Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism, is a neurological condition that affects a large number of Canadian children and their families. In fact, it is the most common developmental disability amongst Canadians aged 5-17, with 1 in 66 children and youth diagnosed. As a result, minors with autism have trouble with social interactions, communication problems, and a tendency to repeat certain patterns of behavior.
Depending on where they fall on the spectrum, the severity of the condition and level of functioning differs from child to child. As a result, separate types of treatment and programs are offered to different kids. Parents raising children with high-functioning autism, for example, are subject to more expenses than those with kids who have low-functioning autism, due to the extra care commitment required.
Nevertheless, the cost of adequate care, medication, special programs, and other treatment for autism can be daunting. In some cases, long term care – which almost always falls on the parents – can be substantial, as much as $25,000 per year. Fortunately, there are provincial and federal programs provided by the Canadian government that can help families who face financial hardship due to a disability.
In Ontario, children and youth with autism can receive services and supports for their disability until the age of 18 through the Ontario Autism Program, as long as they are eligible. Nova Scotia offers an Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention program to help children with autism develop their language and vocabulary, as well as improve communications and social skills. Additionally, Saskatchewan provides flexible funding to those eligible through their *Action Plan for Citizens with Cognitive Disabilities *and other programs.
Expenses incurred due to autism vary from household to household and child to child, of course. That said, federal programs such as the child disability tax credit can provide economic support to any family that qualifies, cutting the costs they would pay out of pocket and lessening the financial burden as a result.
THE FINANCIAL SETBACKS OF HAVING AUTISM
Because there is no cure, parents of children with autism special programs and treatment for their child, which is not only very costly but often done by trial and error, adding on to the expenses as a result. This includes therapy, special classes, and activities, as well as sensory aids, and can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars per year.
This is obviously very taxing to the parents, most of whom need to quit their steady jobs in order to be a full-time carer to their autistic child, resulting in a huge loss of income. Those who need to work often request an accommodation from their place of employment or take other jobs that will give them a flexible enough schedule so they can meet their child’s needs.
For many parents of children with autism in Canada, leaving or requesting any accommodation from their job is simply part of the process. Although it would allow some of these parents to be with their child 24/7, or at least add some flexibility to their schedules, it doesn’t help that the costs of paying for autism-related services are steep.
What’s more, what works for some children doesn’t necessarily work for others – having to find the appropriate and adequate treatment is not only time-consuming and expensive, it is also very stressful.
For instance, one family can be paying $300 a month for three hours a week of behavioral intervention sessions, $2,000 for therapy team meetings and school meetings, in addition to private school tuition. Another family can be paying up to $10,000 a year for therapy sessions, as well as $135 a week for private therapy.
Because the majority of parents with autistic children are wait-listed for funding or treatment, they often must go to extreme measures to support their child, which includes spending lots of time and money on finding worthwhile programs. As the expenses keep piling on, significant debt is accrued, illustrating just how financially taxing autism continues to be on families.
HOW THE CHILD DISABILITY TAX CREDIT CAN RELIEVE FINANCIAL STRESS
Administered by the CRA, the child disability tax credit provides assistance to families who are responsible for children with disabilities. It is a supplemental amount to the Canada Child Benefit paid to claimants of the disability tax credit (DTC) for minors under 18 years of age but must be applied for by anyone parent who is taking primary care of that child.
In addition to that, the child disability benefit (CDB) will automatically apply if parents are eligible to receive DTC for their child under 18, which is under certain circumstances or situations. It is important to note that the CDB is separate from the child disability tax credit and is reliant on the fact that someone is receiving the disability tax credit.
Of course, the child disability tax credit will be calculated differently depending on the family or situation. Using the disability tax credit calculator would help determine the approximate amount of funding someone will receive if found eligible for DTC.
For instance, the family of a 7-year-old child with autism in Ontario may be eligible to receive a retroactive tax-refund of a little over $20,000, depending on the child’s date of birth and how long they’ve been dealing with the condition. This is because the CRA allows those who qualified for the DTC in the past to request adjustments for up to 10 years prior, as long as those credits were unclaimed.
Furthermore, those who qualify for the disability tax credit can further save for their long-term financial security with the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). This is a savings plan specific for people with disabilities, created to help them and their families.
SUMMARY
Caring for a child with autism is extremely overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. Families incur significant economic costs because developmental disabilities require expensive and adequate treatment, which only adds to the struggle of living with one.
In addition to the different forms of therapy, special schooling, intervention sessions, and other treatment can cost families with autistic children up to $20,000 per year, depending on the severity of the condition. The fact that most parents need to leave their jobs to become a full-time carer or downgrade their careers for a more flexible schedule – resulting in a significant loss of income – only makes the situation worse.
Fortunately, the Canadian government – both provincial and federal – provides programs to offset some of these costs, such as the child disability tax credit. Administered by the CRA, the purpose of this credit is to assist tax-paying Canadian families facing financial hardship due to a disability, as long as they are eligible, and allows them to experience some financial relief as a result.
This is a contributed post and may not represent the views and opinions of this blog or its author.
