Autism and disability benefits guide

Generally no. Reimbursed therapy grants from provincial autism programs such as the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD), or BC Autism Funding are usually non-taxable service payments and do not count as income on your tax return. They typically do not reduce your Canada Child Benefit. The Child Disability Benefit can still phase out as family income rises.

No. Therapy costs that a provincial program already reimbursed or paid for cannot also be claimed under the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) on your federal return. This no-double-dipping rule applies to OAP, FSCD, BC Autism Funding, and similar provincial autism therapy grants.

Yes. The Child Disability Benefit is a tax-free monthly supplement paid with the Canada Child Benefit when a child in your care is approved for the Disability Tax Credit by the Canada Revenue Agency. Approving CRA Form T2201 is part of the DTC application process; the CRA decides eligibility based on your practitioner's certification.

It depends on your province or territory. Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and most other jurisdictions currently exempt the Canada Disability Benefit from provincial disability living support calculations. Alberta reduces Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) dollar-for-dollar against the Canada Disability Benefit. Some smaller jurisdictions have not published a clear rule. Use our Disability Benefits Stacking Guide to compare official clawback sources by province.