Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Attention Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) stakeholders:

A Request for Standing Offers opened on June 4th and is running until July 15, 2013, for small to large organizations across Canada. The Request will provide RDSP information sessions and one-on-one assistance to disability-diverse populations and their families. During the sessions, participants will learn more about the RDSP and how to apply for the plan, grant and bond. Find out more about submitting a proposal.

Introduction to the RDSP

The RDSP is a long-term savings plan to help Canadians with disabilities and their families save for the future. If you have an RDSP, you may also be eligible for grants and bonds to help with your long-term savings.

You should consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) if you have a long-term disability and are:

  • eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (Disability Amount);
  • under age 60 (if you are 59, you must apply before the end of the calendar year in which you turned 59);
  • a Canadian resident with a Social Insurance Number (SIN); and
  • looking for a long-term savings plan.

Open an RDSP

Accessible RDSP Video

The Registered Disability Savings Plan, Canada Disability Savings Grant and Canada Disability Savings Bond video can be viewed in American Sign Language, in Langue des signes québécoise, and through closed captioning. It is also available through voice narration.

Transcript

(A woman is standing in front of a black backdrop communicating in American Sign Language.)

I'm pleased to tell you about a federal government program to help Canadians with disabilities and their families save for the future.

It's the Registered Disability Savings Plan or RDSP.

Who should consider opening an RDSP?

Well, you are eligible if you have a long-term disability and are:

  • under the age of 60;
  • a Canadian resident with a Social Insurance Number;
  • eligible for the Disability Tax Credit; and
  • looking for a long-term savings plan.

To encourage savings, the Government of Canada pays a matching grant of up to 300 percent, depending on the amount contributed and your family income.

That means the government will pay up to $3,500 a year in grants, with a limit of $70,000 over the beneficiary's lifetime.

For Canadians with low and modest incomes, the government also pays a bond of up to $1,000 a year, with a limit of $20,000 over the beneficiary's lifetime. No contributions are needed to receive the Bond.

Grants and bonds are paid until the year the beneficiary turns 49.

Grants and bonds are intended to encourage long-term savings. They must remain in the RDSP for at least 10 years.

The plan holder, or anyone with written permission from the plan holder, can contribute to an RDSP. There is no annual contribution limit, but there is a lifetime contribution limit of $200,000. And, until you take money out of the plan, your earnings accumulate tax-free.

That's good news for your financial security!

To learn more, I invite you to browse www.disabilitysavings.gc.ca. TTY users can contact 1-800-926-9105.

This website contains a list of financial organizations that offer the RDSP, the Grant and the Bond.

The RDSP is part of our government's commitment to help Canadians with disabilities save for the future.

Thank you.