In October 2012, I applied for the Disability Tax Credit.
Canadians who have an 'impairment that requires life-sustaining therapy' of more than 14 hours per week are eligible to apply. I know several people with type 1 diabetes who have successfully applied for this tax credit. The benefit is immediately evident on their yearly Income Tax forms but people have also been able to apply for a credit on previous years and I personally know people who have received rebates ranging from $7000 to $12,000. Not to mention that they are also eligible to put money into a Registered Disability Savings Plan which is a wonderful tool as the money put it is matched (up to three times over) by the government.
I applied in October 2012. The application form said that I should receive a response in 6 to 8 weeks. I patiently counted down and, at exactly 8 weeks, received a letter in the mail. The letter said that they had received my application but required more time to review it.
That was the beginning of December.
Yesterday, February 7 2013, I came home to find a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency.
The letter said that they had reviewed my application and determined that I was 'not eligible for the Disability Tax Credit at this time'.
They outlined the qualification requirements (which I already knew) and said that things like carb counting and time spend exercising were not eligible (which I already knew).
They then said that the following activities were included in my application but were not eligible were:
- time spent following dietary restrictions or regimes (carb counting)
- time spent following an exercise program
I did not include either of those things in my application as I had been aware when applying that they do not count.
Four and a half months of waiting to get a letter saying that I didn't quality for reasons that aren't even valid.
Nice.
Lucky for me, they also included two options for appealing a decision.
Guess it's time to pull out my submission package and make a few phone calls.
Wow. Gotta love government logic...and apparently reading skills. Good luck with your appeal!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely recommend reapplying, as frustrating as the process is. We have it for my son (I'm sure it's much easier to get for a child, but still...) and it makes a pretty big difference of tax returns every year :)
ReplyDeleteOh, man ... this makes me mad ... just the apparent/transparent arbitrariness of the whole thing. Why should I get approved and not you? I bet we spend very close to the same amount of time doing roughly the same kind of D-crap. Bah! I really hope the Revenue Canada medical people pay better attention to your appeal!
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