HOME > ABOUT THE CANADA DISABILITY BENEFIT > APPLYING FOR THE DISABILITY TAX CREDIT
Applying for the Disability Tax Credit
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Certificate (Form T2201), can be accessed here or by contacting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
The DTC application has two parts.
Part A must be filled out by the person with a disability or their legal representative.
Part B must be completed by a medical practitioner to certify your impairment.
You can apply online, by phone, or by mailing in a hard copy. You may also request an alternative format from the CRA. A legal representative can also apply on behalf of someone.
Make sure to save a copy of your application for your records.
If applying online:
Part A will be submitted through your CRA account.
After completing Part A, you will receive a reference number for your medical practitioner to use for Part B.
If applying by phone:
You have the option to call a call centre agent (1-800-959-8281) or use the automated voice service (1-800-463-4421).
When applying by phone, the person you speak to will submit Part A for you.
After completing Part A, you will receive a reference number for your medical practitioner to use for Part B.
If you are filling out a hard copy of the form:
Complete Part A on your own. You can also fill it out on your computer and then print it and mail it in, or print it out and scan it and send it in online.
Make sure to sign the authorization section of the form or the CRA will not process your request.
You can send in Part A separate from Part B, or send them in together. If sending them in separately, make sure to ask your medical practitioner to send it in.
The last page of the form has the mailing addresses for the three tax centers in Canada that it can be sent to.
For your medical practitioner when submitting Part B:
Your medical practitioner can fill out Part B online with a reference number.
They cannot fill out Part B by phone.
They can mail in a hard copy by printing it out and mailing it in. They can also print a hard copy and scan it and send it in online.
Your medical practitioner does not need to submit Part B in the same format that Part A was submitted.
For more information on the DTC application visit the CRA website.
Finding a medical practitioner to fill out Part B
Part B can be filled out by specific medical practitioners depending on what area(s) of daily living you experience restrictions in:
Medical doctor, including psychiatrists (all categories)
Nurse practitioner (all categories)
Optometrist (vision)
Audiologist (hearing)
Occupational therapist (walking, feeding, or dressing)
Physiotherapist (walking)
Psychologist (mental function)
Speech-language pathologist (speaking)
The medical practitioner may charge a fee for completing your form. The federal government has allocated funding to cover the cost of the medical forms required for your DTC application. This funding is not yet available, and the government has not released any further information on when or how the fees will be covered. We will provide updates as they become available.
Before seeing a medical practitioner
Before your appointment with your medical practitioner, it is helpful to prepare. We have lots of resources to help you prepare for your appointment.
It is a good idea to review every section of the form and your restrictions in full before your appointment. This will help you communicate the severity of your restrictions with your medical practitioner and make sure they have enough information to fill out the form.
Ask yourself questions that will help your medical practitioner fill out Part B of the form. Consider:
What activities of daily living can you not do at all, or need a significant amount of help to do?
What activities of daily living take you 2-3 times longer to do than somebody your same age without restrictions?
How often do your symptoms occur?
What symptoms do you experience, and how do those symptoms impact daily living activities?
How often do your symptoms occur?
What medications do you take? How effective are they at managing your restrictions?
What accessibility devices do you use? How much do those help with your restrictions?
If you’re completing the application form for a child, ask whether they are expected to meet the milestones of their same-aged peers.
You might also find it helpful to use Disability Alliance BC (DABC)’s My DTC Tool to collect information that will help your medical practitioner to complete Part B of the form. You can also contact our Disability Planning Helpline for help completing the form and preparing for the appointment with your medical practitioner. Please note that if you are a resident of BC. and want help completing your DTC application, we may refer you to our partner organization, DABC.
On the application, your medical practitioner will need to be as detailed as possible, so that the CRA has the information they need to make a correct assessment. The CRA is not concerned about an applicant’s ability to work, go to school, manage money, do housework, drive, or participate in recreational activities. Avoid discussing those topics as it can lead to more questions and may result in a denial. Any symptoms that are unpredictable, like sudden pain flare-ups or reactions to medication or treatments, are relevant to the application.
Other things to consider with your DTC application
Processing time
The CRA aims to process your application and mail you a notice of determination within 8 weeks of receiving it. However it can take longer during busy periods. The CRA may also contact your medical practitioner if they have follow-up questions. If you want to receive the CDB in July 2025, you will need to apply for the DTC as soon as possible to make sure you get approved in time
You can check current CRA processing times here.
Filling out Part B according to what the government is looking for
Filling out the application and describing impairments according to what the government is looking for can be challenging for you and your medical practitioner. We created a guide specifically to help medical professionals complete the form, A Medical Practitioner’s Guide to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). We suggest you read this before meeting with your medical practitioner and share it with them.
Approval duration
After you submit your application, you may be approved for the current year as well as past years and/or future years. It is common to get DTC approval for 5 or 10 years into the future. This means you will need to reapply. Make sure you do it during the year in which your Disability Tax Credit expires.
You may also be approved indefinitely. If this happens, you will not have to reapply until the CRA asks you to.
You must currently be approved for the DTC to receive the CDB.
Having your application denied
Do not be discouraged if your DTC application is denied. Being denied does not always mean that you are ineligible. Your application might not have enough information or the information may need some adjustments. However, you have options:
You can contact the CRA to get more information on why you were denied. You will also be given a reason for denial on your notice of determination, the letter from the CRA that tells you the outcome of your DTC application.
You can contact the CRA to ask for a review of your application. You will need to gather more medical information and send it to support your application.
If you disagree with the CRA’s decision on your application, you can file an objection. You have 90 days from the date on your notice of determination to file an objection to the Chief of Appeals. If the Chief of Appeals denies your application, you can escalate it to Tax Court.
If you live in BC, DABC can also advocate on your behalf through their Advocacy Access Program. They may be able to act as an authorized representative and file an objection on your behalf.
You can also reapply for the DTC at any time. Be sure to include specific information about how you are restricted and ensure all parts of the form are completed correctly.