Canada Disability Benefit explained

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.

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.

Official eligibility criteria from canada.ca (Do you qualify). Meeting these on paper does not guarantee approval until Service Canada confirms your file.

• 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.

How to apply for the DTC (canada.ca)

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.

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.

1. 1

   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.

2. 2

   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). Apply

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.

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.

• How to apply for the Disability Tax Credit
• RDSP grant and bond estimator

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.

• Canada Disability Benefit overview
• Do you qualify
• How much you could receive
• Official Canada Disability Benefit estimator (Government of Canada)
• Apply
• Payments
• Disability Tax Credit
• Child Disability Benefit (CRA)