Has anybody else with type 2 diabetes received the tax credit? If so , how did you do it? Is there a set method of going about it? I certainly don't want anybody to lie or make false staememts but what was your secret?
Thanks. Looking forward for info as I just found out about thr credit..You can reply here in the forum or email me.
You can find more information about the tax credit here:
http://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/helping-you/advocacy/faq/tax-credit/
It refers to people with diabetes who use insulin and doesn't specify type, so as long as you can demonstrate you spend 14 hours a week on diabetes-related tasks, it shouldn't be any different/harder for you to apply than someone with Type 1 diabetes.
I've never applied for the tax credit for diabetes (I already get it because I'm registered as legally blind), so I can't help with more specific details. Good luck!
Jen:
Thanks for the reply...
pro
Darn, I got excited until I saw it was a Canadian thing...oh well, enjoy it my northern neighbors!
ZOE-control yourself. LOL
Haha you weren't the ONLY one to get excited. Yes enjoy1
Yes I would like to apply also.
Anthony-google disability Tax Credit and you will find the info you need...
Thats awesome...I had no idea!! Love this site more everyday!!
We have had a little experience with the disability tax credit (Canada). Keep in mind this is completely separate than getting a disability pension from the federal government, because that is an entirely different qualification process.
The bad news is, the government has drastically tightened up eligibility requirements for the tax credit in the last few years. You have to pretty much unable to get out of bed or function at all to get it. I would advise that if you are going to apply for it, make sure the doctor is familiar with the process and knows how to check the right boxes.
My spouse originally qualified for it back from 2005, but they wouldn't renew it in 2010 and turned down our appeal. Our doctor told us that pretty much all of her patients and those of other doctors were getting rejected. This is despite my wife's disability that leaves her unable to work and costs over $10,000 a year in medical costs - thankfully we have decent insurance through my employer.
The loss of the disability tax credit costs my family a good $2,000 off of our tax return. When the Conservative Party called me for a political contribution, I told them to take it of the tax credit they pulled out from under us.
A discussion about DTC ( disability tax credit )..in the Canadian People group was started in 2009 http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/canada/forum/topics/disability-tax-... including some editing comments ; the 3 rd comment may tickle your fancy so to speak , however one needs to be using MDI ( multiple daily doses of insulin or use insulin pump therapy .Another place one can check is ( Canadian ) TU member Barb Wagstaff's website www.diabetesadvocacy.com
I do qualify and have not had to complete the forms since 2011 until the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency ) advises me to re-apply
Same thing is happening in the UK, causing tremendous stress to those truly entitled to financial assistance. It wouldn't shock me if the Canadian Government pulled the same kind of stunt on diabetics receiving the DTC. Time will tell.
My Endo applied for the DTC on my behalf. The letter of confirmation gave me the precise date when my DTC expires and a new application has to be submitted. Personally I have never counted the hours I spend treating my diabetes. My Endo told me that I spend 14 hours/week and that's what he put on the application.
I posted in BJ's discussion " Help for anyone wanting assistance with the T2201 DTC forms "
Posted by BJ on February 24, 2012 at 12:57pm in Canada Diabetes Discussions.
" Be aware !!
August 6, 2012
Information from Canada Revenue Agency
Information for Qualified Practitioners
Persons with disabilities The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is advising physicians to contact it if they feel they are pressured
http://www.cma.ca/index.php?ci_id=204820&la_id=1
Disability tax credit applications rising by 10% annually
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is advising physicians to contact it if they feel they are being pressured to provide information to support patients' claims for the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC) that "they may not have medical records to support."
The advice comes as private companies that "help people apply" for the DTC and then claim a major portion of resulting refunds use advertising campaigns to seek potential applicants. The Toronto Star reported last year that one "refund company" claimed 30% of refunds resulting from DTC applications it initiated."
Please note , that this concern may apply to all other reasons, why one completes DTC , not only diabetes .
I think the only disability that qualifies for a tax credit is if one is blind or legally blind. I know as a Deaf person I certainly don't qualify. Why the discrepancy I don't have the slightest idea but I do know that legally blind people do qualify and I don't know about visually impaired people and if they would qualify.
Of course I am talking about disability tax credit in the USA.
I can't speak for the American rules, but they don't sound much different than Canada. Under the old rules my wife easily qualified for the DTC, but the government must be under pressure from the increasing number of claims being entered. Now the resulting triage of eligibility means that if you can carry on with your life, even it is of a limited or lowered quality, you are out of luck here.
I don't want to tell anybody not to try and apply, though. You just need to make sure that you understand what is in the forms and have good communication with your doctor about what he fills in (pressure, hah! the gov is the one applying pressure).
Finally, get ready for your appeal. Almost nobody gets the DTC on the first application. This is part of the government stalling process. Don't let it get you down, just read the rejection rationally and respond appropriately and you might end up with your DTC eventually.
Good links and info in those posts, nel. I don't see that applying anytime soon for myself, but Type 2s with the added items on your list definitely look eligible.
The key is the requirement for life-sustaining therapy (insulin, which I haven't had to use yet), and then its a matter of legitimately accounting for the necessary hours in the week to qualify.
Well I talked to my "diabetic" specialist Thursday on the phone and basically everything I had written on my justification letter was disallowed by him. He wants only(and I mean only)time spent on actual insulin duties. The fact that metformin(a diabetic med) has a sideffect of causing tiredness means nothing to him. The fact that because of being tired (and indisposed) from the metformin doesn't count towards the time factor,according to him. The fact that a sideeffect of diabetes itself is tiredness means nothing to him.The fact that I have neuropathy in my lower legs and its effects don't count towards the time factor.The fact that my vision blurs later on in the day doesn't count towards the time factor,according to him. I could mention more but my point has been made...In addition he wants a week's activities totalling 14 hours made up,even though I mentioned times on my first list and marked the times in red;plus I said in my first list that the times were for each day. He wants a time sheet with 7 days in a row and times for each day on it. I started to argue some of these points and he said"this is my decision".I called my family doctor but the lucky cuss is on vacation in Jamaca and I can't see him until March 4. It's time to ship this sucker away where he can practice medicine in the jungle....LOL
I have Type 1 diabetes and I want to apply for the Disability Tax Credit but I see that it requires 14 hours a week looking after their diabetic situation, what constitutes 14 hours of activity per week? If you check your blood before every meal and after each meal and before going to bed at 15 minutes per check before meals and possibly 5 -10 minutes again after meals and logging it down in a logbook that totals 20-25 minutes before meal sessions which means about 1&1/2 hours a day times 7 days a week which conservatively is about 10 to 10 and 1/2 hours a week which falls under the 14 hours required by CRA!
So what activity that takes 14 hours or more a week for people to check their glucose levels and take their insulin? Given the advancements in diabetic care and medications, why does a 14 hour time period need to be a factor?
Most people who are Type 1 are doomed to this disability for life with all its associated health complications, the only real question is the 14 hour timeline arrived at because some people may spend more or even less time looking after the diabetic health care, but the reality is that they are stuck with a health issue for life taking medication to alleviate some of the suffering or infirmity! without insulin most people will come down with severe complications or even death, so where do these government people come up with their idiotic formulas?