Deadline extended for federal government disability funding

It’s not too late to apply for federal funding to help people with disabilities cope with extra expenses they may face due to the pandemic.

The federal government has extended its deadline to apply for its Disability Tax Credit, including a one-time payment of up to $600 to help the 22 per cent of Canadians over th age of 15 years cover costs they face, such as hiring personal support workers and disability support, paying for increased costs for medical supplies and medication; purchasing personal protective equipment, costs associated with working from home and physical distancing and the increased use of transportation and home delivery services to obtain groceries and prescriptions.

People will now have until the end of the year to apply for the program. The deadline was previously set for Sept. 25.

The government said payment for nearly 1.6 million eligible people who previously submitted applications should begin receiving the funds deposited in their bank accounts through direct deposit on Friday.

Additional payments will be made in January for individuals who had not received a decision about their eligibility for one of the programs, or did not have accurate direct deposit or a mailing information on file, while people who submit their applications by the end of the year should expect to receive their payments next spring.

Applications are available on the canada.ca website.

In a media release, Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough said the pandemic has had a tremendous impact, particularly on people with disabilities.

“Persons with disabilities are dealing with increased costs for many of the essential supports they need, like safe access to food, medication and services,” she said.