Special Needs Planning Group

RDSP

The Registered Disability Savings Plan

The RDSP is a savings plan that was introduced by the Federal Government in December 2008. The RDSP is a long term savings plan for people with severe disabilities that will help to enhance their financial well being in the future. It involves significant contributions from the Government and earnings within the RDSP are not taxed until funds are withdrawn. Payments coming from the plan can be used for any purpose but must begin no later that the year in which the person with the disability turns age 60. In order to qualify for the RDSP, the person with the disability must qualify and continue to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit under the rules of the Income Tax Act.

The RDSP has a structure which involves the Plan Holder and the Plan Beneficiary. The beneficiary of the RDSP is the person with the disability. The plan holder is usually the person who establishes the plan and who has control over the financial aspects of it. The plan holder can be the plan beneficiary if that person has the ability to enter into legal contracts. If the beneficiary of the RDSP is under age 18, a plan can be established by the parent or legal guardian or a sibling. If the beneficiary is over age 18, a plan can be established by the individual himself if he is legally competent or by a variety of people including his parents if he is not.

An RDSP contains three elements. These are: Private Contributions, Canadian Disability Savings Grants and Canadian Disability Savings Bonds.

Private Contributions:

Once an RDSP has been established, anyone can contribute to the plan provided the plan holder has given written permission to that effect. These contributions are limited to a lifetime maximum of $200,000 but any amount, subject to that $200,000 limit, can be contributed annually. Spreading of large deposits over a number of years may be more advantageous as will be seen when looking at the Canadian Disability Savings Grants. When a private contribution is made, there is no income tax deduction for the contributor and these payments can only be made up until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns age 59.

As of July 1, 2011, for deaths occurring after March 3, 2010, the Government will allow a rollover of a deceased individual's RRSP or RRIF proceeds and certain lump-sum amounts paid from a registered pension plan (RPP) to the RDSP of the deceased individual's financially dependent, infirm child or grandchild. However, these rollover amounts will not be part of the Canadian Disability Savings Grants calculations. (see below)

Also, as a result of the March 2013 Budget, investment income from an RESP can be rolled into an RDSP in some circumstances.

Canadian Disability Savings Grants:

A very significant component of the RDSP is the CDSG. The Federal Government will make contributions to an existing RDSP as Canadian Disability Savings Grants up to a lifetime maximum of $70,000. The amount of Grant in a particular year is based on the net income 2 years prior to the current year of the parents of the RDSP beneficiary until December 31st of the year in which he turns age 18 and on the individual's own income beginning January 1st of the year in which he turns age 19. If the net income is less than $106,717 (2023 values) and a private contribution of $1500 is made, then the first $300 will attract a CDSG of $1,500 and the next $1,000 will attract a CDSG of $2,000 for a total CDSG of $3,500. If the net income is over $106,717 then a contribution of $1,000 will attract a maximum of $1,000 of CDSG. This amount or any combination of grants will apply annually until the maximum lifetime grant of $70,000 is reached or until December 31st of the year in which the beneficiary reaches age 49.

Canadian Disability Savings Bonds:

In addition to the CDSG, the Federal Government has introduced the Canadian Disability Savings Bonds. The CDSB’s are available to lower income families up to a lifetime maximum of $20,000. These funds are available up to $1,000 per year until the $20,000 maximum is reached or until the December 31st of the year in which the RDSP beneficiary reaches age 49. No Private Contribution is required to receive the $1,000 CDSB if the net income is below $34,863. This amount is reduced proportionately if the income is between $34,863 and $53,359. (2023 values) For most people in Ontario who receive ODSP benefits, a total annual contribution of $1,500 will result in an annual contribution from the Federal Government of $4,500 until a total of $90,000 of Grants and Bonds is reached.

In addition, people are allowed to carry forward unused Grant and Bond entitlements to future years. The carry forward period can only start from 2013 and is for a period of 10 years.

Payments From the RDSP:

The intended goal of the RDSP is to provide for the long term benefit of the person with the disability. As such, payments from the RDSP can be used for any purpose.

There are two types of payments that can be taken from an RDSP. The first type of payment is called the Disability Assistance Payment. The DAP is a periodic withdrawal from the RDSP at different points of time through out the life of the plan. These withdrawals can only be made if the Private Contributions made into the plan are greater than the Government Contributions. We expect that most people will only make the minimum contribution required to attract the maximum government grants and therefore, the DAP will not be possible. If a DAP from is withdrawn, significant penalties will be imposed. For every $1 removed from the plan, $3 of any CDSG or CDSB deposited by the Government in the last 10 years must be repaid to the Government. (Previously, ALL CDSGs or CDSBs had to be repaid...now only $3 for each $1 withdrawn has to be repaid) The amount of the payment is further limited by the need to insure that at least a Holdback amount remains in the plan.

The second type of payment from the plan is called the Lifetime Disability Assistance Payment or LDAP. This payment must begin no later than the year in which the beneficiary reaches age 60 and once these payments begin, they cannot stop. The size of the payment each year is determined by formula based on the life expectancy of the beneficiary of the RDSP. The Federal Government has determined that the standard life expectancy should be set at age 80 + 3 years. If a doctor will attest to the fact that a person's life expectancy is less than age 80 then the formulae can be adjusted in some cases. As an example of the amounts available from the RDSP, if the beneficiary of the plan begins the payments at age 60, then the size of the payment that year will be 1/23rd of the value of the fund or 10% of the total RDSP value, whichever is greater. If the beneficiary begins the payments at age 50, the size of the payment that year will be the greater of 1/33rd of the value of the fund or 10% of the total value of the RDSP for that year.

Taxation of Payments From a RDSP:

Each payment that is made from an RDSP is considered to be made up of three components as determined by a formula in the legislation that created the RDSP. The first component is Private Contributions and these come out of the RDSP on a non taxable basis. The second component is Canadian Disability Savings Grants and Canadian Disability Savings Bonds. Both of these components are taxable in the hands of the beneficiary of the RDSP. The final component is the income that has been earned within the RDSP. This income has not been taxed throughout the accumulation period and so is now taxable in the hands of the beneficiary of the RDSP.

Termination of Eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit:

Some people may have a disability that is cyclical in nature. If a person becomes ineligible for the DTC and there is a likelihood that they may be able to regain eligibility, the RDSP can remain open for a period of four years. Otherwise, it must be collapsed at the end of the four years.

Death of the Beneficiary:

When the beneficiary of the RDSP dies, several things occur. Firstly, there is a claw back of the CDSGs and CDSBs deposited by the Federal Government in the last 10 years. After that, taxes must be paid by the estate of the deceased beneficiary and then distributions can be made. These distributions are based on the will of the beneficiary assuming that he or she has the mental ability to created one and that one has been created. If no will has been created then the Provincial Estate Laws will be followed. These laws generally provide for a distribution to the disabled person's next of kin. If at all possible, the preferred basis of distribution of the balance of a Registered Disability Savings Plan is the will of the beneficiary of the plan.

Benefits of the Registered Disability Savings Plan:

The RDSP has a number of benefits to most people with disabilities in Ontario. To make use of the Federal Government's generous Grants and Bonds makes sense to most people and their situations. The accumulation of these funds along with the income that they earn in a tax deferred vehicle will enhance the size of the savings over the long term. The eventual withdrawal of funds from an RDSP will enhance the quality of life of the person with the disability and will not negatively impact on a person’s eligibility for the Ontario Disability Support Program or other Government programs and services.

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