Real Examples of Approved Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Appeals
When your DTC application is denied, it can feel like you've hit a wall. But a denial is often just the beginning of a conversation with the CRA. With the right information and expert guidance, many denials can be successfully appealed.
At My Benefits Canada, we have helped thousands of Canadians overturn wrongful denials. Here are a few real, anonymized examples of clients we have helped.
Case Study 1: The Teacher with Severe Anxiety
A 45-year-old high school teacher from Ontario.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Panic Disorder.
The CRA stated that while her condition was serious, it did not meet the criteria of being a "marked restriction in a basic activity of daily living" that was present "all or substantially all of the time."
Her original application focused on her ability to work, which she could still do (with great difficulty). Our appeal refocused the narrative entirely on her life outside of work. We worked with her psychologist to document in detail how her anxiety prevented her from using public transportation, going grocery shopping alone, attending social gatherings, and managing her personal finances without assistance. We demonstrated that the "mental functions" required for these everyday tasks were severely restricted more than 90% of the time.
Appeal approved. She received over $22,000 in retroactive tax credits.
Case Study 2: The Retiree with Cumulative Effects
A 72-year-old retiree from British Columbia.
Osteoarthritis in both knees, Type 2 Diabetes, and moderate hearing loss.
The CRA reviewed each condition separately and concluded that none of them, on their own, constituted a "marked restriction."
This was a classic case of the CRA failing to consider the cumulative effects of multiple conditions. We built our appeal around a detailed timeline of his daily routine — documenting how the pain from his arthritis made dressing and undressing take three times longer than normal, how his diabetic neuropathy made walking even short distances difficult and painful, and how his hearing loss made using the phone or talking to cashiers a significant challenge. By showing how these seemingly moderate issues combined to create a significant overall impact, we successfully argued he met the cumulative effects criteria.
Appeal approved.
Case Study 3: The Child with ADHD
The parents of an 11-year-old boy in Alberta.
Severe Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The doctor's initial T2201 form was too vague. It simply stated the diagnosis but did not provide concrete examples of how ADHD impacted the child's daily life compared to other children his age.
We worked with the family and their pediatric psychologist to provide the CRA with a detailed, day-in-the-life narrative. We included specific examples of how the child's impairment in "mental functions" (like memory, problem-solving, and judgment) made it impossible for him to complete his homework without constant one-on-one supervision, be left unsupervised for even short periods, or manage his own morning and evening routines. By painting a clear picture of the severity of the impairment, the appeal was approved.
Appeal approved. Family became eligible for both the DTC and the Child Disability Benefit.