Financial Matters

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When preparing my income tax return, what do I need to know? + −

There are tax deductions, exemptions and credits you may be eligible for. Some of these apply only to people with disabilities. Tax programs may change from year to year, so check for available options each time you file your income taxes.

All of these features reduce the amount of income tax you need to pay.

The amount of income tax you pay may be reduced through deductions and exemptions that you claim on your income tax return, such as:

  • child care expenses
  • medical expenses (Guide RC 4064)
  • disability supports deduction (Form T929)
  • Registered Disability Savings Plan (Guide RC 4460)

Deductions reduce the amount of income that you have to pay taxes on.

Credits lower the actual amount of tax you pay.

Exemptions release you from a rule or obligation which applies to others.

Tax benefits and credits that you may be able to claim include:

The tax benefits and credits that may available change over time.  For a listing of Federal tax benefits and credits for persons with disabilities, visit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/sgmnts/dsblts/ddctns-eng.html

The following are some of the specific credits and benefits:

  • Disability Tax Credit
    To qualify for this credit, a qualified medical practitioner must certify that the person has a prolonged impairment by completing the Canada Revenue Agency Form, Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201).  For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/sgmnts/dsblts/dtc/menu-eng.html
  • Manitoba Primary Caregiver Tax Credit (see below)

For more information

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the federal department responsible for taxes. CRA staff can give you more information about the tax deductions, exemptions and credits that you, or your family member, may claim.

Phone: toll free 1-800-959-8281 or visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/disability/

What is the Manitoba Primary Caregiver Tax Credit? + −

The Manitoba Primary Caregiver Tax Credit gives a provincial tax credit for the primary caregiver of a person with a disability or illness. Caregivers provide important support to people needing care. This tax credit helps cover the caregiver's expenses for time and money spent caring for people who need support.

Eligible expenses may include: bathing, shopping, doing laundry, going to medical appointments or attending recreational outings.

Only one caregiver in a person's life can claim the credit. The main caregiver may be a:

  • parent
  • spouse
  • relative
  • friend
  • neighbour

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Eligibility for the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit + −

The primary caregiver must:

  • live in Manitoba
  • not receive any money for providing care
  • be designated as the primary caregiver by the person receiving care

The person requiring care must:

  • Be assessed by Manitoba Home Care Program as needing Level 2, 3, or 4 care. They are assessed based on the amount and type of care required for tasks like bathing, dressing, eating meals, mobility and receiving medical care.
  • Identify the primary caregiver (except when the individual is under 18 years of age).

* If you are enrolled in the Children’s disABILITY Services program or Community Living disABILITY Services program, please contact your family or community services worker about eligibility requirements.

For information on the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit:

What is the Registered Disability Savings Plan? + −

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) helps increase the long-term savings of a person with a disability. Money invested in the RDSP is tax-free until withdrawn. Contributions up to a specified maximum amount can be made by the beneficiary, family members and friends.

In addition, the federal government contributes matching grants and/or bonds to people with low incomes who are under the age of 50. Federal contributions help increase the RDSP savings over time.

The holder of the RDSP account can be the beneficiary, parent or legal representative of a person with a disability. The beneficiary must:

  • be a Canadian resident
  • have a social insurance number
  • be eligible for the federal Disability Tax Credit

To qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, a qualified practitioner must certify that the person has a prolonged impairment by completing the Canada Revenue Agency Form T2201. For more information, please visit Revenue Canada's website at: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/rdsp-reei/menu-eng.html

Your bank or credit union will have more information on the RDSP. For an online list of banks or credit unions offering the RDSP, please click on "RDSP: Open, transfer or rollover" at: http://www.disabilitysavings.gc.ca.

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What is the Tax Free Savings Account? + −

The Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) helps people save money that is tax-free. The TFSA offers flexibility because any money deposited or withdrawn from the account is generally not taxed.

The TFSA account holder must:

  • be a Canadian resident
  • be 18 years or older
  • have a valid, Canadian social insurance number (SIN)

For more information on the TFSA, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/tfsa-celi/menu-eng.html .

As a parent, how can I plan for the financial security of my child with a disability? + −

You can begin preparing for your child's future at any time.

  • Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP) allow money to be saved long-term for a person with a disability. Money within an RDSP is not taxed until the funds are withdrawn. For more information on RDSPs, visit: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/savings/index.shtml.
  • Trust funds allow parents to set up long-term benefits for their child in the event they are no longer able to manage their child's financial needs. The trust fund is managed by a trustee, a person who makes sure the fund is used in the best interests of the child.
  • Estate planning allows you to safeguard things you've acquired over your lifetime, such as your home, savings, investments and personal items, for your child's future needs. Estate planning identifies what you want for your child and helps you maximize income for your child.

A trust fund can include a number of assets including: cash, property, stocks, bonds or other types of investments.

Several key people should be involved when setting up a trust fund or an estate plan:

  • Lawyers: They provide legal counsel about your will, administering your estate, power of attorney and health care directives.
  • Accountants/Financial Planners: They give advice on tax management, investing for financial security and estate planning.
  • Financial institutions: They give information about financial planning, investments and savings options to maximize savings for your child while he or she is a minor or an adult.

You may also want to consider some of the following resources:

    • Continuity Care: This not-for-profit organization helps Manitobans plan an enriched quality of life for their family member with disabilities. For more information, visit: www.continuitycare.ca/index.html .
    • The Public Guardian and Trustee of Manitoba: This government agency manages and protects the affairs of adults living with an intellectual disability or individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs and who have no one else willing or able to act on their behalf. For more information, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/publictrustee
    • A Legal Information Guide for Seniors: Developed by the Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat, this publication helps people learn more about estate planning. For more information, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/shas/publications/guide_for_seniors.pdf

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What financial help is available for adults with a disability? + −

Adults with a disability who need financial help may be eligible for the following programs:

    • Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits
    • Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance

Depending on how a disability was acquired, adults with a disability may also be eligible for financial assistance from the Workers Compensation Board, Manitoba Public Insurance or other insurance providers.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits

Employed adults who become disabled, or who have a decline in their abilities, may be eligible for monthly benefits. To be eligible they must:

    • be 18 to 65 years of age
    • have sufficient CPP contributions at the time of becoming disabled
    • have a disability that is severe (ex: unable to regularly do gainful employment) and prolonged (ex: genetic disorders or disabilities likely to result in death)

Contact your local Service Canada office for information on how to complete the application for CPP disability benefits. For more information, visit: www.esdc.gc.ca/en/cpp/index.page.  

Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance (EIA)

Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) provides:
Financial help for basic needs such as:

  • food, clothing, personal needs, household supplies
  • health needs such as prescription drugs, dental work, optical services, therapeutic diets, transportation to and from medical appointments and hearing aids
  • supports to help you find and start a job
  • EIA provides additional benefits to cover extra costs for people living in remote or northern regions of Manitoba
Help for people with disabilities:
  • financial help for disability-related items such as the additional costs of living in a community setting, mobility devices and repairs
  • services that help people be an active part of the community such as help with the costs of transportation for social activities for wheelchair users

Rent Assist

Rent Assist is a financial benefit for people with a low-income, including those that receive EIA benefits. 

EIA participants with shelter costs are eligible for financial support for these needs through Rent Assist which is automatically added to the monthly income assistance budgets. 

Manitobans receiving EIA will receive Rent Assist if they have housing costs.  The amount of the Rent Assist benefit for people receiving EIA will be based on things like:

  • rental costs
  • mortgage payments, taxes and other fees for those who own their own home
  • the number of people in the family
  • if the family lives in Manitoba Housing, has other subsidized housing benefits or is paying rent in unsubsidized housing
  • whether utility costs (for example, heat, electricity, water) are included in the rent

Manitobans not receiving EIA are eligible for Rent Assist when they:

  • pay rent or room and board for unsubsidized housing
  • have a net annual household income of less than $24,528 for a single person,  $28,464 for two people, $36,384 for three or four people, and $40,608 for five or more people
  • have dependent children in the home and have a net annual household income of less than $36,384 for two to four people or $40,608 for five or more people.
  • are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada and at least 18 years of age.

The amount paid by Rent Assist will depend on the number of people in the household and the net annual household income. The benefit is based on the amount needed to help a household afford a rental cost of up to 75 per cent of the median market rent. 

Employment and Training supports

Education and Training

Under EIA policy, a person with disabilities may continue to receive EIA benefits while participating in education or training opportunities, regardless of the duration of the training.

* Note:  the maximum duration of a training or education plan for the spouse of a person with a disability is 4 years.

Additional supports may be provided by EIA to cover the following expenses when participating in an approved training or education activity:

  • child care
  • up to $25 per month for miscellaneous expenses
  • essential transportation costs

Employment

All EIA recipients are eligible for the following work incentives:

  • up to $200 of net monthly earnings, plus 30% of net monthly earnings in excess of $200 for each employed or self-employed person in a household who has been enrolled for one month or longer
  • up to $200 of net monthly earnings for each employed or self-employed person in a household ho has been enrolled for less than 30 days.

EIA will also provide the following where essential, as confirmed by the employer:

  • work clothes or supplies needed by a person to start a job
  • an allowance for a telephone for employment reasons
  • employment transportation

As well, each employed person with a disability is eligible to receive a work clothing allowance of $23.90 per month if working 10 days or 80 hours or more each month.  For persons working half-time or less, one-half of the current work clothing rate is to be granted.

How to apply for EIA

For more information on how to apply for Employment and Income Assistance, contact your local EIA office:
Winnipeg: 204-948-4000
Toll free: 1-855 944-8111
Employment and Income Assistance

Emergency Support

After-hours emergency help may be available if you have a crisis that cannot wait until regular business hours. To contact emergency support, call:

Winnipeg: 204-945-0183
Toll free: 1-866-559-6778

I receive help from the Employment and Income Assistance Program. What income or financial resources will not affect the assistance I receive? + −

EIA does not count some income as financial resources. Some examples are:

  • part of employment earningsart of employment earnings
  • part of rent or room and board paid to the participant
  • ongoing cash contributions of up to $500 per month from family or friends
  • foster home maintenance payments
  • Rent Assist while receiving EIA benefits
  • Canada Child Tax Benefit
  • Universal Child Care Benefit
  • tax credit refunds
  • Manitoba Prenatal Benefit Program benefits
  • earnings of children who are in school or an EIA‑approved program, full-time
  • Registered Disability Savings Plan withdrawals

EIA does not count some assets as financial resources. Some examples are:

  • any cash or money in bank accounts (called liquid assets) up to $4,000 per person to a maximum of $16,000 per family
  • the participant's main home (called a primary residence), automobiles and other essential property
  • children's trust funds up to $25,000 (in cash or property) held in trust for a dependent child
  • Registered Education Savings Plans
  • approved Individual Development Accounts
  • EIA Disability Trust Funds of up to $100,000
  • Registered Disability Savings Plans

These are only examples. EIA staff can provide more information. 

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