Increase Canada Disability Benefit
Petitioners ask the House to raise the Canada Disability Benefit to at least $2,150/month for all disability recipients and remove its link to the Disability Tax Credit. The government responds that it launched the Canada Disability Benefit in 2025 (up to $2,400/year), uses the DTC for eligibility and is simplifying DTC applications.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would raise monthly income to the petitioners' $2,150 target, directly increasing purchasing power and reducing poverty among disabled people on fixed incomes.
- Removing the DTC link would broaden access because many disabled people are not enrolled in the Disability Tax Credit, so more people could qualify.
- A higher, universal disability payment would help cover essentials—rent, food and other rising costs—providing a more dignified, stable standard of living.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The suggested increase would be costly for federal budgets; opponents may prefer phased improvements or targeted supports rather than a large across‑the‑board raise.
- Using the Disability Tax Credit simplifies and standardizes eligibility nationwide, so decoupling could create new administrative complexity and slower rollout.
- The government has recently launched the Canada Disability Benefit and provides up to $2,400/year; critics might argue improving uptake and administration could be more effective than an immediate large increase.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Medical assistance in dying exists to allow for a dignified death, but no such program exists that allows for disabled people to have a dignified life; The Canada Disability Benefit does little to address the seriousness about the poverty that disabled people live under, despite the stated intention to "reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities"; The Canada Disability Benefit is tied to the Disability Tax credit; According to the most recent data from Canada.ca, only 1.6 million Canadians have access to the Disability Tax Credit, while roughly 8 million Canadians are identified as disabled; During COVID-19 the government recognized that $2,000 a month was the bare minimum needed to survive; and the increased cost of living leaves essentials such as food and housing especially unattainable for those on a fixed income. We, the undersigned, Residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to prioritize a dignified life for individuals with disabilities by substantially increasing the disability pension. Starting by raising the Canada Disability Benefit so that a minimum of $2,150/month is earned for everyone who receives disability payments. Furthermore, we demand that this benefit be decoupled from the Disability Tax Credit to ensure broader accessibility.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Signed by Annie Koutrakis Through targeted investments under the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, of which the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is the cornerstone, the Government of Canada continues to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities. Budget 2024 invested $6,1 billion over six years for the CDB to improve the financial security of working age Canadians with disabilities. Upon successful completion of the regulatory making process, the Government successfully launched the new CDB in June 2025 with first payments beginning in July 2025. The benefit provides up to $2,400 per year to low-income persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. It is intended to supplement, not replace, existing provincial and territorial income support measures and fill a gap in the federal social safety net between the Canada Child Benefit and Old Age Security. The benefit amount is also indexed to inflation, meaning it is adjusted each July to reflect increases in the cost of living. It is expected that the CDB will improve the financial security of over 465,000 people in 2025-26 and over 600,000 people by 2028-29. The disability tax credit (DTC) was chosen as an eligibility criteria so that the government could deliver the CDB as quickly as possible and ensure nationwide consistency of eligibility. Basing disability eligibility on the DTC ensures that the CDB is delivered in a consistent and equal way across Canada to those whose disabilities have a severe impact on their daily activities. In addition, using the DTC streamlines and simplifies the application process for the many working-age persons with disabilities who are already qualified for the tax credit. The DTC can provide access to many other federal programs, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan, including the Canada Disability Savings Bond and the Canada Disability Savings Grant, the Canada Workers Benefit disability supplement, and some provincial and territorial programs such as the Newfoundland and Labrador Disability Benefit, Nova Scotia’s Income Assistance Disability Supplement, and Manitoba’s RentAssist. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has been working to simplify the application process for the DTC and introduced a fully digital DTC application process in 2023, which makes it faster and easier for applicants and their medical practitioners to digitally complete the application form. The traditional paper form remains available to those who are unable to, or prefer not to, complete the application online or by phone. The CRA is also working to increase awareness and uptake of the DTC among underserved populations and regions. Work underway includes providing outreach through DTC navigators who assist with complex files, and through better communication with applicants. The Government remains committed to making it easier to apply for the DTC and making improvements to the CDB over time.