A Millbrook woman with Type 1 diabetes says a Canada Revenue Agency clawback of the federal disability tax credit puts people with her disease at risk.
“It’s not cheap, being a Type 1 diabetic,” Linda Sage said.
Sage said she spends about $400 a month before some of her costs are reimbursed, either through her spouse’s drug plan or through provincial initiatives for people with Type 1 diabetes.
But not all her costs are recuperated, and Sage said it adds up. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) can provide those who qualify with a tax credit of up to $1,500.
In order to qualify, individuals have to demonstrate that they spend 14 hours per week on therapy for a disability. This is usually done with the help of health-care providers. Sage said Revenue Canada measures things like time spent checking sugar levels and administering insulin. But Sage said managing diabetes is a full-time job.
“It’s all about being aware of what we actually do go through, just to maintain our diabetes,” she said.
Right now, Sage is still eligible for the credit, but that eligibility expires in 2021.