The Canada Disability Benefit: Eligibility Issues and Provincial Clawbacks

In July of 2025, the Canada Disability Benefit began rolling out for eligible disabled Canadians. The federal government describes the CDB as “a new monthly benefit for low-income working-age persons with disabilities… The Canada Disability Benefit is a key commitment and cornerstone of Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which is a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities.” According to the Government of Canada’s website, to receive the CDB you must be 18 to 64 years old, approved for the Disability Tax Credit, filed your 2024 tax return, and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In short, the Canada Disability Benefit is an extra $200 per month in the pocket of low-income disabled individuals across Canada…well, in theory. 

The largest hurdle applicants have faced in applying for the CDB is receiving approval for the Disability Tax Credit. To receive the DTC, you must have a medical practitioner certify that you are, in fact, disabled. In a country where 1 in 5 people don’t have access to a family doctor (Canadian Medical Association), that criteria excludes a significant number of people. Some advocates have questioned why the federal government could not have automatically enrolled provincial disability income support recipients into the CDB –in addition to the DTC.

At this time, most provinces have promised not to claw back disability income support to those who are also CDB recipients. They are designating the Canada Disability Benefit as “exempt income,” meaning recipients will receive $200 from the federal government in addition to their provincial amount. 

Data from Prosper Canada’s Disability Benefits Compass & Statistics Canada via CTV News.

*Alberta claws back provincial income support from recipients of the CDB.

**Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories excluded due to lack of data.


Alberta is the only exception to this. If a recipient of Alberta’s disability assistance –Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)–applies and receives the Canada Disability Benefit, their monthly AISH funding will decrease by the amount they receive from the CDB. The Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, rationalizes the decision by noting the higher income support Alberta provides in comparison to the other provinces. (Alberta provides up to $1901 per month whereas the second highest rate is $1483 in B.C.) Speaking with Wayne Nelson on the Alberta talk radio show “Your Province. Your Premier.” Smith says, “We also can’t be so far out of whack with the other provinces that people move here just to be on our social programs. We’ve got to be consistent with the other provinces.” The problem with this sentiment is that “consistent with the other provinces” means disabled people continuing to live in poverty. Although Alberta’s income support is the highest in Canada (as shown in the graph above), it still falls significantly lower than the poverty line. Instead of allowing their recipients to use what meager funds the federal government is offering its disabled citizens, the province of Alberta is using the Canada Disability Benefit as a cost-cutting opportunity for the provincial government. 

When the Canada Disability Benefit was first introduced, back in 2022, the then Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion claimed the CDB would “lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty,” while addressing the House of Commons. Numbers released by the federal government 2 years later, in 2024, showed the CDB would only raise 25 000 people out of poverty by 2028.

While the Canada Disability Benefit is still in its early days, the less-than-spectacular rollout of the benefit has left many disabled Canadians unimpressed and disappointed. Even so, there is cautious optimism that the benefit will grow into a more substantial and accessible support in the coming years.

Written by Emily Pot (Co-Editor)

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