Does your child have a major physical or intellectual disability? Here is a roundup of the financial assistance you may be able to access.
What is a disability?
To be considered disabled, a person must have a major physical impairment or a serious mental function disorder. Their condition must significantly restrict their capacity to carry out at least one everyday activity, such as speaking, eating or walking. Their disabilities must be significant and persistent, even with the appropriate care, devices or medications. Finally, the disabilities must be deemed to be permanent (until proven otherwise).
If you recognise your child in this description, you may be eligible for various kinds of financial assistance.
Supplements and tax credits
Supplement for Handicapped Children
You may be eligible for this financial assistance if you are providing for the care and education of a child who is under the age of 18. Your child must be eligible for Family Allowance and Retraite Québec must recognize the child as being disabled. Their disabilities must also significantly limit their ability to carry out the normal daily activities of a child their age for a period of at least a year.
Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care
If your minor child has more than one very significant and persistent disability or if they have a critical illness with no known treatment, this supplement may be for you. It may also apply if you have taken training so that you can provide the complex medical care your child needs.
Tax Credit for Childcare Expenses
Does your child spend time in daycare or a childcare service, for example? Some of the fees charged to you may be reimbursable.
Amount for Medical Expenses
If the medical expenses paid for your entire family, including your dependent disabled child, exceed 3% of your net family income, you may be eligible for this financial assistance. It is a non-refundable tax credit.
Did the care your child requires have to be accessed outside your region? Learn about the tax credit for Expenses for Medical Services Not Available in Your Area.
Home Buyers’ Tax Credit
This tax credit is intended in particular for parents who buy a home suited to the specific needs of their disabled child. For example, the home may be structured to make it easier for the child to move around. It may also be close to the hospital where the child is receiving regular treatments.
Have you heard about the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)? It may be useful for you if you are planning to buy or build a home for your disabled child.
Sales tax refund
There are often no sales taxes to pay on the purchase of products, equipment or services to help a disabled person. This is the case for hospital beds (with a written prescription) and wheelchairs, for example.
Support for disabled adults
If your disabled child is an adult, they or you may be able to apply for other kinds of financial assistance. For example:
- The Amount for a Severe and Prolonged Impairment in Mental or Physical Functions.
- The Amount for Other Dependants.
- Disability Benefits under the Québec Pension Plan.
- The Disability Supports Deduction.
- The Tax Credit for Caregivers.
- The Refundable Tax Credit for Medical Expenses.
Questions?
Quebec.ca offers a wide range of useful information for disabled people and their families. You can also explore the websites of Revenu Québec, Retraite Québec and the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec (OPHQ).
Problems?
Have you been denied financial assistance you think you are eligible for? Do you want to file a complaint about the services of Revenu Québec, Retraite Québec or the OPHQ? Call on the Protecteur du citoyen. Our services are free and easy to access.
See also: Financial support for my child with a disability: what happens at age 18?
