Who can apply for the new Canada Disability Benefit
June 19, 2025
Global Korean Post
–
On June 13, Federal government announced that persons with disabilities will be able to apply for the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) as of June 20, 2025.
With the support from the CDB, persons with disabilities will have more money to cover the costs of accessible housing, medical care and disability supports.
First payments will begin in July 2025 for applications received and approved by June 30, 2025. Canadians will be able to apply through barrier-free, accessible ways: online, in person at a Service Canada office, or by phone.
Persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64 can apply for the benefit if they have qualified for the disability tax credit (DTC) and meet the benefit’s other eligibility requirements, including having filed their 2024 income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency. For those who have a spouse or common-law partner, their partner must also have filed their 2024 income tax return to be eligible.
The federal government will send letters to eligible Canadians inviting them to apply.
To support individuals with the application process, a number of community-based organizations across Canada will provide accessible, individualized navigation services to disability programs and benefits, including the DTC and CDB. Applicants can also now use the newly launched benefit estimator tool to find out how much they may qualify to receive each month.
To receive the benefit, a person must:
- be a resident of Canada for the purposes of the Income Tax Act
- have been approved for the disability tax credit
- be between the ages of 18 and 64
- have filed an income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year (their spouse or common-law partner, if they have one, must have also file their taxes.)
- be one of the following:
- a Canadian citizen
- a permanent resident
- a protected person
- a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the past 18 months
- someone who is registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act.
If a person is married or has a common-law partner, their spouse or common-law partner must also have filed an income tax and benefit return with the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year. In some exceptional cases, this requirement may be waived.
