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Federal Program

Canada Disability Benefit

Canada DB

The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a federal monthly benefit providing direct financial support to low- and modest-income working-age Canadians (ages 18 to 64) with disabilities. Payments began in July 2025. The maximum benefit for the July 2026–June 2027 benefit year is $204.20 per month ($2,450.40 per year). The benefit is income-tested: for the July 2026–June 2027 benefit year your entitlement is based on your 2025 income tax and benefit return. A one-time supplemental $150 payment helps offset the cost of obtaining the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), paid automatically with no application, in two phases: September 17, 2026 for recipients who received a CDB payment between July 2025 and June 2026, and winter 2027 for people who became eligible at any time since July 2026 and for people newly approved or re-certified for the DTC. Not everyone has received it: if you are in the winter 2027 group, the payment is still to come.

Last reviewed: November 2026

Useful Tips for Applying

You must have an approved Disability Tax Credit before you can be paid — apply to the CRA first. File your taxes every year, since eligibility is re-confirmed from your return. The first month of eligibility was June 2025 and payments began in July 2025. Once approved, payment comes on the third Thursday of the month after approval and can include back payments for up to 24 months from when the application was received, back to June 2025 at the earliest.

Who May Qualify

• You are between 18 and 64 years old • You have an approved Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate • You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes (including citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, individuals registered under the Indian Act, or temporary residents who have lived in Canada for at least the previous 18 months) • You have filed your income tax and benefit return for the previous year (your 2025 return for the July 2026–June 2027 benefit year) • You are not currently serving a long-term prison sentence (2 years or more)

Required Documents

• Social Insurance Number (SIN) • Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the previous tax year • Approved Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate

How to Apply

1. Ensure you have an approved Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate. 2. File your federal income tax return for the previous year. 3. Apply online through the official Canada Disability Benefit portal or contact Service Canada. 4. If approved, payments begin the month after your application is received and processed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without an approved DTC first — the DTC is mandatory • Not filing taxes — CDB eligibility is confirmed through your tax return each year • Not knowing that back payments are available for up to 24 months • Assuming provincial benefits will be reduced — many provinces have confirmed they won't deduct CDB

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