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.

For Adults and Children:

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.

The Federal Government allows a Disability Tax Credit for those individuals and their dependents, who have mental or physical issues that cause marked restrictions nearly all of the time in any of 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.

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, 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. The PLAN Institute offers free guidance in learning about the RDSP and help in setting it up.

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.