JDRF advocates for all Canadians living with type

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JDRF Canada believes that every Canadian with type 1 diabetes should qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. The costs of managing type 1 diabetes are growing, creating more inequity between those who must pay additional disability expenses and other taxpayers. The purpose of the Disability Tax Credit is to provide greater tax equity by allowing some relief for disability costs.

JDRF believes the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) interpretation of the rules regarding life-sustaining therapy have now changed, resulting in many Canadians with type 1 diabetes being denied the tax relief they're eligible for under the Disability Tax Credit.

The out-of-pocket costs of managing type 1 diabetes are significant – and can cost up to $15,000 annually, depending on individual and provincial insurance coverage. To qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, medical practitioners must certify that people spend more than 14 hours per week administering insulin therapy and blood glucose testing. JDRF remains concerned that the advice of medical practitioners is no longer being accepted by the CRA.

On October 20, JDRF addressed members of Canada’s Standing Committee on Finance, advocating to make this benefit more widely available to all Canadians living with type 1 diabetes. The CRA has invited JDRF to meet on October 25 to discuss this issue further.

“Our constituents have voiced their frustration with the CRA’s recent interpretation of the eligibility criteria for the Disability Tax Credit. This is complex and time-consuming disease and we are speaking up on behalf of all Canadians living with type 1 diabetes. We will continue advocating to ensure their concerns are heard,” says Dave Prowten, President and CEO, JDRF Canada.

For more information on the Disability Tax Credit qualifications, please click  here . 

For more information on JDRF click  here .

About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international type 1 diabetes research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of type 1 diabetes research. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

Media Contact

Chloé Roussel National Bilingual Communications Specialist JDRF Canada croussel@jdrf.ca   647.789.2459