Canada Disability Benefit explained
The Canada Disability Benefit is a federal monthly payment for working-age adults with disabilities. Service Canada administers it. This page explains what it is, the September 2026 $150 supplemental payment, what is required, and how it connects to the Disability Tax Credit and RDSP. It does not decide whether you qualify.
Information verified as of September 12, 2026 · Federal benefit year July 2026 to June 2027
What is happening?
This $150 supplemental payment is not the same as your regular monthly Canada Disability Benefit. It is a one-time amount to help offset DTC-related costs.
Starting fall 2026, Service Canada issues a one-time $150 supplemental payment separate from your regular monthly CDB. Regulations took effect September 1, 2026. The supplemental amount is fixed at $150 per approved DTC certificate that qualifies you for CDB, paid as a lump sum.
Who gets it?
You may receive the supplemental payment for each approved DTC certificate that entitles you to a monthly CDB payment, including if your monthly amount is $20 or less and paid as a lump sum for a full period. Former recipients who received a CDB payment before September 2026 may still qualify, even if they no longer receive monthly payments. The supplemental payment is not payable if the person died before September 2026.
Do I need to apply?
No. The supplemental payment is issued automatically to eligible recipients. You do not submit a separate application or provide a medical fee receipt for this payment.
When will it arrive?
- September 17, 2026: eligible recipients who received a CDB payment between July 2025 and June 2026.
- Winter 2027: people who became eligible for CDB since July 2026, or who were approved for a new DTC certificate (re-certified).
What if I became eligible later?
If you started receiving CDB in July 2026 or later, or if you were recently re-certified for the DTC, your supplemental payment is scheduled for winter 2027, not September 17, 2026. Regular monthly CDB payments follow the normal schedule.
What should I do next?
If you already receive CDB, watch for the $150 payment on September 17, 2026 via your usual direct deposit or cheque. If you do not yet have CDB but have an approved DTC, see how to apply below. For DTC application steps, see our Disability Tax Credit guide.
Disability Tax Credit application guideFor winter 2027 supplemental timing, EI limits, CRA pre-filled returns, and other confirmed or proposed 2027 updates, see our Canada-wide changes hub.
Canadian benefit changes in 2027Not the Child Disability Benefit
People often shorten both programs to "CDB," but they are different federal benefits. This page is about the Canada Disability Benefit for adults ages 18 to 64. The Child Disability Benefit is a separate monthly supplement paid with the Canada child benefit when a child is DTC-approved.
Child Disability Benefit (CRA, for children)What the Canada Disability Benefit is
Direct financial support for people with disabilities between ages 18 and 64. It is income-tested: monthly payments can range from $0 up to the published maximum, depending on your adjusted family net income, marital status, and working income.
Applications are open online. The first eligibility month is June 2025; payments began in July 2025.
What Service Canada requires (information only)
Official eligibility criteria from canada.ca (Do you qualify). Meeting these on paper does not guarantee approval until Service Canada confirms your file.
CDB eligibility depends on the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). The two programs are not the same.
- Age 18 to 64 for regular monthly payments.
- Approved Disability Tax Credit (DTC) from the CRA.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) must have filed the relevant federal income tax return. Payment amounts use prior-year returns (see amount section).
- Resident of Canada for income tax purposes.
Confirm every requirement, including edge cases, on the official eligibility page before you apply.
Do you qualifyHow much you could receive
The benefit is income-tested. Your monthly amount can be anywhere from $0 up to the published maximum for that payment period. Service Canada recalculates amounts each July using the prior year's tax return. Two benefit periods are published on canada.ca; which one applies depends on the month you are paid, not when you read this page. MyEligible does not calculate your personal amount here.
July 2025 to June 2026
Maximum up to $200 per month ($2,400 per year). Based on adjusted family net income from your 2024 federal tax return.
July 2026 to June 2027
Maximum up to $204.20 per month. Based on income from your 2025 federal tax return (indexed for cost of living).
How to apply
Apply through Service Canada after your DTC is approved and your tax returns are filed. You do not need a letter from Service Canada before applying.
Gather what Service Canada asks for: your Social Insurance Number, legal status in Canada, and DTC approval. If you have a Notice of Assessment, line 23600 can speed up processing. Optional: direct deposit details.
Submit your application to Service Canada using one of these channels:
- Online (preferred, fastest processing) Apply
- By phone: 1-833-486-3007 (TTY 1-833-467-2700), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. Contact us (Canada Disability Benefit)
- In person at a Service Canada office. Find a Service Canada office
- Printed form: complete it and mail or drop it off at a Service Canada office (see the official apply page for the form and mailing address).
Keep your application accurate. A representative or someone you trust may help you apply. If you notice errors after submitting, contact Service Canada by phone or in person to correct them.
After approval: payments and reviews
Payments are monthly. Amounts are recalculated each July using prior-year tax data. Service Canada may review eligibility; filing taxes on time helps avoid interruptions.
PaymentsHow this fits with the DTC and RDSP
For many adults, the pathway looks like this: get DTC approval, apply for the Canada Disability Benefit if you meet the requirements, then explore RDSP grants and bonds.
Common questions
- Who gets the $150 Canada Disability Benefit supplemental payment in September 2026?
- Eligible CDB recipients who received a CDB payment between July 2025 and June 2026 receive a one-time $150 supplemental payment on September 17, 2026. No application is required. The payment is automatic via direct deposit or cheque. People who became eligible in July 2026 or later, or who were re-certified for the DTC, receive the supplemental payment in winter 2027. The $150 is separate from your regular monthly CDB and is meant to help offset DTC application costs.
- Is the Canada Disability Benefit the same as the Child Disability Benefit?
- No. The Canada Disability Benefit is a Service Canada monthly payment for adults ages 18 to 64. The Child Disability Benefit is a CRA supplement for DTC-approved children, paid with the Canada child benefit.
- Do I need DTC approval before applying?
- Yes. Official canada.ca eligibility requirements include an approved Disability Tax Credit from the CRA.
- How much will I receive?
- It depends on your income and which benefit period applies. Published maximums are up to $200 per month for July 2025 to June 2026 (based on your 2024 tax return) and up to $204.20 per month for July 2026 to June 2027 (based on your 2025 tax return). Use Service Canada's official estimator; any figure is an estimate only.
- When did payments start?
- The first eligibility month is June 2025. Payments began in July 2025, according to canada.ca.
Monthly disability support is only one layer. Find other financial supports for tax credits, provincial programs, and RDSP planning.
This is not an eligibility test