Maximum annual CDB (2026-2027)
Income threshold for full benefit
Retroactive eligibility
Figures above: Canada Revenue Agency, 2026 benefit tables · CRA, July 2026 benefit year · CRA T2201 guidelines
Guide values reviewed . Program amounts and eligibility can change; confirm them with the administering agency.
CRA child disability benefit amounts2026–27 maximum and income threshold checked July 10, 2026.
To receive the CDB, a child must first qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. For autistic children, the most common qualifying category is a marked restriction in mental functions necessary for everyday life. This includes adaptive functioning such as self-care, social skills, and the ability to manage daily routines without supervision.
A medical practitioner — physician, psychologist, or nurse practitioner — must complete Form T2201 (Disability Tax Credit Certificate). The form documents the nature, severity, and expected duration of the impairment. Autism diagnoses generally qualify when the practitioner can attest that the child requires significantly more time than peers to perform daily activities.
CRA reviews applications and may request additional information. Approvals are typically backdated to the onset of the disability, which can result in a lump-sum retroactive payment covering several years.
For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, the maximum CDB is $3,480 per year ($290.00 per month) per eligible child. This amount is income-tested: families with adjusted family net income below $82,847 receive the full amount, and the benefit phases out gradually above that threshold.
The CDB is paid monthly alongside the Canada Child Benefit. Families who already receive CCB will see the CDB added to their existing deposits once the DTC is approved. Retroactive payments for previous years where the child was eligible can be substantial — up to 10 years of back payments are possible.
Because the CDB is tax-free, it does not count as income for Ontario social assistance programs including the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works.
Request your child's diagnostician complete Form T2201 at the time of the autism assessment — this avoids a second appointment and fee. Many Ontario diagnostic hubs now include DTC paperwork as part of their standard assessment package.
If denied, families can request a review or file a formal objection. The autism community has documented that initial denial rates are higher than expected; appeals are frequently successful when additional clinical detail is provided. Organizations like Autism Ontario offer guidance on the appeal process.
Canada Revenue Agency
Disability Tax Credit and Canada Child Disability Benefit, 2026-2027 benefit year tables
Parliamentary Budget Officer
Federal Disability Tax Expenditures and Approval Rates, 2023 report
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
$200/month
The Canada Disability Benefit provides up to for eligible Canadians with disabilities
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement