Refundable disability tax credit continues to be priority for Community Living
‘A refundable disability tax credit will make a remarkable difference in the lives of some of the poorest Canadians,’ says Canadian association vice-president
Michelle Strutzenberger
A refundable Disability Tax Credit (DTC) “continues to be a priority” for the Community Living movement, says director of policy and programs for the Canadian Association for Community Living Anna MacQuarrie.
Those interested in participating in advocacy efforts around this issue are encouraged to contact MacQuarrie at the Canadian association. (www.cacl.ca)
While it wasn’t part of the 2010 Federal Budget, a refundable DTC was included in the recommendations of two influential reports released in December 2009 from the Senate standing committee on social affairs, science and technology and the parliamentary standing committee on finance.
“People with intellectual disabilities are three times more likely than Canadians without disabilities to live in poverty,” said executive vice-president for the Canadian Association for Community Living Michael Bach in a press release.
“A refundable Disability Tax Credit will make a remarkable difference in the lives of some of the poorest Canadians. These recommendations, if actualized, have the potential to have significant and lasting impact on the lives of Canadian with disabilities.”
It is proposed the DTC be made refundable and enable everyone eligible for the tax credit to get the full value regardless of their income or employment status.
Recommendations include having the refundable credit paid solely by the federal government with agreement from the provinces that the money received by persons who have a disability will not be clawed back under provincial programs.
According to the Council of Canadians with Disabilities most provinces’ disability support program benefits “are inadequate and leave recipients living in deep poverty.”
“A (refundable DTC) with no provincial clawback would vastly improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadian residents with disabilities,” states the council, noting that “given the economic situation of the recipients” virtually all of the funds would go directly into the purchase of goods and services.
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