Attendant Care Claim — Claim Care Costs as Medical Expenses Instead of Ignoring Them
What Is It?
Attendant care costs can often be claimed as medical expenses, which many families miss when they focus only on basic doctor or drug receipts.
Do I Qualify?
- You paid for qualifying attendant care for yourself or an eligible dependant
- The care fits CRA’s medical expense rules
- You have receipts and supporting medical information if required
- You are claiming the expenses in a valid 12-month period
How To Use It
- Gather invoices showing who provided the care, when, and how much was paid.
- Check whether the expense is best claimed as a medical expense and how it interacts with other disability-related claims.
- Choose the 12-month claim period that gives the best result.
- Keep all receipts in case CRA asks for support.
What Most People Don’t Know
- Care costs can be one of the biggest overlooked medical claims on a return.
- How the claim interacts with other disability-related amounts matters.
- Good receipts are essential because large care claims are easy for CRA to review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this automatic?
A: No. You have to claim it on the return and support it if asked.
What documents help most?
A: Detailed care invoices, payment proof, and any supporting medical certification are the most important records.
Where do I start?
A: Start with CRA’s medical expenses guidance and your receipts.
What is the biggest trap?
A: The biggest trap is assuming only drugs and doctor bills count as medical expenses.