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Ostomy-Canada-Connects-March-2019Category Archives: Disability Tax Credit
Did You Know about the Disability Tax Credit?
DID YOU KNOW? That any person living with an ostomy is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit when a qualified medical practitioner certifies the Disability Tax Credit certificate and Canada Revenue Agency approves your application.
DID YOU KNOW? That the existing Disability Tax Credit Committee which is an Ad-Hoc Committee of Ostomy Canada Society’s Advocacy Committee is still active and meets only when the chair feels it is necessary. We will continue to meet to discuss issues that arise as well as updates to the credit criteria and application.
DID YOU KNOW? That the committee is still sending a request to meet with Canada’s Revenue Disability Advisory Committee to advocate for the NSWOC Nurse’s certification on the DTC application. These NSWOC Nurses are the people most educated in reference to living with an ostomy. We continue to send our request off on a three-month interval.
DID YOU KNOW? That four people from the NSWOCC continue to sit on our committee and continue to support our goals for the betterment of people living with an ostomy and the Disability Tax Credit. Their Association also continues to support our society with a monetary contribution for the printing of the DTC pamphlet.
DID YOU KNOW? That the DTC pamphlet is available as a download on our National Website as well as requesting the pamphlets from our National Office. These pamphlets are available for your groups to distribute to your members, your physicians and your clinics.
DID YOU KNOW? That in 2011-2012 there were 39649 approved applications and 24043 were new accepted. In 2016 – 2017 there were 51080 approved applications and 23688 were new accepted. These numbers consists of the disabilities that are listed on the application such as vision, hearing, diabetes and of course ostomies. I like to think that just maybe the Disability Tax Credit Committee as well as our promotional efforts to market this credit to people living with an ostomy has contributed to this increase.
DID YOU KNOW? That Ostomy Canada is here to assist. Please contact us via way of our website or email to our national office for any assistance you might require.
Ann Durkee-MacIsaac, Leader
Disability Tax Credit Committee
Ostomy Canada Society
Problems with your Disability Tax Credit Application? Government can help.
The Government of Canada now has a website where you can diagnose your Disability Tax Credit application problems. Follow this link CRA disability resolution link
We Went To The Federal Government On Your Behalf
We have recorded April 26, 2018, as the date for a great opportunity to ask the Federal Government to ADD “A Nurse Specializing in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), formerly an ET, to the mandatory certification section of the T2201 form – application for the Disability Tax Credit.
Ann Ivol, President of Ostomy Canada Society, Cathy Harley, Executive Director of NSWOCC, Rosemary Hill, President of NSWOCC and myself, Leader of the Disability Tax Credit Committee –ad-hoc committee of the OCS Advocacy Committee presented our “ASK” to Caitlin Symberski, Policy Advisor for the Minister of National Revenue and members of the Office Policy Team.
Following the presentation (attached) we asked “THAT THEY PLEASE CONSIDER NSWOCC AS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER TO CERTIFY A DISABILITY TAX CREDIT APPLICATION (T2201).
Cathy Harley was present at Parliament House and the remainder of us were on a teleconference. The presentation was professional, informative and our “ASK” was direct. Our agenda allotted time for a question and answer period and we were pleased that many of their questions were answered in the time that we had. They were very interested in how a person lives with an ostomy and what the role of a Specialized Nurse (NSWOCC) was. They offered us information about the Disability Tax Credit and were generous with their time. We totalled for 45 minutes.
We have been asked to present a formal written presentation to the following:
- Office of the Minister of Finance-Ian Foucher, Senior Policy Advisor
- The CRA’s Disability Advisory Committee
Our objective is to continue with our mission until we reach a satisfactory result. This has been an ongoing objective for our committee for over a year now and today was rewarding and satisfying. We believe we got their attention.
As Leader of the Disability Tax Credit Committee, I express my appreciation to the entire committee, NSWOCC, and the three that went to Ottawa with me. We have climbed one more rung on the ladder today and we will continue to reach for the top FOR EACH OF YOU.
Ann Durkee-MacIsaac
Disability Tax Credit Committee Leader
Click here to download brochure.
Caitlin-Szymberski-and-Members-of-the-Office-Policy-Team-LetterheadDisability Tax Credit Brochure
The Disability Tax Credit Committee consists of members from Ostomy Canada Society and the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy. They have been meeting monthly to discuss and plan the implementation of a strategy to inform the medical community, pharmacies, patients, and the general public about how people living with an ostomy can qualify for the Canadian Disability Tax Credit.
Their efforts have resulted in a trifold brochure has been printed and available through both organizations, as well as on their websites. Call or email the Ostomy Canada office for printed copies. The brochure is available for download below in English, and in French.
OCS_DTC_brochure_final_rev_HRDownload English version here.
OCS_DTC_brochure_French_final_rev_HRIf you are denied, read your letter from CRA to see what is wrong or missing. In most cases, it is because the following phrase was not used on the form:
For Urostomy:
“Uses a device to eliminate the bladder. This patient is markedly restricted in eliminating with a device and takes an inordinate amount of time to personally manage bladder functions. In addition, personal management is very costly.”
For Ileostomy or Colostomy:
“Uses a device to eliminate the bowel. This patient is markedly restricted in eliminating with a device and takes an inordinate amount of time to personally manage bowel functions. In addition, personal management is very costly.”
The Government of Canada now has a website where you can diagnose your Disability Tax Credit application problems. Follow this link CRA disability resolution link