co-founder of Benefits2 and an expert in estate and disability planning, about the underutilized Disability Tax Credit (DTC) in Canada. Christine shares her personal and professional journey helping Canadians navigate the DTC, revealing how many eligible individuals—especially older adults—miss out due to misconceptions, poor guidance from medical professionals, and predatory promoter companies. The conversation dives deep into the qualifications for the credit, how to advocate with doctors, and how the DTC opens doors to other significant financial benefits like the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and the new Canada Disability Benefit.

Things To Know...

• More People Qualify Than You Think: Up to 27% of Canadians could be eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, including those with conditions like incontinence, chronic pain, or cognitive impairments—not just visible or severe disabilities.

• Beware of Promoter Companies: Many firms charge 20–30% of retroactive refunds as fees. Benefits2 offers a flat-fee model to help clients avoid these costly traps while getting expert help.

• Doctors Often Don’t Know the Rules: Physicians receive no training on the DTC, so patients need to come prepared with information and may need assistance in preparing the forms to improve their chance of approval.