The contribution of caregivers in our society is considerable. There are nearly 1.5 million in Quebec. In addition to allowing seniors with a loss of autonomy and people with disabilities to maintain their dignity and comfort with their loved ones, they allow governments to save on the costs of health care for these people. This is why governments have decided to put in place measures to support caregivers.
What Does It Mean to Be a Caregiver?
According to the Politique nationale pour les personnes proches aidantes, an informal caregiver designates any person who provides support to one or more members of their entourage who have a temporary or permanent disability of a physical, psychological, psychosocial or other nature, regardless of their age or their living environment, with whom they may or may not share an emotional or family bond. It is important for the nature of the support provided to be free, revocable and informed. The goal of the assistance provided should be to promote the recovery of the person being helped and the maintenance or improvement of his or her quality of life.
There are different ways in which it is possible to provide support to the person being cared for. Emotional, psychological and social support, legal obligations, domestic work and medical care are examples among others. For example, you could be the person who helps with bathing, cooking or getting to appointments. Very often, the same individual will provide several types of support to the person requiring accompaniment. Caregivers can experience worry, fatigue, anger and all sorts of consequences. This is why there are resources to help caregivers when necessary.
Tax Credit Programs
The provincial and federal levels of government both offer different measures that can help caregivers. Among these measures, those most used by taxpayers are the two tax credits for informal caregivers. At the provincial level, it is called the Crédit d’impôt pour personne aidantes and at the federal level, it is the Canada caregiver credit.
Provincial Government Caregiver Tax Credit
Formerly called crédit d’impôt remboursable pour proche aidant, the tax credit for caregivers is also refundable and aims to reduce the financial demands that may accompany the role of natural caregivers. Since the form changed in 2020, this measure is now divided into two parts.
The first part is intended for people helping a person over the age of 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical and mental functions and who requires support to perform an activity of daily living. Relationships do not matter in his case. The second part reaches all the people helping a loved one over 70 years of age with whom there is cohabitation.
Eligibility Criteria
You think this tax credit could be useful to you, but you are not sure whether you meet the eligibility criteria? To guide you, here is a list of the criteria in question.
- Reside in Quebec on December 31 of the year covered by the application;
- Have not received any remuneration for the assistance you provided to the eligible person being cared for;
- No person, except your spouse, enters an amount for you on line 367, 378 or 381 of his or her return;
- No one is claiming the tax credit for caregivers;
- You or your spouse, if applicable, were not exempt from tax for the year covered by the request.
- The person assisted must not reside in a private seniors’ residence or in a dwelling located in a public network facility.
How Much Am I Entitled To?
You have come this far in your reading and this is the one question that comes to your mind: how much money can I claim?
For the year 2021, a caregiver cohabiting with an adult with a disability was able to obtain a tax credit of up to $1,266 with the possibility of an additional amount of up to $1,266, which is twice the amount.
A caregiver who did not cohabit with an adult with a disability, or a caregiver who cohabits with a person (other than their spouse) who is over 70 and has no disability, was entitled to a tax credit of up to $1,266 for 2021, which could not, however, be doubled in this case.
It is good to know that, unlike previous years, the tax credit can be divided between several caregivers. In the situation where you and another member of your family provide support to the person cared for, you could both be entitled to part of this tax credit.
You have just taken into account that this measure exists and you are now under the impression of having missed out on it for several years? Rest assured, it is possible to apply for the tax credit for caregivers up to 10 years ago. You are also entitled to as many tax credits as people helped. It’s convenient, isn’t it?
For more details on the conditions affecting the amount of the tax credit, visit the Crédit d’impôt pour personne aidante page on the Revenu Québec website.
Other Tax Credits to Consider Are:
- Crédit d’impôt pour maintien à domicile des aînés
- Crédit d’impôt pour les activités des aînés
- Crédit d’impôt pour frais engagés par un aîné pour maintenir son autonomie
- Crédit d’impôt pour le soutien des aînés
Be Equipped to Help a Senior With a Loss of Autonomy
You are a caregiver and you realize that the task is becoming more and more demanding? Are you worried that you may no longer be able to provide the necessary care to maintain your parents’ quality of life? Many people find themselves in this situation every year. Senior Housing Specialists are there to support you in your efforts. Whether it is to find a retirement home for elderly people with loss of autonomy or for your parents who would like a more social environment, the Bonjour Résidences team offers you its free services to find accommodation adapted to your needs.
Contact us at 1 844 918-1020 for more information and to speak to a member of our team.
