Does the federal government fund autism programs?
The federal government provides for no Autism funding, however there quite a few goodies if you search for them.
There is the Disability Tax Certificate which provides for a Disability Tax credit, which is not means tested.
Then there is a plethora of benefits which are lumped together. They include:
- Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)
- Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB)
- BC Family Bonus
- National Child Benefit Supplement and
- Child Disability Benefit
Some of the above benefits are taxable and others are not. I won't begin to explain which ones you may qualify for, as some are means tested and others are not. Applying for these benefits is the easy part.
If you are already receiving the CCTB &/or the UCCB, then you just need to submit the T2201 Disability Tax Certificate. The government will calculate what benefits you are entitled to.
If you haven't applied for the CCTB, then you can apply using form Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application. To calculate what you may receive from the feds use their online calculator.
Can these benefits be back dated?
Yes! The first step in the process is to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (using the form T2201..See my page Disability Tax Credit). The response from CRA will indicate the effective date of the disability.
In the case of the DTC, you will submit a T1ADJ form requesting the adjustment from the effective date (hopefully birth). The form is easy to fill out and does not require that you perform any calculations. CRA will calculate the adjustment for you.
In the case the Child Disability Benefit, CRA will automatically calculate the amount for the current and the two previous CCTB benefit years. To claim for previous years you must submit a written request to CRA.
The DTC is worth about $2247 per year and the CDB about $2247 tax free (depending on your income level). The resulting refund can amount to a significant sum.