Skip to content

Taxes

Approved for the Disability Tax Credit? What Happens Next

After approval you get a notice of determination showing which years you're eligible for. If you ticked the adjustment box on Form T2201, the CRA automatically adjusts your returns for those years. If not, you can ask for the adjustment after you receive the notice.

By Fact-checked by Samuel Athur

Last verified How we check our facts

How long adjustments take

Adjustments to past returns can take a long time when the CRA is busy. You can track your request in your CRA account.

Step by step

  1. Read your notice of determination.

    It shows the year or years you are eligible for the DTC. You can also see the result in your CRA account under Benefits and credits.

  2. Check whether past years will be adjusted automatically.

    If you ticked the box on Form T2201, the CRA adjusts your returns for all eligible years, including federal and provincial disability amounts (Quebec residents file a separate provincial return).

  3. If you didn't tick the box, request the adjustment.

    Ask the CRA to apply the DTC to past returns, back to the year shown on your notice of determination.

  4. Look at related programs.

    DTC approval can make you eligible for the Registered Disability Savings Plan and, for children, the child disability benefit.

  5. Tell the CRA if your condition improves.

    You must let the CRA know if you no longer meet the criteria.

Phone numbers

CRA individual enquiries

1-800-959-8281

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time

From outside Canada and the U.S.: 1-613-940-8495

Related

Disability Tax Credit (DTC): Who Qualifies and How to Apply The disability tax credit is for people with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, certified by a medical practitioner. Apply with Form T2201: you complete Part A (online, by phone or on paper) and a medical practitioner completes Part B. You can apply any time of year. How to Change (Amend) Your Tax Return in Canada Wait for your notice of assessment, then use "Change my return" in CRA My Account or ReFILE through your tax software. Online requests take about 2 weeks; mailed Form T1-ADJ requests take about 20 weeks. You can generally change returns from the previous 10 calendar years. CRA Processing Times: Tax Returns, Adjustments and Benefits The CRA aims to process 95% of online tax returns within 4 weeks and paper returns within 8 weeks. Complex adjustment requests can take up to 35 weeks, and taxpayer relief requests average about 16 months. Check the official page for live times.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to reapply every year?

No. Your notice of determination shows the years you're approved for. You only reapply if the approval ends.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.