Money you get back
Two different families, two completely different sets of programs. Sending both down the same path wastes months, and the intake windows close when the money runs out.
The split that matters
Work out which side of the line you are on first.
Almost everything else follows from this. The programs on the left have no income test and are claimed at tax time. The ones on the right are asset tested, delivered locally, and competitive.
No income test
$3,000
Home Accessibility Tax Credit
15% on up to $20,000 of eligible work, per dwelling per year. Federal, non-refundable, claimed on your return. The person living there must be 65 or older, or eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Most families in this situation qualify.
$7,500
Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit
15% on up to $50,000, and refundable. Only applies where the work creates a self-contained secondary unit with its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom, so a parent can move in. A bathroom conversion on its own does not qualify.
Ask
Home and Vehicle Modification Program
Administered by March of Dimes Canada for people with a significant mobility disability. Prioritised by need rather than by application date. Confirm the current lifetime cap directly, as it changes.
Income and asset tested
Varies
Ontario Renovates
Delivered by Durham Region rather than the province, so the amounts, the caps and the intake dates are set locally and change year to year. Typically a forgivable loan plus an accessibility grant, subject to a combined cap. Confirm the current year directly with the Region.
Varies
Ontario Disability Support Program
Recipients may be able to access benefits for home modifications required for accessibility. Worth checking where a parent is already receiving ODSP.
The catch nobody mentions
Asset caps are low, often well below what a homeowner in this region holds once the house is counted. Intake is first come, first served, and closes when the year’s money is gone.
The distinction that saves everyone time
Work out which side of the line you sit on before you apply anywhere.
A family that qualifies for the asset-tested grants is generally not in a position to finance a bathroom, and a family that can finance one will generally not qualify for the grant.
It is usually obvious within two minutes of conversation, and knowing it saves you months of applying for something you were never going to get.
Before you apply
Work started before written approval is not eligible.
Not the assessment, not the deposit, not the first day of demolition. If you intend to apply, apply and wait for the letter before anything begins. This is the mistake that costs families the most money.
Also worth knowing
Two more, and one honest caveat.
Veterans Affairs Canada funds home adaptations through the Veterans Independence Program, subject to a limit per residence. Ask every family whether the parent or their spouse served, because almost nobody thinks to raise it.
Some private insurance and long-term care policies cover accessibility modifications. Worth a phone call before assuming not.
We are builders, not accountants. We will package your receipts the way the CRA wants them, at no charge, and tell you which programs are worth asking about. We do not administer any of these programs, we do not apply on your behalf, and nothing here is tax advice. Confirm current amounts and your own eligibility before relying on any of it.
