Government Benefits & Financial Support
for ADHD and Learning Disability
Living with a disability can quickly become a financial issue regardless of whether that is due to more limited opportunities or extra expenses or a combination of both.
Listed are a few of the government and agency services in Calgary/Alberta/Canada to assist you with financial planning and support.
For Children:
Alberta Government: Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)
The FSCD program works with eligible families to provide support and services based on each child’s diagnosis and family’s needs.
Program Unit Funding (PUF)
Program Unit Funding (PUF) is provided to Alberta school authorities for ECS children with severe disabilities/delays who require additional support beyond that offered in a regular ECS program. Funding is provided for individualized programming that meets the educational needs of children with severe disabilities/delays who are at least 2 years 6 months of age on September 1. PUF may be paid for a maximum of 3 years for each eligible child.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada child benefit (CCB) is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CCB may include the child disability benefit.
Jordan’s Principle and Resources available to Indigenous Children
For Adults and Parents:
Federal Government: Disability Tax Credit
This is a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay on their yearly income tax return. This tax credit has an retroactive application window of 10 years.
The Federal Government allows a Disability Tax Credit for those individuals and their dependents, who have mental or physical issues that cause marked restrictions in the basic activities of daily living and the impairment is prolonged, i.e. has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least twelve months. These marked restrictions include sight, hearing, mobility, speech, memory, thought and perception, and thus include Learning Disabilities and ADHD.
Receiving ADHD or learning disability benefits from the government does not guarantee eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit. To apply for this credit, the Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201) must be completed by an authorized healthcare professional. In the case of learning disabilities, the authorizing professional can be a registered psychologist.
How To Claim the Disability Tax Credit Videos
These videos offer a general overview of the Tax Credit and how to apply for it. If you have a learning disability other than Dyslexia or ADHD, the videos will still give you some excellent information about the type of information required.
CADDAC webinar: ADHD – The Right to Claim
Dyslexia Canada webinar: Is Dyslexia Eligible? (Yes!)
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
The RDSP is a federally matched savings plan for individuals with disabilities. It can help to provide financial stability and a measure of independence as people age.
PLAN Institute offers free help with:
- applying for the Disability Tax Credit
- applying for the Canada Disability Benefit
- setting up an RDSP
Agencies - Financial Support
These agencies offer a variety of services to help you with credit counselling, debt, consolidation, and/or financial education.
Money Mentors
The only Alberta-based non-profit credit counselling, debt consolidation and financial education agency. We help you find a way out of debt with financial education and counselling. Debt help, school programs, money tips.
Locations in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat
Momentum
Learn how to Manage Your Money, Get a Good Job, or Start a Business Services. Momentum has a money management helpline and coaching, employment helpline and coaching, and a business helpline and coaching. Momentum provides financial literacy training.
Money Matters
This is a free introductory financial literacy program for adult learners run through community-based workshops. Find a workshop near you.
Disclaimer: The Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network does not support, endorse or recommend any specific method, treatment, product, remedial centre, program, or service provider for people with Learning Disabilities or ADHD. It does, however, endeavour to provide impartial and, to the best of our knowledge, factual information for persons with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD.
