Disability and Citizenship

[Relo]

Can a person with a disability become a citizen and would they receive a monthly payment?

[SettlementOrgMod]

@Relo

Can a person with a disability become a citizen and would they receive a monthly payment?

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

People with disabilities are eligible for citizenship. You may find helpful information in the Settlement.Org article How do I apply for Canadian Citizenship?. Here is an excerpt:

In order to apply for Canadian citizenship you must:

• Provide proof that you know how to speak and write in 1 of Canada’s official languages (either English or French)- Be a Permanent Resident (PR)- Have lived in Canada as a PR for at least 1,095 days out of the 5 years before you apply- Have filed your taxes for at least 3 years during the last 5 years and any income tax you may owe must be paid

IRCC will return your application as incomplete if you do not send acceptable proof that you have adequate knowledge of English or French. Learn more about the language requirements for citizenship on the IRCC website.

As a person with disabilities in Ontario, you may be eligible for a number of financial assistance programs and/or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). The ODSP provides income support and employment support.

Many community agencies can help you find programs and services. To find help in your area, go to Services Near Me.

It may help to connect with a community resource navigator at 211 to narrow your search.

211 Ontario is a free, confidential service. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a link to their live chat if you prefer to communicate online. Their live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here.

We hope this information is helpful.

Settlement.Org Team

[Wilraj]

@Relo

Can a person with a disability become a citizen and would they receive a monthly payment?

Hello,

Great question !

Yes, a person with a disability can become a Canadian citizen.
Canada’s citizenship process does not exclude people because of disability citizenship eligibility is based on residency, knowledge/language requirements, and other legal factors, not medical status.

Canada has introduced a new federal monthly payment for people with disabilities called the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). This is separate from things like CPP-Disability or provincial disability income programs.

I just read this guide from Disability Credit Canada it is really helpful