Canada Caregiver Credit

If you provide regular financial or practical support to a family member who is ill, aging, or living with a disability, you may be eligible for the Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC). This federal non-refundable tax credit helps offset the additional costs of caregiving by reducing your taxable income.

This matters when you are caring for a spouse, parent, adult child, or another close relative—especially if they depend on you for assistance with daily living, medical care, or emotional support. The CCC can be an important tool in recognizing the caregiving role within your broader financial and tax planning.

What Is the Canada Caregiver Credit?

The Canada Caregiver Credit is a non-refundable federal tax credit that provides relief to individuals who support a spouse, common-law partner, or other eligible dependant who has a mental or physical impairment.

Unlike older caregiver programs, the CCC consolidates several former credits into a single, simplified structure and applies to a range of dependants—from minor children to adult siblings or aging parents.

Who Can You Claim the Credit For?

You may be able to claim the CCC for a:

• Spouse or common-law partner

• Child (under 18) with a disability

• Adult child or grandchild

• Parent or grandparent

• Sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew who lives in Canada

The dependant does not need to live with you, but you must provide consistent support for their everyday needs. If they reside in a care facility, your contributions toward their costs may still qualify you to claim the credit.

How Much Can You Claim?

The amount you can claim under the CCC depends on your relationship to the dependant, their age, and their net income. For the 2024 tax year, the maximum amounts are:

These amounts are reduced dollar-for-dollar when the dependant’s net income exceeds the threshold, and fully phased out once income is high enough.

The credit is claimed on lines 30400, 30425, or 30500 of your return depending on the relationship. Only one person can claim the CCC per dependant, though it can sometimes be split between spouses in certain cases.

Eligibility Criteria to Keep in Mind

To claim the CCC:

• The dependant must be mentally or physically impaired and certified by a medical professional.

• You must be providing ongoing support for their daily needs.

• The dependant must reside in Canada.

• You must file a tax return and report the dependant’s net income.

The dependant does not need to live in your home, but you should be contributing significantly to their care or basic living costs.

If the dependant is your spouse, and you also claim the spousal amount, the caregiver amount may be included in your spousal claim rather than separately.

How This Credit Fits Into Your Financial Plan

Caregiving is both a financial and emotional commitment. The CCC can help reduce your tax bill and recognize the often-overlooked burden placed on family caregivers. Though non-refundable, it can still create meaningful annual savings, especially when combined with other benefits.

You might think about this the next time you:

• Begin supporting an aging parent financially

• Have a spouse or child diagnosed with a long-term condition

• Take on expenses for a relative in assisted living

• Adjust your work schedule or budget to accommodate caregiving

At Optimize, we make sure caregiving roles are properly reflected in your financial and tax planning. From credit coordination to income support strategies, we help you ensure your caregiving efforts are matched with practical relief wherever possible.