Canada Caregiver Credit Explained: Who Can Claim, Eligibility, and How to Apply

Caregiver credit

• How can you apply for the caregiver credit

  • What is the criteria?

  • Update below article mentioning 

    • Are you able to claim expenses to support your parents

    • Do you parents need to live with you

Care giver credit

If you're supporting a family member with a serious physical or mental health condition, the Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC) can help reduce your taxes. It’s the CRA’s way of recognizing the added responsibilities caregivers take on — and it could mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars back at tax time.

Who Can You Claim the Credit For?

You might be eligible if you support:

• Your spouse or common-law partner

• Your child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent

• Or even a sibling, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew — as long as they live in Canada

They must have a physical or mental impairment and rely on you regularly for basic needs like shelter, food, or care.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount depends on who you're caring for, their age, and how much income they earn. Here are some examples:

• For a spouse or adult dependant with an impairment: You could get up to $11,000 in tax credit amounts combined. The exact amount depends on their income. The less they earn, the more you may be able to claim.

• For a child under 18 with a long-term condition: You can claim an additional credit of about $2,600 to help with extra caregiving costs.

• For other adult relatives (like a parent or sibling): You might claim up to $8,300 in credits per dependant — again, depending on their income.

If the person you’re supporting has little to no income, you’ll likely be able to claim the full credit.

Do You Need Proof?

Yes — you may need a note from a medical practitioner confirming that the person you're caring for has a long-term or serious condition. If they already qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, that usually counts as proof.

Why This Credit Matters

Even though it’s not a refund (you won’t get cash back), it reduces how much tax you owe. That could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on your situation.

Want help figuring out if you qualify or how to claim this on your taxes? Ask your accountant or tax professional — or check out the CRA’s full caregiver credit info here.