The Canada Disability Benefit provides up to $200 per month ($2,400 per year) to low-income working-age Canadians with disabilities.
Key Details
Detail
Amount
Maximum monthly benefit
$200
Maximum annual benefit
$2,400
Eligible ages
18-64
Start date
July 1, 2025
Payment frequency
Monthly
Taxable
Yes
Eligibility Requirements
To receive the Canada Disability Benefit, you must meet all of these criteria:
Requirement
Details
Age
18 to 64 years old
Residency
Canadian resident for tax purposes
Disability Tax Credit
Hold a valid DTC certificate (T2201)
Tax filing
File an annual tax return
Income
Below the phase-out threshold
Note: You do not need to be employed. The CDB is available to all eligible low-income disabled Canadians regardless of work status.
CDB Payment Amounts
The CDB phases out as your income increases:
Single Recipients
Net Income
Monthly CDB
Annual CDB
$0 - $12,000
$200
$2,400
$15,000
~$175
~$2,100
$20,000
~$133
~$1,600
$25,000
~$92
~$1,100
$30,000
~$50
~$600
~$35,000+
$0
$0
Couples
Combined Net Income
Monthly CDB
Annual CDB
$0 - $18,000
$200
$2,400
$22,000
~$167
~$2,000
$28,000
~$117
~$1,400
$35,000
~$58
~$700
~$40,000+
$0
$0
CDB Payment Dates 2026
The CDB is paid monthly. Expected payment dates:
Month
Payment Date
January
January 28, 2026
February
February 26, 2026
March
March 27, 2026
April
April 28, 2026
May
May 28, 2026
June
June 26, 2026
July
July 29, 2026
August
August 27, 2026
September
September 28, 2026
October
October 29, 2026
November
November 26, 2026
December
December 29, 2026
CDB vs. Other Disability Benefits
Benefit
Who Qualifies
Maximum Amount
Taxable
Canada Disability Benefit
DTC holders, 18-64, low-income
$2,400/year
Yes
Disability Tax Credit
Anyone with eligible disability
~$1,700 tax savings/year
N/A (credit)
CPP Disability
CPP contributors unable to work
~$1,606/month
Yes
ODSP (Ontario)
Ontario residents with disability
~$1,308/month
No
Provincial disability programs
Varies by province
Varies
Varies
Important: The CDB is designed to supplement, not replace, existing provincial disability programs. Provinces have agreed not to claw back provincial benefits dollar-for-dollar.
Impact on Other Benefits
Benefit
CDB Impact
Provincial disability (ODSP, AISH, etc.)
Provinces committed to not fully offsetting CDB
GIS
CDB income may reduce GIS (if age 60-64 and eligible)
GST/HST Credit
No impact (different income thresholds)
Canada Workers Benefit
CDB income may affect CWB phase-out
Social housing rent
May be affected (rent-geared-to-income)
How to Apply
Ensure you have a valid DTC certificate — If you don’t have one, apply using Form T2201
File your tax return — CDB eligibility is assessed based on your tax return
Automatic assessment — If you have a valid DTC and file your taxes, you are automatically assessed for CDB
Direct deposit — Set up through CRA My Account for faster payments
Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Requirement
To qualify for CDB, you need a valid DTC certificate. The DTC application process:
Step
Details
Get Form T2201
Download from CRA or request from your doctor
Medical practitioner section
Must be completed by a qualified medical practitioner
Submit to CRA
Online through My Account or by mail
Processing time
8-12 weeks
Validity
Indefinite or for a specified period
Canada Disability Benefit and provincial social assistance
A key concern for many applicants is whether receiving the CDB will reduce provincial benefits (like ODSP or AISH). The CDB was designed to be a top-up, not a replacement — but provincial clawback rules vary:
Province
Treatment of CDB in social assistance
Ontario (ODSP)
CDB is currently exempt from ODSP income calculation
Alberta (AISH)
CDB treatment under review — confirm with AISH
BC (PWD)
CDB treatment under review — confirm with provincial ministry
Other provinces
Varies — contact your provincial social assistance office
Because the CDB is new (launched July 2025), provinces are still finalizing their policies. Check directly with your provincial disability program before assuming CDB will or will not affect your provincial support.
How to maximize CDB alongside other benefits
Strategy
Benefit
Apply for DTC before applying for CDB
DTC is required for CDB; applying early avoids delays
File taxes every year
CDB requires annual tax filing; failure to file stops payments
TFSA contributions
TFSA withdrawals don’t count as income, allowing you to save without reducing CDB
RDSP contributions
RDSP is another key benefit unlocked by the DTC — contributes to long-term savings tax-free
Track provincial rules
Some provinces exempt CDB; others may reduce their benefits — know your province’s rules