More than 150 organizations call for fixes to the Disability Tax Credit

Today, Momentum joins with more than 150 organizations across Canada in issuing a statement that urges the federal government to take a new approach to defining disability and to fix the Disability Tax Credit.

It is estimated that 75% of those eligible are not accessing the Disability Tax Credit due to administrative barriers. The statement calls for reforms to address these barriers, including using a standardized definition of disability, centralizing the process for determining disability status and automatically extending disability certification to people already receiving benefits at the provincial or territorial level. It also calls for plain language forms, direct reimbursement, simpler renewal processes and more funding for benefits navigation support.

Earlier this fall, Momentum and Aspire Calgary provided comments on proposed changes to various tax measures specifically in regard to the Disability Tax Credit, urging the government to work towards streamlining the application.

This work was informed by a report Momentum published in early 2026. Increasing Access to the Disability Tax Credit: Establishing Alternative Pathways to Confirm Disability Tax Credit Eligibility outlined the barriers preventing those living with a disability from accessing the Disability Tax Credit, which operates as a gateway to over a dozen federal benefits designed to offset the costs associated with living with a disability.

We are pleased to be sharing the joint statement we signed along with our partners. You can read the full statement here: https://maytree.com/publications/more-than-150-organizations-call-for-a-new-approach-to-defining-disability-in-canada/

Have you or someone you know struggled to access the Disability Tax Credit? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to Momentum’s public policy team at: publicpolicy@momentum.org