Disability Tax Credit

[paul m]

Hello Everyone. Its tax time and I've noticed that many people and tax preparers do not include the disability tax credit on tax returns. If you are unable to work due to a disability you may be able to file for this credit.

For a while it was very hard to get and many people that included it were cut off for no reason. However in the last 5yrs or it has not been as bad to get it through.

A doc must file out the form (T2201) and once approved it is usually good for 5 yrs. It has an additional benefit in that any unused portion can be transferred to a spouse.

The Mood Disorders Society of Cda has an excellent summary, explanation and includes exactly how your doc must fill it out. www.mooddisorderscanada.ca then click on consumer&family support, then click on more information . It can be worth over $1500 if you qualify. Take Care. paul m

[Woody]

It did not matter what form I brought to my old Pdoc any paperwork generated 'the eye of pdoc'! ~chills~ She did not charge me to fill it out but even if she had charged me it would have been well worth the expense. This is my last year under that coverage, next year I will have to ask the new Pdoc. I am not sure what his policy is yet.

[AJ]

Good information. Thanks for sharing it Paul.

[paul m]

Hello Woody. You mentioned disability tax credit on another thread and I thought this was a good time to bring this one forward.

The Mood Disorders does a very good job of explaining exactly what must be said to get it.

The key phrase is

are markedly restricted in their ability to perform a basic activity of daily living as certified by a qualified medical practitioner, or would be markedly restricted were it not for extensive therapy to sustain a vital function. Individuals are markedly restricted if, even with therapy or the use of appropriate devices and medication, they are blind or unable to perform a basic activity of daily living, or if they require an inordinate amount of time to perform the activity, all or substantially all of the time. The basic activities of daily living are: walking; feeding or dressing oneself; perceiving, thinking and remembering; speaking; hearing; and, eliminating bodily waste.

I for example, have a lot more trouble remembering things than any ordinary person, I have a lot of trouble with my perception. Those troubles prevent me from going to wedding dances, hockey games and even family functions. Sometimes. if I go to a dance I may precieve that people are against me. Whether that is perception or thinking I am unsure. I cannot take an indepth university course because I cannot think or study well enough, sometimes I cannot read a simple book because my thinking is not solid enough or I cannot remember what was on the prior page. I used to be able to pass calculas courses at university, now I cannot spell it right.

All of those things mean that I am unable to perform a basic activity of dailey living substantially all of the time. Whereas my brother would have no problem doing all of those. I qualify for the credit. Over 90% of people who appeal end up getting the credit. Take Care. paul m

[uni]

Wow. Interesting and helpful stuff! I'll pass it along to one or two of my acquaintances. Thanks.

[Woody]

I did appeal
They sent a 3~4 page questionnaire to my Pdoc who completed the formula and send it back to Revenue Canada. Unfortunately my Pdoc did not keep a copy of the report for my file. They dis-aloud my claim again, but we no explanation other than I do not qualify. I have tried on repeated occasion to get Revenue Canada to send me the report my Pdoc sent in, but they refuse to send it even though it is suppose to be available to myself or to the person that is designated as my representative. Without the report it is hard to determine exactly why I was denied the credit.

I should mention that prior to this last renewal, I WAS getting the credit without having to go threw all this rigmarole.

I am in the process of writing them a letter, but it is a slow process...

[leila63]

Hi Woody,

I am sorry to hear about you hassles with the disability tax credit. It is strange that they won't tell you what your pdoc said since it is essentially your own confidential information between you and your doctor.

Good luck with your next step. I can really understand how difficult it is to do this kind of stuff having a mood disorder.

[paul m]

Hello Woody. That is a tough one. Anytime I deal with the gov't I pretty much write a letter and the very first thing I explain is why I have trouble talking on the phone.

Have you tried asking your MP to intervene. They will not help you appeal but often they will get some answers for you and quickly too. Sometimes even an MPP will help, but not always with revenue cda.

By MPP I mean his/her staff at the riding office. Sometimes they ask that you write them a small request so they know exactly what their looking for. I do not know about email.

I have learned from painfull experience to try and keep copies. I say try, because many a doctor sez just leave it with me with an envelope. Good Luck on it. Take Care. paul m

[gtchamp]

I was successful at getting the credit. I couldn't tell you how it was filled out or anything like that but it was my regular doctor that filled it out. My pdoc heard that I was filing and he said he would be surprised if I got it but if I did then "good for me". However, that was before I was truly honest with him about everything that went on in my life. I tend to tell my doctor more then my pdoc which is why I took the form there. Don't know if that made a difference or not.

Good luck Woody.

[paul m]

Hello Tracey. Thx for sharing that. I think that often it depends on the doctors own perception. I had one doc who always felt that if a patient was seeing him they were ill enough that they needed every small break that they could get.

Another doc I had, just hated filling in the forms and did a lousy job of doing so. Yet another doc I knew, liked to play God and decide who should get it and who shouldn't.

Unfortunately this makes for an unequal system sometimes.

Your probably also right that sometimes it's what we tell our docs that makes a difference. Take Care. paul m

[Woody]

Thanks all!

Paul, everything that I submit I have copies of. In this case because it went directly to my Pdoc and not to me first. I have also asked my Pdoc several time regarding this issue that I think he now knows to keep copies.

My biggest thing in writing this appeal is deciding just how much information I really want to divulge to the G-Man. Too little and I am back to square one and too much

[paul m]

Hello Woody. I hate it when they send the forms right to the Doc. You have my sympathy for having to deal with this. Sorry I'm not into man hugs( I barely even shake hands) But I will say that I am sad for your plight . Take Care. paul m

[Woody]

thanks Paul

[AJ]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. It must be very frustrating, especially since you are eligble, and the G-man is just being an a** about it.

[harklive]

Disability Tax Credit Appeal

Hello to Paul M.

I have adrenal fatigue syndrome (similar in symptoms to chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia) and found your thread after googling 'Disability Tax Credit Appeal'. My initial claim was denied but I decided to appeal based on your figure that 90% of appeals are approved. I received a letter from Revenue Canada stating that a representative would contact me within 6 months to discuss my case. Do you have an experience with this stage of the claim? Is the representative looking for something specific that would approve or deny my illness? Should I be mentioning particular difficulties or limitations? Any information would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Harklive