The Inclusion Strategist

The RDSP Starter Checklist

5 things to know before you talk to anyone about an RDSP.

"You don't have to figure this out alone. I'm here to help you through every step."


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1THE DTC IS THE KEY.

Everything starts with the Disability Tax Credit. The beneficiary needs CRA to approve the DTC before an RDSP can be opened and before a single dollar of grants or bonds can be paid. No DTC, no RDSP, no government money. If you are not sure whether you or your family member qualifies, that is step one.

2IT IS NOT JUST FOR KIDS.

Any Canadian with an approved DTC can open an RDSP, right up to the end of the year they turn 59. A parent, spouse, or other qualifying family member can open it on the beneficiary's behalf. Kids, adults, it does not matter. The door is open far wider than most people think.

3THE GRANTS: UP TO $3,500 A YEAR.

The Canada Disability Savings Grant matches contributions. For 2026, with family income up to $117,045: put in $1,500 in a year and the grant can add up to $3,500 on top of it. Higher incomes still get a match, at a lower rate. Lifetime maximum in grants: $70,000.

4THE BONDS: UP TO $1,000 A YEAR, EVEN IF YOU CONTRIBUTE NOTHING.

The Canada Disability Savings Bond is income-tested only. If the family income qualifies, the government deposits up to $1,000 a year directly into the RDSP. No contribution required. Nothing out of pocket. Lifetime maximum in bonds: $20,000. Combined with grants, that is up to $90,000 in government money over a lifetime.

5THE WINDOWS AND THE 10-YEAR RULE.

Two clocks to know. Grants and bonds stop at the end of the year the beneficiary turns 49. Contributions can continue to age 59, up to a $200,000 lifetime limit (grants, bonds, and growth do not count toward it). Missed years are not lost forever: up to 10 years of unused grant and bond entitlement can be caught up, with catch-up grants capped at $10,500 per calendar year. And the 10-year rule: if money is withdrawn, grants and bonds paid in during the 10 years before the withdrawal generally have to be repaid to the government. The RDSP is a long game. Plan around it.

Questions about where your family stands?

Sharing this information with you does nothing for me financially. I do it because I wish I had this kind of support when I went through it myself.

"You don't have to figure this out alone. I'm here to help you through every step."

Sean Leduc, The Inclusion Strategist
seanleduc.ca
TheInclusionStrategist@seanleduc.ca
613-983-3029