JDRF welcomes CRA review of diabetes denials

TORONTO, Dec. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 300,000+ Canadians and their families living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) across the country welcome today's announcement that the Government of Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will rescind new letters introduced in May that made it virtually impossible for adults with T1D to qualify for the disability tax credit (DTC). CRA has also committed to review all applications denied under the post-May 2017 process.

In collaboration with JDRF and Diabetes Canada, members of the T1D community rallied together this past month to express their outrage and disappointment over a decision that would not only have severely impacted their quality of life, but also put at risk the hard-earned savings they'd invested in Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs).

Type 1 diabetes is a 24-7, chronic, progressive, autoimmune disorder that can neither be avoided nor cured. It renders those living with the disease dependent on insulin injections or infusions for the rest of their life, and puts patients at significant risk of complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, amputation and premature death.

Many Canadians with T1D who were previously approved for the DTC had suddenly been denied since May 2. They had been informed by the CRA that they would have to close their Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP) and faced repaying the government contributions to those accounts.

"This announcement shows that there is strength in numbers, and that together we can bring forth positive change that can have a tremendous impact on the lives of people living with T1D," says Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF. "We look forward to working with the new Disability Advisory Committee to further improve the administration of the DTC and ensure those with T1D continue to have access to this important tax relief." 

JDRF will continue to follow this process closely and will continue to advocate for all those living with type 1 diabetes.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding T1D research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international T1D research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people's lives ? until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

Media Contact

Jessica Diniz
VP, Marketing & Development, JDRF Canada
[email protected]
647.789.2021