The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)

The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a new federal program designed to provide direct financial support to people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. It is an income support program intended to reduce poverty and help people with disabilities achieve greater financial security and independence.

Applications for the CDB will open on Friday, June 20, 2025. First payments will begin in July 2025 for applications received and approved by June 30, 2025.

Qualifying for the CDB

To qualify for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), you must meet the following criteria:

You must be between the ages of 18 and 64
You must be approved for or currently receiving the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
You must be a Canadian resident for income tax filing purposes
You must have filed your 2024 federal income tax return
You must currently be one of the following:
- A Canadian citizen
- A permanent resident
- A protected person
- A temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the last 18 months
- An individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
You must not be serving a sentence of imprisonment of 2 years or more in a federal penitentiary.

To receive the CDB, you will also have to meet the low-income requirement set out by the government of Canada, which are different depending on your specific family status.

If you are married or in a common law relationship, your partner is also required to file an income tax return, and a benefit return with the CRA for the tax year ended before your payment starts.

How Much You Could Receive

The maximum amount you could receive for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is $200 per month or $2,400 per year. This amount will depend on your income from the previous year as well as your family status.

The government of Canada has created a Benefit Estimator Tool that can help you find out how much money you could get from the Canada Disability Benefit. This tool will ask you to input some information about your marital status and your income based on your 2024 tax returns.

How to Apply for the CDB

Canadians with disabilities will be able to apply for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) starting Friday, June 20, 2025. You cannot apply before this date.

Starting June 20th, you can apply online through the application portal, in person at a Service Canada Centre, or by phone.

If you are approved for the Disability Tax Credit and meet the requirements under the Qualifying for the CDB section, you will receive a letter with a unique code and instructions on how to apply for the Canada Disability Benefit.

Before beginning your application, be sure that you have the following information handy:

Your social insurance number (SIN)
Your direct deposit information

If you do not receive a letter and think you're eligible, you'll still be able to apply. The following additional information will be needed: 

Your mailing address
Your net income (line 23600) from your 2024 notice of assessment

Will the CDB Affect Other Benefits?

The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) will not affect the amount you receive from other federal income supports like: Canada Child Benefit, Canada Workers Benefit, or the GST/HST Credit.

However, to prevent it from reducing your provincial or territorial social assistance, each province or territory must officially recognize the Canada Disability Benefit as exempt income.

The following provinces and territories have confirmed that the Canada Disability Benefit will not cause any clawbacks from other social assistance programs:

British Columbia
Manitoba
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Alberta is currently the only province that has announced a clawback. The Canada Disability Benefit will reduce payments under Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program.