Being a caregiver is not only a monumental role in and of itself, it can also be difficult to manage other aspects of your life. Being a caregiver can have a big impact on your finances, both from the cost of caring for someone out-of-home and the difficulty of holding down a job while you focus on care. If that’s the case for you, you might be happy to know that the Canadian and Ontario governments offers certain credits and programs that can help you save as a caregiver.
Tax Credits for Caregivers
Canada offers a credit called the Canada caregiver credit (CCC). This credit allows people who have a dependant of any age who with a physical or mental impairment to claim some extra money. The amount varies based on who your dependant is, but claims range from $2999 to $7999. If you are interested, you can go to the CRA website to check your eligibility and get more information about the process.
Tax Credits for Disabled Individuals
Tax credits don’t only apply to the individual providing the care; the recipient of the care may also benefit from certain credits. Canada’s Disability Tax Credit (DTC) can be taken advantage of by both dependants with disabilities and their caregivers. The credit reduces the amount of income tax you owe to the government. This is intended to help alleviate some of the pressure of life with a disabled person. Here is the CRA’s page on DTC.
Ontario Assistive Devices Program
The Assistive Devices Program helps people with long-term physical disabilities pay for customized equipment, like wheelchairs and hearing aids. To qualify, you must be an Ontario resident, have a valid Ontario health card and have a disability requiring the equipment or supplies for six months or longer. They do not consider your income to qualify. To learn more visit the Ontario website.
These options can be valuable for reducing the burden of caregiving and allowing for a bit of breathing room. They, of course, won’t outright fix any underlying issues or make caregiving a breeze, but they can help a little. The Canadian government heavily relies on caregiving services to fill in the gaps that Personal Care Assistants cannot manage on their own. Seize any and all opportunities to take advantages of the services our government offers.
For more resources and services you can visit Carefor’s website.
