How the DTC Can Support Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Imagine you are living your life normally, and suddenly you start developing symptoms of forgetfulness and interference with memory, as well as problems with judgment-making skills and difficulties with daily life decision-making tasks, such as personal care. How would you feel? Not great, right?
What if we told you conditions like these – also known as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia – are cognitive impairments affecting a sufficient percentage of senior Canadian citizens? This condition has caused many of them to struggle with basic tasks or even find employment.
The Canadian government understands this and hence has brought forward the disability tax credit to ease the financial pressure on such individuals and their families. However, many people do not know about this credit in terms of cognitive impairment conditions or struggle with the application process. If you are someone who wants to understand how the DTC can support seniors living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, then this guide has you covered.
Why do Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia Qualify for the DTC?
The DTC is specifically designed for individuals who live with severe or prolonged impairments that impact their ability to perform basic activities of daily living. Senior citizens who have conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia often experience limitations in proper mental functioning, which is important for carrying out daily life tasks – this qualified under the CRA’s eligibility criteria for DTC.
The mental functions that are impacted usually include memory, organization, judgment, and problem-solving skills. Given that these impairments are necessary for normal functioning of life and your ability to live independently and safely, failure puts senior citizens with Alzheimer’s or Dementia on the DTC qualification list.
Eligibility Criteria for Cognitive Impairments in Terms of DTC
Now that you know that seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia do qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, please don’t go off thinking that this is the only criterion which they will have to check off. The CRA’s eligibility criteria for cognitive impairment are not limited to the condition alone but also include several other key points that must be considered. These are:
- The impairment must be severe enough to restrict at least one category of everyday life functions.
- The condition has to be prolonged. Meaning that it lasts or is expected to last for 12 months or more.
- The cognitive impairment is present at least 90% of the time of the day.
While these are some basic considerations, the approval of your tax credit is not limited to this only. Hence, it is always advisable to cross-check with professionals to ensure whether you qualify or not.
The Role Medical Practitioners Play in Such Conditions
Your Disability Tax Credit application has a section that your medical practitioner must fill out, stating the severity of your conditions and how they hinder your everyday life. These practitioners, in terms of cognitive impairment, can include a doctor, nurse, neurologist, or psychologist who will complete Form T2201.
Hence, it is essential to choose a practitioner who understands the patient’s condition thoroughly and can accurately describe their mental and functional decline. Moreover, the CRA follows a specific language pattern when describing medical diagnoses. Therefore, you should help your practitioner understand the CRA language or talk to someone who already has a command of it.
How to Apply on Behalf of a Senior with Cognitive Decline?
There is no denying that anyone with a cognitive impairment is not able to apply for the tax credit application themselves. Hence, for such senior members, the application can be applied by a family member or caregiver. Filling out the DTC application is not hard, and if you are wondering how to do it, then let us give you a rundown on it:
- Start by downloading the Form T2201 from the official CRA website.
- Now, please fill out the patient’s personal information and all other related tax information. Ensure that you fill all the required sections properly and leave behind no room for errors. Incomplete or incorrect applications may lead to denial of claims or rejection.
- Hire a medical professional who is familiar with the patient’s condition and ask them to complete the medical section of the application and certify it. This is one of the most important parts of the application.
- Lastly, apply online through the CRA’s My Account Portal or submit it directly to the CRA via email.
Swift Disability – Helping You Apply for the DTC with Ease
We understand that, at times, filling out the DTC form on your own for your parent or someone with cognitive impairment can be quite a task. This is because sometimes people do not understand the requirements properly or the legal aspects of the application. In such cases, you do not have to worry or refrain from seeking help. Many professional organizations work towards helping applicants with DTC forms, and one such organization is Swift Disability.
Swift Disability is an organization dedicated to assisting individuals across Canada with their disability tax credit applications. The service has a team of experts who specialize in this tax credit and help individuals navigate the difficulties and inefficiencies of the DTC, all while simplifying the process for them.
The question, however, is that while Swift Ability is great, what sets it apart from other competitors in business? Well, the service has a solid 97% approval rate and has made over 4,000 clients satisfied with their service. So, if you want to be on this list of approved providers, Swift Disability is the one you should trust.
Wrapping Up!
Suppose you are someone taking care of a senior citizen facing cognitive impairment conditions like Alzheimer’s or Dementia and want to apply the disability tax credit for them. In that case, we hope this article has been helpful to you. We suggest that you seek help from Swift Disability with your application process to smoothen your experience and ensure that no margin of error is left behind. Let us know if you have any other questions related to DTC.
