Applications open for Canada's new disability benefit program

Sarah Ritchie · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jun 20, 2025 3:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Canada's caller disablement payment — a programme that provides eligible radical with up to $200 a period — is present unfastened for applications.

The programme is disposable to radical with disabilities betwixt the ages of 18 and 64 who already person been approved for the disablement taxation credit. The authorities says payments are acceptable to statesman successful July.

The payments are meant to supplement provincial and territorial programs, and Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said each provinces and territories but for Alberta person pledged not to claw backmost their ain benefits.

The payment was portion of the Trudeau Liberal government's committedness to assistance assistance radical with disabilities retired of poverty.

Many advocates for radical with disabilities person panned the benefit, saying it volition bash small to really code poverty.

Hajdu, whose caller portfolio covers disabilities, said she has heard that criticism.

"I don't deliberation that disablement [benefit] is what a idiosyncratic needs to prolong themselves, and I don't deliberation it was designed successful that way," she said successful a caller interview.

"But it is simply a outgo that allows for a fuller autonomy of radical with disabilities successful that it's not directed towards immoderate circumstantial thing. It is simply a payment that radical tin usage to supplement immoderate different net oregon income that they have."

As portion of the program, the authorities is providing backing to assemblage organizations to assistance radical who whitethorn request guidance connected applying for the taxation recognition oregon the payment program.