Conditions That May Qualify for the Disability Tax Credit
CRA approves functional impairments, not diagnoses. Any condition that markedly restricts a basic activity of daily living for 12 or more months may qualify. Explore our detailed guides for 18 of the most common qualifying conditions.
Browse All 18 Condition Guides
Each guide explains CRA's eligibility criteria, the DTC categories that apply, and documentation tips. Click a card to open the guide for that condition.
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mental functions category, documentation strategies.
Read Guide →Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASD DTC eligibility, categories (mental functions, speaking), child supplement, approval rates.
Read Guide →Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I and II, episodic 90% rule, manic/depressive episodes as functional restrictions.
Read Guide →Depression
Major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, mental functions category documentation.
Read Guide →Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, life-sustaining therapy route, 14-hour weekly threshold, insulin management.
Read Guide →Fibromyalgia
Chronic pain, walking/dressing restrictions, fibro fog as mental functions impairment, documentation.
Read Guide →Hearing Loss
Deafness, 55 dB threshold, audiologist certification, hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Read Guide →Mental Illness
Psychiatric conditions overview, mental functions category, 90% rule for episodic disorders.
Read Guide →Mobility / Walking
Walking category, 100m benchmark, mobility aids, arthritis, spinal conditions, amputation.
Read Guide →Multiple Sclerosis
RRMS vs progressive MS, EDSS scores, fatigue as functional restriction, relapse documentation.
Read Guide →PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans and first responders, VAC records, mental functions.
Read Guide →Schizophrenia
Positive and negative symptoms, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, positive claim rate.
Read Guide →Vision Loss
20/200 acuity threshold, 20-degree visual field, optometrist certification, blindness.
Read Guide →Anxiety
Panic disorder, GAD, OCD, treatment-resistant anxiety, mental functions category eligibility.
Read Guide →Arthritis
Rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, walking and dressing categories, 100m rule.
Read Guide →Crohn's Disease
Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, IBD, elimination category, ostomy management, biologics.
Read Guide →Chronic Pain
Failed back surgery, CRPS, neuropathy, walking and mental functions categories.
Read Guide →Sleep Apnea
CPAP and the 14-hour life-sustaining therapy threshold, why most claims fail.
Read Guide →All 18 Conditions at a Glance
CRA functional category, who can certify Part B, and one key eligibility consideration per condition. Sourced from CRA's published criteria and authorized practitioner list.
| Condition | CRA category | Authorized certifier | Key eligibility consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADHD | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | Cumulative effect with anxiety or depression often strengthens a claim |
| Anxiety | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | Document panic frequency and avoidance of basic activities |
| Arthritis | Walking, dressing | Doctor, NP, OT, physiotherapist | Walking time and dressing duration after medication wear-off matter most |
| Autism Spectrum | Mental functions, speaking | Doctor, NP, psychologist, SLP | Child supplement available; communication and self-care often qualify |
| Bipolar Disorder | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | Episodic 90% rule applied across mood episodes |
| Chronic Pain | Walking, mental functions | Doctor, NP, OT, physiotherapist | Document pain-related time on basic activities and concentration impact |
| Crohn's Disease | Eliminating | Doctor, NP | Frequency of bathroom visits and time away from activities is key |
| Depression | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | Treatment-resistant cases with daily impact document best |
| Diabetes (Type 1) | Life-sustaining therapy | Doctor, NP | 14 or more hours per week of insulin and glucose management qualifies via therapy route |
| Fibromyalgia | Walking, mental functions | Doctor, NP | Cumulative effect across pain, fatigue, and concentration often essential |
| Hearing Loss | Hearing | Doctor, NP, audiologist | Audiologist quantifies dB threshold; aids and cochlear implants do not disqualify |
| Mental Illness (broad) | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | Documentation of functional impact, not diagnosis, drives approval |
| Mobility / Walking | Walking | Doctor, NP, OT, physiotherapist | 100-metre benchmark and time-to-walk are key data points |
| Multiple Sclerosis | Walking, mental functions | Doctor, NP, neurologist | Both relapsing-remitting and progressive MS qualify; document relapses and fatigue |
| PTSD | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | VAC records and treatment history strengthen mental functions claims |
| Schizophrenia | Mental functions | Doctor, NP, psychologist | Negative symptoms and treatment-resistant cases document strongest |
| Sleep Apnea | Life-sustaining therapy | Doctor, NP | CPAP rarely meets the 14-hour weekly threshold; most claims fail |
| Vision Loss | Vision | Doctor, NP, optometrist | 20/200 visual acuity or 20-degree visual field is the certification threshold |
What this table does not show. Refund dollar amounts and condition-level approval rates are deliberately left out. CRA does not publish those figures, so any number presented here would be editorial guesswork. Your refund depends on your federal and provincial credit, taxable income, retroactive years, and family situation. Use our calculator for an estimate tied to your own numbers.
How CRA Determines Eligibility
CRA does not approve diagnoses, it approves functional impairments. The question is not "what condition do you have?" but "how does it restrict your daily functioning?" The impairment must:
- Markedly restrict one or more basic activities of daily living (vision, hearing, walking, speaking, eliminating, feeding, dressing, or mental functions)
- Apply all or substantially all of the time (90%+ of days)
- Have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 consecutive months
- Be certified by a qualified medical practitioner on Form T2201
Alternatively, a condition that requires 14+ hours per week of life-sustaining therapy (such as insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes) may qualify through the therapy route.
DTC Categories and Conditions
Each qualifying category corresponds to a different functional impairment. One condition can qualify under multiple categories.
| DTC Category | Common Qualifying Conditions | Who Certifies |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Functions | ADHD, Autism, Bipolar, Depression, PTSD, Schizophrenia, Mental Illness | Doctor, Psychologist, NP |
| Speaking | Autism (non-verbal), Stroke, ALS | Doctor, Speech-Language Pathologist |
| Hearing | Hearing Loss, Deafness | Doctor, Audiologist |
| Walking | MS, Mobility Conditions, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis | Doctor, Physiotherapist, OT, NP |
| Vision | Vision Loss, Blindness | Doctor, Optometrist |
| Dressing / Feeding | Autism, Mobility Conditions, Arthritis | Doctor, OT, NP |
| Life-Sustaining Therapy | Type 1 Diabetes (14+ hrs/wk) | Doctor, NP |
| Cumulative Effect | Multiple moderate restrictions combined | Doctor, NP |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. CRA does not approve diagnoses. CRA approves functional impairments. Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different DTC outcomes depending on how much the condition restricts basic activities of daily living. The diagnostic label on its own carries no weight in the CRA assessment.
It depends. If medication fully removes the restriction during waking hours, CRA may deny under the "controlled with therapy" clause. If you still experience restriction at least 90% of the time, or if the therapy itself takes 14 or more hours per week, you may still qualify. Document residual restriction, side effects, and therapy time on Part B. See our DTC denied appeal guide if a previous claim was rejected on this ground.
The cumulative effect rule lets you qualify when no single restriction reaches the marked threshold, but two or more partial restrictions, taken together, add up to 14 or more hours per week of extra support and time. This rule is the most common path to approval for conditions like ADHD plus anxiety, chronic pain plus fatigue, or arthritis plus mental fog.
For mental functions, CRA accepts a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or registered psychologist. For autism speech impairments, a speech-language pathologist may also certify. The practitioner must have direct knowledge of the patient and the duration of the impairment.
No. The 18 conditions on this page are the most commonly searched, not an exhaustive list. CRA approves functional impairment regardless of the underlying diagnosis. If your condition markedly restricts a basic activity of daily living for at least 12 months, you may qualify. Use our eligibility guide to check your specific situation, or open the resources hub for the official CRA pages.