Financial Guide for Caregivers in Canada 2025

Updated March 2025 • 10 min read

Millions of Canadians provide unpaid care for a family member with a disability, chronic illness, or age-related decline. Caregiving has a significant financial impact — through time away from work, direct out-of-pocket costs, and career interruptions. This guide outlines the supports available to reduce that financial burden.

Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC)

The Canada Caregiver Credit is a non-refundable federal tax credit for people who support a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent with a physical or mental infirmity. It replaced several older credits in 2017.

• For supporting an infirm spouse or common-law partner: Additional amount on top of the spousal amount
• For supporting an infirm child under 18: Up to $2,499 (2025)
• For supporting an infirm adult dependent (parent, sibling, adult child, etc.): Up to $8,375 (2025), phased out based on the dependent's net income

The dependent does not need to live with you, but you must depend on them — or they must depend on you — in a meaningful way. The DTC is not required for the CCC, though the dependent must have a dependence that requires regular assistance due to physical or mental impairment.

EI Compassionate Care Benefits

Employment Insurance provides Compassionate Care Benefits for workers who must be away from work to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member who has a significant risk of death within 26 weeks.

• Duration: Up to 26 weeks
• Rate: 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, maximum approximately $668/week in 2025
• Eligibility: 600 insurable hours in the qualifying period
• Shareable: The 26 weeks can be shared among multiple family members who all qualify
• Medical certificate: Required from the ill person's physician

EI Family Caregiver Benefits

Separate from compassionate care, EI Family Caregiver Benefits provide income while caring for a critically ill or injured family member who may not be at risk of death:

• For a critically ill or injured adult: Up to 15 weeks
• For a critically ill child: Up to 35 weeks; shareable between parents
• Same rate as regular EI: 55% up to approximately $668/week
• Requires a physician's certificate confirming critical illness or injury

Medical Expense Tax Credit for Caregivers

As a caregiver, you can claim medical expenses for the person you are supporting as well as yourself. This includes:

• Attendant care expenses (for a dependent with a DTC, amounts above $100/year are also eligible for the attendant care deduction)
• Nursing home or care facility costs
• In-home nursing care
• Medical equipment and devices

You can also claim amounts paid for a dependent's medical expenses that they could not claim themselves due to insufficient income. Pool all family medical expenses and claim under the family member with the lowest income to maximize the benefit.

Home Accessibility Tax Credit

If you are making modifications to your home (or a qualifying individual's home) to allow an elderly person or a person with a disability to be safe, functional, or mobile — the Home Accessibility Tax Credit provides a 15% non-refundable credit on up to $20,000 of eligible renovation expenses (maximum $3,000 credit).

Eligible modifications: grab bars, ramps, walk-in bathtubs, lever door handles, stair lifts, and other accessibility improvements.

Attendant Care Deduction

If the person you are caring for has a DTC certificate, you may be able to deduct attendant care expenses. The deduction is available for expenses paid to a caregiver for a person with a severe disability to allow that person to earn employment income, self-employment income, or research income.

Family Caregiver Leave (Unpaid)

Most provincial employment standards legislation provides unpaid job-protected leave for caregivers. Leave types and duration vary by province:

• Ontario: Family Medical Leave (up to 28 weeks); Family Caregiver Leave (up to 8 weeks); Critical Illness Leave (up to 37 weeks for a child)
• BC: Compassionate care leave (up to 27 weeks); Family responsibility leave (up to 5 days)
• Alberta: Compassionate care leave (up to 27 weeks); Family caregiver leave (up to 16 weeks)

Unpaid leave means no income during this period — plan for this financially by building cash reserves before caregiving intensifies.

Provincial Caregiver Programs

Many provinces provide additional supports for caregivers:

• Ontario Caregiver Organization: Resources and some financial support programs
• BC Caregiver Support: In-home respite programs that reduce the care burden
• Alberta Caregiver Benefit: Cash benefit for eligible low-income caregivers

Planning for Your Own Financial Future While Caregiving

Caregiving often interrupts career and savings. Proactively:

• Continue RRSP and TFSA contributions even in small amounts to maintain habits and room
• Track your CPP contributions — gaps during unpaid caregiving years will reduce your eventual CPP benefit
• Document caregiving costs for tax purposes — keep all receipts
• Consider whether respite care services would allow you to continue working more hours
• Speak with a financial planner about the long-term impact on your retirement