The Government of Canada has announced additional relief for Canadians with disabilities, who will automatically receive a one-time, tax-free payment of up to $600 to help offset any cost increases due to COVID-19. Individual taxpayers with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate as of June 1, 2020, will be eligible for this automatic payment.
This payment to Disability Tax Credit certificate holders will be calculated as follows:
- $100, if the individual taxpayer is eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
- $300, if the individual taxpayer is eligible for the OAS pension.
- $600, if the individual taxpayer is ineligible for both the OAS pension and the GIS.
Seniors who hold a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate will receive a total of $600 in special payments once this relief is combined with the special payments of $300 for Canadians who are eligible for the OAS pension and the additional $200 for those eligible for the GIS.
However, legislation was tabled on June 10, 2020, the bill has not yet moved past first reading.