You probably thought it would never happen to you. Being unable to work because of a serious injury or severe mental or physical condition. Between trying to restore your health and struggling to make ends meet with a drastically reduced income, life can feel like a constant struggle. Even worse, your family may be suffering as well.

Fortunately, there is a silver lining coming in through all the gloom and doom. The Government of Canada offers a range of assistance programs designed to help the disabled and their families. The first one you should know about is the Canadian Disability Tax Credit. Managed by the Revenue Service of Canada, this tax credit is a deduction provided each year to the country’s disabled.

If you meet the criteria for the tax credit, you and your family can potentially receive thousands of dollars annually; much-needed cash that can be used to cover necessities like food and gas. But when submitting your Disability Tax Credit application, you must get things right down to the last detail, ensuring you get the money you need and deserve.

Why Get Professional Help with the Disability Tax Credit Application

The tax credit is generous, but the application process is full of bureaucratic procedures and confusing jargon (Read our easy-to-understand guide on Disability Tax Credit Forms here). And making a few small errors can lead to the Revenue Service rejecting your application. It’s well worth your while to hire a professional agency to help you through the process. Here’s why:

Knowing Your Rights

The number one reason many disabled Canadians fail to receive their legally entitled benefits? They don’t know what they’re entitled to. While information about the Canadian Disability Tax Credit is available, it isn’t obvious to those who don’t know where to look for it. In addition, the information provided by the Revenue Service isn’t as easy to understand as it should be. A professional can cut through the jargon and explain everything to you in simple terms.

Understanding Your Eligibility

Many people submit incorrect/incomplete application materials or don’t apply at all, because they aren’t sure whether their condition makes them eligible for the Tax Credit. For example, many people with debilitating conditions like multiple sclerosis think that they qualify automatically, so don’t include detailed medical information with their application certificate.

The fact is, eligibility isn’t defined by the name of the disability you have, but by the condition’s severity and length. To be defined as severe, you must provide proof that the condition significantly impairs your ability to perform basic tasks, thereby preventing you from working. You also need to prove that the disability is prolonged-lasting for one year or longer.

A social services professional can help you determine whether you are eligible. If you are, they can assist you in submitting a successful Disability Tax Credit application.

Claiming for Past Years

One of the most common mistakes made by disabled Canadians is failing to apply for tax credits for previous years. If you’ve been legally disabled for longer than the current tax year, you are eligible for the credit for every year past the date you were first diagnosed. Claiming the Canadian Disability Tax Credit for multiple years can turn that modest annual sum into tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the length of your disability. Filing claims for past years is a bit more complicated, however. A professional can determine how much money you’re eligible for, and make sure that your application is properly completed and submitted.

Getting the Necessary Signatures

A successful application requires detailed medical records proving the severity and length of your condition. You also need to specify the exact date in which your disability was diagnosed. Perhaps most importantly, some sections of the application certificate need to be completed and signed by a licensed practitioner. If you’re inexperienced in the process, a pro can show you which sections you can complete yourself, and which need to be completed by your doctor.

Helping You Appeal a Past Rejection

Maybe you submitted a Disability Tax Credit application last year and were rejected. You assume that means you aren’t eligible for the program, so you aren’t bothering to apply this year. If that describes you, you’d be making a big mistake. The Revenue Service sometimes rejects people who should be eligible. Why? Things like incomplete paperwork or simple incompetence on the part of the processing official. Just because you were rejected once doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply again.

Even more importantly, you can appeal last year’s decision. If overturned, the money you should have received last year will be applied to this year’s tax return. Past evidence shows that most appeals end up with the initial decision being overturned.

While it’s possible to handle the appeal process yourself, hiring an agency specializing in the tax credit is well worth your while.

Sending the Application to the Right Place

This may sound silly, but many applicants don’t receive their tax credit on time because they mail the Disability Tax Credit application to the wrong address. Unfortunately, the Revenue Service doesn’t allow documents to be submitted by fax, scan, or photocopy, so you need to mail it to the regional tax center covering your place of residence. An agency can make sure that all materials are sent to the correct tax center, avoiding any delays in processing your tax credit.

Submitting a Disability Tax Credit application can be a confusing and frustrating experience, especially if you are doing it for the first time. If you’d like to talk to a professional about your rights and eligibility, or get help applying itself, look no further than Disability Credit Canada, an independent agency located in Toronto.

Our friendly, expert staff specializes in helping people like you get the benefits you need. We can guide you through the entire process, ensuring that your application is promptly processed and approved and that your family gets the help it needs during this difficult time.