The Canada Disability Benefit: A Federal Monthly Payment at Age 18

What It Is

The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a federal program that provides monthly payments of up to $200 ($2,400 per year) to Canadians with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. It launched in July 2025 through the Canada Disability Benefit Act and is administered by Service Canada. Payments are made on the third Thursday of each month.

Why It Matters

The CDB provides additional monthly income on top of ODSP. Ontario has confirmed that CDB payments are not counted as income for ODSP purposes, meaning a person can receive both without one reducing the other. Starting in July 2026, the benefit amount and income thresholds will be adjusted for inflation.

Who Is Eligible

A person is eligible for the CDB if they are between 18 and 64, have an approved DTC on file with the CRA, are a Canadian resident, and have filed a federal income tax return for the relevant year. For most adults with developmental disabilities who have little or no personal income, the full $200 per month will be paid.

How Much Is Paid

The current maximum amount is $200 per month. For single individuals, the full amount is paid if the adjusted family net income is $23,000 or less (with up to $10,000 working income to be left out of the calculation). For every dollar above $23,000, the payment is reduced by 20 cents (20%). 

If an individual has a spouse or common law partner, that adjusted family net income threshold rises to $32,500 (with up to $14,000 of working income to be left out). For every dollar over that $32,500, the benefit is reduced by 20 cents (20%) if only one partner is eligible for CDB, or 10 cents (10%) per partner, if both partners are eligible.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through Service Canada: online, in person at a Service Canada office, or by phone at 1-833-486-3007 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Back payments may be issued for up to 24 months from the date the application is received, but not for any months before June 2025. The first payment is issued on the third Thursday of the month after approval.

When to Apply

The CDB can be applied for once a person turns 18 and their DTC is in place. Having the DTC approved and a tax return filed in advance of the 18th birthday allows the application to be submitted as soon as the person is eligible.

What It Costs

There is no cost to apply for or receive the CDB.

Practical Considerations

The CDB requires a separate application through Service Canada. It is not connected to ODSP and does not start automatically at age 18 or when the DTC is approved.

Filing the person’s tax return early in the year is helpful because the CDB payment amount is calculated based on the prior year’s return, and a late filing can delay payments.

The Child Disability Benefit, which was part of the Canada Child Benefit while a child was under 18, and the Canada Disability Benefit are separate programs. When a child turns 18, the Child Disability Benefit ends and the CDB requires its own application. Being aware of this transition allows the CDB application to be submitted around the time the person turns 18.

If a person turned 18 after July 2025 and has not yet applied, back payments may be available for up to 24 months from the date the application is received, but not for any period before June 2025 or before they turned 18.

ODSP and the CDB are administered by different levels of government on different payment schedules. The CDB arrives from the federal government on the third Thursday of the month, while ODSP arrives from the provincial government on the last business day of the month. They have separate reporting requirements and separate eligibility processes.