Friday, February 8, 2013

Navigating the Murky DTC Waters

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.

3 comments:

  1. Wow. Gotta love government logic...and apparently reading skills. Good luck with your appeal!

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  2. I 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 :)

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  3. Heather B in VancouverFebruary 12, 2013 at 12:28 AM

    Oh, 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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