Registered Disability Savings Plan and Disability Tax Credit Overview for Individuals and Families

What is a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)? A long-term savings plan to help Canadians with disabilities save for the future. When you have an RDSP you may be eligible for both bonds and grants to help your savings grow faster. The beneficiary (the person who will benefit from the RDSP) chooses what to use the money from the RDSP for.

What is the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)? The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit that helps people with a disability, or those that support them reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay. A non-refundable tax credit means that it may reduce the amount of tax payable to zero. Any unused portion of the amount may be transferred to a spouse or common-law partner, or another supporting person. 

To be eligible a person must meet the following three criteria: Must have a severe impairment in physical or mental functions. The impairment must be prolonged, meaning, it must have lasted or is expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months. Must be restricted at least 90% of the time. Eligibility is not based on the medical condition itself, but rather on the effects that the impairment has on a person.

Completing the T2201 Step 1 Fill out Part A of the Form T2201 with your personal information. Step 2 Ask your qualified practitioner to fill out and certify Part B of Form T2201. Step 3 Once Form T2201 has been completed, keep a photocopy. Send the original certified and signed form to the disability tax credit unit at your tax centre. Note:  The CRA reviews its forms and publications every year. The latest version is always on the CRA website at http://www.cra.gc.ca. 

2026 P4P Intro to the RDSP Webcast_Webcast Presentation_Updated.pdf

What are the requirements to open an RDSP? • have a disability; • have been approved for the Disability Tax Credit; • be under 59 years (if 59 years old, the RDSP must be opened before the end of the calendar year in which the beneficiary turns 59); • are Canadian residents with a social insurance number (SIN).

If you haven’t applied for the Disability Tax Credit, you can find more information HERE.   

Open a CRA My Account if you don’t already have one. You can register for an online account HERE. 

This will allow you to track the status of your Disability Tax Credit eligibility and other tax related information.

If you are ready to open an RDSP, talk to your financial institution (bank or credit union).

The Registered Disability Savings Plan
An overview of the RDSP.

RDSP Calculators
This page provides an overview of all the RDSP calculators.

After Opening an RDSP
Tips and strategies for Plan Holders once they have opened an RDSP.

Disability Alliance BC
DABC provides support for the RDSP and the Disability Tax Credit, among other programs to people with a disability.
The DABC has developed a Disability Tax Credit tool which people can use when applying for the DTC. Access the tool here.

CRA / Service Canada Hotline
If you have general questions about the RDSP, opening a plan, grants, bonds, and more, you can contact Service Canada online, or by phone at 1-800-622-6232. For questions about the RDSP and taxes, you can contact the CRA at 1-800-959-8281. 

The DABC has developed a Disability Tax Credit tool which people can use when applying for the DTC. Access the tool here