What to include and not to include with application. What should be written in the EOI.
FROM GROUP FOUNDER I'd like to reiterate something about timeline for decisions. In addition to the general timeline that is posted several places in the group - there is another factor at play. Documentation and personal letters. After reading please consider limiting posts asking about timelines for decisions, payout, calculations, etc. Please also limit posts asking about your statement of account - I will create a post specifically for such posts. Repetitive posts flood group members personal timelines and cause unnecessary work for administrators. Thanks!
If you include TOO MUCH information with your application it will take longer to process and could damage your case. The only information that should be submitted is the T2201 application form that has been written with the specific information CRA wants details about. They are looking for the person's ability to carry out basic life skills - not about the diagnosis with medical jargon and such. They get thousands of applications, they want to be able to skim the application in 5 minutes or less and make a determination. (More info in units and announcements). DISCLAIMER - strange things DO occur at the CRA. I will not say 100% of the time this is the case but I am confident in saying it is the case 98% - 99% of the time. SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT SEND WITH THE APPLICATION: (exception: person applying for a disabled dependent who DOES NOT LIVE with the claimant - more below)
PERSONAL LETTERS and SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
If the Effects of Impairment section doesn’t have the information CRA wants, no amounts of documentation and personal letters will change their decision. It is CRITICAL the form is completed with the right information. (see units and announcements for information about what CRA is looking for)
RECEIPTS (see “information about expenses” at bottom of document)
REPORT CARDS or other school documentation. Some school information can be useful for the EOI section but should not be about grades or academic achievement.
Personal Note:
I know some people have sent letters and will swear by it, but as a person who has been doing applications for several years I am confident when I say it is not advisable. I have explained previously how personal letters and documentation can damage a case (and lengthen processing times) in the units and announcements section.
Almost every time a person comes to me with a denial it is due either to not addressing the right things in the EOI section OR because they have sent too much information.
I have had numerous clients who were denied over and over and didn’t know why, they will contact me and tell me they don’t understand how they could be denied with all the documentation they sent in. It is quite frustrating for a new client when I tell them it is likely they have sent too much information. You would think more documentation would help, rather than hurt a case but that is not how the DTC application works. Some of these clients had been fighting CRA for a very long time, some for a couple of years, they had sent more and more information and felt more upset and more like giving up with each denial. I have been able to turn over almost all of these cases easily - with the exception of a few clients (like 3) where there was too much damage done before I took the case (there is only so much I can do).
There is a time and a place for documentation and personal letters IF it goes that far.
If the T2201 is done with the right information (and no technical errors) - it is less likely CRA will send a questionnaire or ask for supporting documents. Occasionally, they will still require these if the person is applying for many years back. But most often they don’t.
There are only TWO situations I suggest personal letters.
a person has been denied and their doctor will not write a request for reconsideration (basically rewriting the EOI with better information)
a person was approved but not for the number of years the doctor indicated on the application form and their doctor does not want to write a letter requesting the approval date be changed.
These situations are because there is no other recourse except filing a formal objection. Formal objections should always be the very last resort.
SOME THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE EOI SECTION:
Information about academic performance - problems with grades does not meet criteria. If there is a LD that causes a person to be almost completely unable to read or write, that is a different story.
Information about treatments and medications - there is no requirement to provide these details. This is not information they use to make a decision (EXCEPTION - life sustaining therapy). All that should be said about medications and treatments is a comment such as "effects of impairment are present 90% or more of the time despite appropriate treatments and medications"
Information about the diagnosis itself (in most cases) - they do not make determinations based on diagnosis - decisions are made based on the effects of impairment.
The EOI can say something short about a diagnosis such as "so and so is a __ year old child who has ASD with associated deficits in socialization, communication, emotional regulation" and then immediately go into the details about those things (how the child is unable to communicate or engage in social interactions as compared to same aged peers).
Information about how the individual's disability affects you or your family - CRA will not consider this, they want only information about the individual's experience.
eg. "These problems are putting great strain on his parents and family members. Mother has needed to quit work . . ."
BUT DO explain problems within the family from the perspective of the child's experience such as:
"behaviors cause significant conflict with others in the home and at school, including aggression. Needs supervision from caregivers all of the time to ensure safety."
A statement such as this is basically saying the same thing but from a perspective CRA will consider.
Minor details - correct clothing for weather, sleep problems unless they are so severe they cause an inability to carry out ADL’s, toileting accidents unless severe enough diapers are required day and night, inability to concentrate on homework, inability to get good grades, inability to do household chores (needs to be inability to follow simple instructions), inability to drive, inability to manage a bank account, inability to hold a job, etc.
There are more but I can’t remember them all right now
Information about expenses - information about expenses should never be a topic in any section of the application form UNLESS the individual does not live with the person claiming the disability amount. (explain with picture in units and under announcement)
SPECIFIC TO THE EOI SECTION: it should NOT include anything about expenses or how the DTC would help cover expenses - it takes up precious space and CRA doesn’t take any of that information into consideration.
E.g. statements like “This family is struggling to cover the costs of . . . , approval for the Disability Tax Credit would help pay for . . . ” should not be included.
SPECIFIC TO THE APPLICATION FORM: PART A, SECTION 2, QUESTION 2 (pictorial information in units and announcements)
IF THE INDIVIDUAL LIVES WITH YOU:
DO NOT FILL OUT SECTION 2, QUESTION 2 INCLUDING the area where it asks you to provide information about the support you provide. This section is ONLY for people who are supporting a dependent they do not live with.
IF THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT LIVE WITH YOU: DO FILL OUT SECTION 2, QUESTION 2, INCLUDING the section asking to provide details about the support you provide. They are SPECIFICALLY asking about BASIC NECESSITIES OF EVERYDAY LIFE which is FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, ON A REGULAR AND CONSISTENT BASIS (like monthly) and that is it. You will need to send receipts and proof. It is not asking about emotional support, driving to appointments, therapy you have set up for the individual, etc. It is just about FINANCIAL support for basic necessities. (may include some medications). Thanks for reading, LuCynda Rasmussen
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