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The Canada Disability Benefit, explained

Up to $204.20 a month for ages 18 to 64 with the Disability Tax Credit. Who gets it, how income changes it, when it is paid and how far back it goes.

Checked against official sources on September 28, 2026.

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A man in a wheelchair typing on a laptop in a bright room

The Canada Disability Benefit is a monthly federal payment for working-age people who have been approved for the Disability Tax Credit. It started in July 2025, pays up to $204.20 a month from July 2026, and shrinks as income rises. This page covers who gets it, how the amount is worked out, when it is paid and what to do if the decision is wrong.

$204.20
A month at most
July 2026 to June 2027; it was $200 the year before
$2,450
A year at most
Paid monthly, on the third Thursday
18 to 64
Ages covered
Including the month you turn 65
24 months
Back pay at most
But not for months before June 2025

Who can get it

You can get the Canada Disability Benefit if you are:

generally between 18 and 64 years old, including the month you turn 65
approved for the Disability Tax Credit (check whether you might be)
a resident of Canada for income tax purposes
a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act, a protected person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the past 18 months

You, and your spouse or common-law partner if you have one, must have filed your 2025 federal tax return to get payments from July 2026. You can apply up to six months before your 18th birthday.

Before you apply

Your Disability Tax Credit approval letter, or the notice of determination from CRA.
Last year’s tax return filed, for you and your spouse or partner.
Your Social Insurance Number and direct deposit details.
Proof of status if Service Canada asks: citizenship, permanent residence, Indian status, protected person, or 18 months in Canada as a temporary resident.

How the amount is worked out

Everyone starts from the same maximum. Income from the 2025 tax return decides the reduction for payments from July 2026 to June 2027.

$2,450.40

the yearly maximum

−

20%

of income above the line

$23,483

the line for a single person

$10,210

of working income is left out first

Your benefit for the year, paid in 12 parts

For a couple the line is $33,182.50 and up to $14,294 of combined working income is left out. If both partners get the benefit, each loses 10 cents per dollar instead of 20.

A woman with a prosthetic leg walking past a modern building — Working does not cost you the whole benefit: the first $10,210 of work income is left out before the test.

Canada.ca’s own example, for the first year: Dan is single and earned $35,000 from work in 2024, with no other income. The first $10,000 of work income was left out, so $25,000 counted. That was $2,000 above $23,000, so his benefit dropped by $400 a year, 20% of $2,000. He got $2,000 for the year: $166.67 a month from July 2025 to June 2026. The 2026–27 lines are 2.1% higher.

A single person’s monthly benefit by income, July 2026 to June 2027

Income from all sources, with no working income. Earning the money from work moves every line up by as much as $10,210.

Item	Bar	Per month
No income		$204.20 a month
$23,483		$204.20 a month
$26,000		$162.25 a month
$29,000		$112.25 a month
$32,000		$62.25 a month
$35,000		$12.25 a month
$36,000		$0.00 a month

Estimate your own amount with your income, your work income and whether your partner also gets the benefit. If the monthly amount comes to $20 or less, the regulations pay it as one lump sum for the rest of the payment year.