Eric mentioned the DTC in a post recently; I thought I’d share the handout for a presentation I did for my local ostomy group. I’d heard lots of horror stories about people being turned down, so I took my time and studied all the information I could find about it. Here’s my handout: Tips For Applying For Disability Tax Credit Laurie Just a semicolon @kirsten The CRA states that: "Your impairment has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months." They do retro payment, so even if you apply after the 12 months, they will reassess your income tax from the previous year. I'd still apply, unless you'll be reversed in less than the 12 months. Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. Thank you for posting this, @tigerlily. The DTC and Ontario ADP grant have been lifesavers for me. Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. Laurie... thats pretty incredible info you provided!! Thank you! one thing I did was suggested by Eric I believe, I kept track of time I spent for every single washroom visit I made dealing with my ostomy pouch. I kept track on paper from start to finish including hand washing & drying, cleaning away supplies before & after a change & restocking & even filling my rinse cups with water. This did 2 things for my "4th application" and *approval. The 2nd thing was that it made my GP very aware of just how long it does take to care for ostomies & our skin problem free. He was also surprised how often I was up at night & said he now had a new understanding for those with Ostomies of any kind. I not only made sure he knew to NOT mail in my application & he agreed, but I also spoke to the Lady in charge of these "front desk" type papers & asked her to phone me when they were filled out so I could pick them up & I told her to confer with my GP about this if she needed to but he was on board with it. I also sent in the papers with my washroom times on them, leaving a copy with my GP & one for me. Linda @kirsten Eric is right. Unless you’re going to be reversed within that 12 month time period, it’s worth applying. The CRA might grant you a time limited approval, perhaps requiring another application in a few years. Because I have no possibility of a reversal (no rectum) I was granted approval without expiry. But if you get approval on the first application, it shouldn’t be a big deal to reapply if necessary. Just keep a copy of your original application and make minor changes to it as required. Laurie Just a semicolon I guess time will tell. I'm supposed to have a revision of my original colectomy in January and potentially a reversal of the ileostomy in March, so it would only be 7 months old. Knowing what I do about the complications of abdominal surgery, I'm not holding my breath. We'll see... Because I have no possibility of a reversal (no rectum) I was granted approval without expiry. Me too, but I do still have to let the CRA know that I continue to have my permanent, irreversible stoma every few years 🤣 Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. @veganostomy well, that is perplexing. I wonder why? I can’t remember the exact wording, but the CRA said something like “for the foreseeable future “ on my application approval. I haven’t been asked for an update in the 6 or 7 years since I applied. I do remember being explicitly graphic in describing every little detail on my application 🤢 - maybe whoever read mine decided that they never wanted to hear from me ever again! Seriously, if the body parts required for a reversal no longer exist, and that has been confirmed by the surgeon, shouldn’t that be enough to conclude that the ostomy is permanent? I mean, what on earth could the options possibly be? Laurie Just a semicolon @tigerlily Check this out. The renewal letter from last June. 😀 "I certify that I have a permanent ostomy/ostomies and still require the use of ostomy supplies." Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. @veganostomy yeah, bureaucracy - gotta love it. I just sent my 2 year ADP renewal in - are you saying that you have to do that for the ADP and the CRA? I have a theory that if we all sent graphic photos in to these agencies, they would never ask another question. (But I’m not willing to be the first.🥸) Laurie Just a semicolon are you saying that you have to do that for the ADP and the CRA? Now that you mention it, these are two different agencies and I only recall needing to do this for the ADP. My DTC form from the CRA only says to let them know if my "medical condition improves." 😆 Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. @veganostomy interesting that you mention that. When I applied for the DTC, I noticed that my surgeon had ticked the box that asked if she expected my condition to improve! I know she was thinking about my stubborn perineal incision, but the question was referring to my ostomy. Had I not asked her to change her answer, I would have been turned down for the DTC. For me, this just illustrates why we should never let our doctors send these applications in - we need to double check that they’ve answered correctly. I don’t fault my surgeon - it’s easy to make a mistake when you’ve got a long list of people who need life saving surgery as your priority. Laurie Just a semicolon @tigerlily That would have been a pain for sure! Glad you caught it before it went in and cost you more time to get the application filed a second time. Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
1. The DTC is based on income. If you have no income, you will not get a credit on your tax return.
2. Read all the information, and watch all the videos pertaining to the DTC on the Canada Revenue Agency website – www.cra.gc.ca/disability before you fill out the application. This will help you understand the CRA language, which will help you fill out the application so they understand it. (Remember when you had to learn to speak medical jargon in order to make yourself understood to your doctors? Same idea here.)
3. Your doctor will need to fill out most of the forms. DO NOT let your doctor mail the application to CRA!! Pick it up when completed, and mail it yourself. This way, you can check to see if your doctor made any mistakes (more common than you think) and also, you should make a copy for yourself in case you need to appeal the CRA's decision.
4. Fill out your portion of the forms. If your surgery was more than a year ago, check the YES box in Section 3. The CRA will adjust your previous tax returns up to 10 years, if applicable.
5. Under the 'Effects of Impairment' section, write “Please see Attached”. Write your story and attach it to the forms. Do not be brief – the more detailed, the better (mine was over 2 typed pages). The CRA will make a decision based on the information you give them, so don't leave anything out. You MUST explain that your ostomy is permanent, and that you require an ostomy appliance 100% of the time. You also MUST explain why it takes you at least 3 times longer to eliminate as it does the average person. So, if you empty 8 – 15 – 20 times a day, say so. Describe what emptying means – don't hold any details back. Describe also ALL the steps required to change an ostomy appliance, and how many times per week you need to do this. Point out ANY difficulties you have, and how you deal with them – horrific leaks, excoriated and raw skin around your stoma, hernia, repeat surgeries – how has this affected your day to day living? The CRA will want to know this – if you don't tell them, they will contact your doctor. They may anyway. Make your story easy to understand, so that a person who knows nothing about ostomies can understand it. Don't use jargon (ie “pancaking”) without defining it. Define terms such as “Stoma” (the opening created by surgically attaching the colon to the outside of the abdomen for purpose of elimination), “flange”, “pouch” etc.
6. Make a copy of your story for your doctor, and ask him/her to keep it in your medical file. If the CRA contacts your doctor, he/she will have your version of how it affects your daily life.
7. IMPORTANT!! Make sure your doctor knows that if CRA sends him/her any additional forms, this is TIME LIMITED! Your doctor will have one month from the date the new forms were mailed to return them to CRA, or your application WILL BE DECLINED.
8. Call CRA (1-800-959-8281) if you have ANY questions, especially if they send you correspondence you don't understand. Always have on hand, your SIN number, and last year's tax return in order to answer any identification questions they will ask. Always make a note of the name and number of the person you speak with (ask them to repeat it if necessary) and the date and time of the call.
9. If you are approved for the DTC (YAY!!) and you are under 60 years of age, you may be eligible for the Registered Disability Savings Plan, and depending on income, for Canada Disability Savings Bonds, and Canada Disability Savings Grants. A list of participating financial institutions can be found at: www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/savings/rdsp.html
GOOD LUCK!!!
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
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