Availability of Disability Tax Credits for Autistic Children

The uniqueness of each person with autism means that living with autistic children is a different experience for everyone. Times can often be stressful as you learn the best way to live with your beautiful child – which is why money should be the least of your worries.

Thankfully, there are government programs and disability tax credits in place to aid you and your family financially when you’re living with an autistic child – you just need to know what to look for, where to find it, and of course who is eligible. This is why Disability Credit Canada, put together a complete guide on the Child Disability Tax Credit to help you find all the information you need in one place.

Nature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Recent events have uncovered a long-simmering debate within the scientific/medical community regarding the nature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The debate centers around whether ASD is a medical issue or a mental health issue. David Rettew M.D., writing on the website for the magazine Psychology Today, takes a look at the issue and comes down on the side of mental health issues.

For many, autism just seems more intrinsically “biological” than many other conditions.  With closer scrutiny, however, it is easy to find holes in these distinctions… even though there seems something quite medical about autism, we still have been unsuccessful in identifying the specific processes in the brain that underlie the condition, similar to more classic psychiatric disorders.

It’s a discussion that many of the most respected names in medicine are going to great lengths to avoid. For instance:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) autism web page devotes several paragraphs to describing the disorder but never says whether it’s a mental illness or a medical issue.
• The well-respected website webmd.com also avoids taking a stand on the topic and instead crosses back and forth across the line between the medical and psychiatric camps.
• The UK’s National Health Service takes the boldest position when it declares that autism is not a mental illness, but then backtracks to concede that some people with ASD also have mental health issues.

Dr Rettew continues his argument that ASD is a mental health issue and seems to point the finger of blame for any confusion on the notion that families of people with ASD simply don’t want their loved ones to be classified as mentally ill:

…the push to label autism as something other than a psychiatric disorder, in my view, comes much more from fears of stigma than any scientific principle…“We are not you,” is the not so subtle message being sent.

With the “we” being ASD sufferers and the “you” being the mentally ill.

Lost in all of this discussion is the issue of whether it matters if ASD is mental or biological. Certainly, the millions who suffer from this debilitating condition don’t care and to a large extent neither do their families. They just want their loved ones to receive the best care available and to be able to find some happiness during their time on earth. Esoteric discussions about medical vs. psychological mean little to them.

But the thing is that it does matter. Because until we know exactly what we’re dealing with the odds of being able to develop therapies or medications that can effectively address it are small. Until a distinction is recognized and those effective therapies are developed, people with ASD and their families will need to rely on programs like the Disability Tax Credit to pay for the therapies and treatments that do exist and to also be able to maintain their basic human dignity.

Living with Autism

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), are both terms for a set of complex brain disorders. Formally grouped into several categories such as autistic disorder and Asperger syndrome – the DSM-5 diagnostic manual recently merged all subcategories in May 2013, going now by the name of ASD, or simply ‘Autism’ for short.

Although several types of autism vary widely from child to child, the consistencies with all types include intellectual disability, difficulties with regular motor skills, attention disorders, and physical health issues including gastrointestinal disturbances. However, it is also very common for children and adults with autism to excel in art, mathematics, playing or composing music, and other visual skills.

It wasn’t long ago that doctors wouldn’t be able to tell you the first thing about how and where autism comes from, but research has come a long way. However, just as there is not one single type of autism, there is not one single cause of autism either. Scientists have found several genes or mutations that lead to the disease – although it is often a combination of high-risk genes and environmental factors.

But although scientists are making breakthroughs in finding out where autism comes from prevention and cures are still some way off. In the meantime, each family living with autistic children must get the support that they deserve.

Support and Disability Tax Credits for Autism

There are many support groups and online forums in which you can reach out for emotional support from others going through the same thing. However, disability tax credits offer a different type of support – they give you a small discount on life’s expenses because rearing an autistic child can incur expenses not common to raising other children.

In 2025, a DTC-eligible adult in Ontario would have receive $1986.65 and an eligible person under 18 years of age in Ontario would receive $3,145.42 in Disability Tax Credits for the 2024 tax year.

Are You Eligible for the Disability Tax Credit?

These tax credits are aimed at families in which one or more of the children have a disability.

To be eligible for the Child Disability Benefit (CDB), the child must be first eligible for the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) which is a program geared towards helping all families care for children under the age of 18.

The CDB, or Disability Tax Credit, is not available for all children with disabilities, however, autism is generally included. The government states that eligible children must have a disability that is severe and prolonged – continuous for at least 12 months – which of course, is true for those affected by autism.

To apply for the Disability Tax Credit, a qualified practitioner must attest to the child’s disability on one of the forms to be submitted for review by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

When and How to Apply

If you do qualify for the tax credit, you must submit your forms along with (or before) your tax return. To avoid any delays in processing (especially if this is your first time submitting a tax credit request), you can send your forms to the CRA at any time during the year.

However, if you do not earn an income, you could also be eligible for the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). Any grants and loans that you may be eligible for in this regard would be dependent on the previous year’s earnings.

If you haven’t claimed your appropriate credits in previous years, don’t worry. You can claim your credits with the CRA up to two previous years with just a written request explaining what you’re claiming and why.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

The Registered Disability Savings Plan is an excellent way for friends and family to help build up a trust fund that will help support your child in future years. It’s quick to build, because the Government of Canada pays 300% of your contributions up to a maximum of $3,500 per year, and you’re usually guaranteed a five percent return.

What does that mean? If you or your family and friends put in $1,000 each year, the government will add $3,000 for a total of $4,000 per year. If started at infancy, that could amount to $80,000 (plus 5% return) by the time your child is just 20 years old – an excellent foundation on which to build their life.

Up until the age of 40, the government will match your deposits in this manner which is an excellent way to save quickly. The only catch is that the account must have no further contributions for eight years before a withdrawal can be made.

Tax Credits by Province

Potential financial support can vary by province which is why it’s important to fully look into the programs available in your area. If you’re unsure of what is available to you, be sure to contact a professional accountant – ideally one who specializes in these particular types of cases.

Living with your child’s disabilities should not seem like a burden, and if you do your research you will find that the Government of Canada has several programs in place that could aid you and your child in living a life with less stress. Let’s face it – life will always be stressful, but by hiring an accountant to help you get the most out of your Government programs – you could be saving not only a lot of money – but your sanity too.