Glossary

An individual’s limitations are generally considered to exist all or substantially all of the time if the individual’s impairment limits their ability to perform activities or functions in a DTC (Disability Tax Credit) category at least 90% of the time. If they are not limited at least 90% of the time, the individual may not meet the eligibility criteria.

The portion of your earned income you will be able to keep in addition to the financial support you receive through Income Assistance.

A form of insurance or investment entitling the investor to a series of annual sums.

The individual who is responsible for reviewing your Request for Review form.

Money that is owed and should have been paid at an earlier date. 

A medical professional who evaluates a person’s medical signs, symptoms, and effects on daily living.

Assets that will not impact your eligibility to receive Income Assistance.

The costs associated with the things necessary for basic living and to maintain a good health. This includes shelter, utilities, and food.

Specific things that are necessary to maintain a minimum standard of living. This includes things such as food, shelter, and utilities.

Unincorporated, non-profit organizations with the main purpose of doing good to others rather than the benefit of their own members.

Have the responsibility for children.

A type of legal relationship between couples, part of the Civil Code of Québec since 2002, which civil allows same-sex couples to unite because the federal marriage law did not allow them to marry.

A spouse, common-law partner, or any adult in your household above the age of 18 who has an income.

A situation when two people remain in a marriage-like relationship but are not married and have not lived together for a minimum of a year.

The time in which you contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan. The contributory period beings the month after your 18^th birthday. The contributory benefits ends at the end of the month that you become disabled.

To be eligible for the DTC under the cumulative effect of significant limitations category, an individual must have limitations in two or more categories (except life-sustaining therapy) that:

• exist together all or substantially all of the time (generally interpreted as 90% or more)
• have a combined impact that is:
  • equivalent to being unable, or taking an inordinate amount of time, in one category
  • present all or substantially all of the time (generally interpreted as 90% or more), even with appropriate therapy, devices, and medication.

The tasks of everyday life. This includes activities such as eating, dressing, getting into or out of a bed or chair, taking a bath or shower, and using the toilet.

Money you owe.

The following children are considered as your dependents, if you support them:

• a minor child;
• an adult child enrolled in an educational institution, either part-time or full-time.

The following children are not considered as your dependents:

• a minor child who is married or is the parent of a dependent child;
• a fully emancipated minor child;
• an adult child who is enrolled in an educational institution and who is married or in a civil union or is the parent of a dependent child;
• a child who is sheltered in a rehabilitation centre or who is taken in charge by a foster family or an intermediate resource, unless the child’s return to your family is provided for in an intervention plan;
• a child who is taken in charge by a tutor under the Youth Protection Act;
• a child you had with a former spouse if that spouse supports the child.

The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.

‘Directly’ and ‘significantly’ restrict your ability to perform ‘daily living activities’.  This could be either continuously (all the time) or periodically (some of the time, but for long periods).

You must have a severe mental or physical disability that impairs your ability to function in daily life. The impairment must meet all the criteria (rules) set out by the government for the benefit you are applying for.

All income from employment. This includes income from employment, self-employment, as well as income from hunting, trapping, and fishing.

A portion of your earned income that you can keep while receiving Income Assistance.

Income you can earn through employment that is partially exempt. You will be able to keep the first $200 plus 30% of any additional income you earn.

All the money and property owned by a particular person, especially at death

Sources of income that do not impact your eligibility for Social Assistance.

Assets that will not affect your eligibility to receive Income Assistance.

A type of income you receive that does not influence your eligibility to receive Income Support benefits.

All individuals who will be included on your application, including your spouse or common-law partner or any dependents.

When your basic needs cost more that your total monthly income.

Assets that contribute to your ability to maintain a livelihood.

Looking at how a person’s disability impacts their daily living activities (for example: making meals, personal care) and their participation in society (for example: going to the store, making friends). The functional assessment helps assess eligibility for the new program.

A rapidly progressive medical condition.

The income you earn each year before deductions are taken away.

A person who may provide health care treatment and advice based on formal training and experience.

The plan holder is the person who opens the RDSP and makes or authorizes contributions on behalf of the beneficiary. As long as conditions are met, there can be more than one plan holder at any time. The beneficiary and plan holder can be the same person.

A person, plus their spouse (for example: husband, wife) or common-law partner if they have one, plus their children if they have them.

A diminished or loss of function or ability.

All sources of money you or your co-applicants receive. Exemptions on income can apply, depending on your situation.

Facts being inconsistent or not the same.

An inordinate amount of time is a clinical judgment made by a medical practitioner if they observe a recognizable difference in the time it takes an individual to perform an activity or function in the listed categories, even with therapy and the use of appropriate devices and medication. Generally, that difference must be at least three times longer than is required by persons of similar age who do not have an impairment in the particular category.

Money (revenue) earned on money you have invested in other organizations, for example a bank, over a specific period of time.

A housing facility for people in need of adaption or rehabilitation.

In Manitoba, a living situation that is approved by the Department of Families’ Residential Care Licensing program, under The Social Services Administration Act. This is a living situation where someone receives shelter, food and meals, supervision, and other special care.

A right to keep property you own until you have repaid your debt.

Life-sustaining therapy, which must meet all the following criteria:

• The therapy is needed to support a vital function, even if it eases the symptoms.
• The therapy is needed at least three times per week.
• The therapy is needed for an average of at least 14 hours per week.

The term liquid asset means what a person owns in cash or an equivalent form.

To turn an asset into a liquid asset (i.e., an asset that can be turned into cash in a short amount of time).

A person is considered to have a marked restriction in dressing if, even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices (for example, button hook, occupational therapy), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to dress themselves.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

Dressing oneself does not include identifying, finding, obtaining, or shopping for clothing.

A person is considered to have a marked restriction in eliminating if, even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices (for example, ostomy, biological therapy), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to personally manage bowel or bladder functions.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

A person is considered to have a marked restriction in feeding if, even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices (for example, assistive utensils, occupational therapy), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to feed themselves.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

Feeding yourself does not include identifying, finding, obtaining, or shopping for food.

A person is considered to have a marked restriction in hearing if, even with the use of appropriate devices (for example, cochlear implant, hearing aid), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to hear so as to understand spoken conversation with a familiar person in a quiet setting.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

A person is considered to have a marked restriction in performing the mental functions necessary for everyday life (described below) if, even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices (for example, memory aids, assistive technology, cognitive-behavioural therapy), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to perform these functions by themselves.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

Mental functions necessary for everyday life include:

• adaptive functioning, which includes abilities related to:
  • self-care, such as attending to personal hygiene
  • health and safety 
  • initiating and responding to social interactions
  • common, simple transactions such as grocery shopping or paying a bill
• memory, which includes the ability to remember:
  • simple instructions
  • basic personal information such as date of birth and address, or material of importance and interest
• judgment, problem-solving, and goal-setting taken together (for example, complying with prescribed treatments and selecting weather-appropriate clothing)

An impairment in problem-solving, goal-setting, or judgment that is a marked restriction in adaptive functioning all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time) would qualify.

It is important to address what occurs at home or out in the community, not only what occurs in a work or school environment.

If even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices (for example, voice amplifier, behavioural therapy), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to speak so as to be understood by a familiar person in a quiet setting.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

A person is considered blind if, even with the use of corrective lenses or medication, both eyes meet at least one of the following criteria:

• The visual acuity is 20/200 (6/60) or less on the Snellen Chart (or an equivalent).
• The greatest diameter of the field of vision is 20 degrees or less.

A person is considered to have a marked restriction in walking if, even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices (for example: cane, occupational therapy), they meet both of the following criteria:

• They are unable or take an inordinate amount of time to walk.
• This is the case all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time).

A marked restriction means that, even with appropriate therapy, devices, and medication, the individual is unable or takes an inordinate amount of time to perform activities or functions in one of the impairment categories, and this is the case all or substantially all of the time.

An assessment that is completed physician or other medical professional. This is part of how eligibility is assessed for the new program.

An expense necessary for medical purposes.

A professional who practices medicine. Examples include medical doctor, nurse practitioner, optometrist, audiologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, and speech-language pathologist.

A child under the age of 18 who is supported by and lives with the person applying for income support or the person receiving income support, but does not include:

• children in care, as defined under The Child and Family Services Act;
• a child under 18 who is temporarily in the care of a child and family services agency or in the care of another adult
• a spouse or common-law partner of a person who is under 18.

An experienced person who will provide support with challenging processes or systems.

The total of:

• money earned from a job, not including payroll deductions;
• self-employment earnings, not including self-employment expenses approved by the director of the disability income support program.

Amount of monthly income remaining after all deductions have been taken.

The wage that the employee actually receives before income tax is deducted.

A type of income you receive that will be counted towards your total income when determining if you are eligible to receive Income Support benefits.

This is a formal process to dispute the Canada Revenue Agency’s decision on your application form.

Additional financial support that you are not eligible to receive.

A type of income you receive that will be partially counted towards your total income when determining if you are eligible to receive Income Support benefits.

Income you are owed and will receive, but have not received yet.

A personal care home under The Health Services Insurance Act.

Information that can identify an individual. This could include your name, social security number, date and place of birth.

Support tailored to you and your personal needs due to your disability. AccessAbility Supports offers personalized support in five areas: personal supports, housing supports, community supports, caregiver supports, and financial supports.

Persons receiving one or more of the following qualifying disability supports: Community Living DisABILITY Services; Live in a personal care home; Receive Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits.

A professional who is acceptable to provide a written opinion for your medical report.

A forecast of the likely course of a disease or ailment.

An impairment is prolonged if it has lasted for a continuous period of at least 12 months or it is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

If an impairment is severe and prolonged but does not cause the individual to be blind or to otherwise have a marked restriction, the individual may still qualify under cumulative effect of significant limitations or life-sustaining therapy.

The qualifying disability supports for the purposes of ‘prescribed classes’ are: Community Living DisABILITY Services; Live in a personal care home; Receive Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits.

Land or other assets that are permanently attached to the land. This can include land, crops, ponds, or machinery.

A registered disability savings plan trust for a taxation year is a testamentary trust created on the death of an individual who jointly elects (using Form T3QDT, Joint Election to Have a Trust Be a Registered Disability Savings Plan Trust), with one or more beneficiaries of the trust, on the individual's T3 income tax return for the year to be a registered disability savings plan trust for the year.

The professional must be working for the provincial government, or if in private practice, they must be registered or licensed to practice under their profession (example: a social worker).

A person chosen or appointed to act or speak for another or others.

Taking effect from a date in the past.

An inordinate amount of time or all or substantially all of the time.

Examples of severe employment restrictions include:

• Mental disorders, such as neurosis or psychosis
• Intellectual disability, mental retardation, or amnesia
• Chronic illness
• Hearing impairment
• The aftermath of an accident
• The inability to move around
• Inability to understand linguistic symbols due to language disruption

The cumulative effect of significant limitations category, an individual must have limitations in two or more categories (except life-sustaining therapy) that:

• exist together all or substantially all of the time (generally interpreted as 90% or more)
• have a combined impact that is:
  • equivalent to being unable, or taking an inordinate amount of time, in one category
  • present all or substantially all of the time (generally interpreted as 90% or more), even with appropriate therapy, devices, and medication.

Personal care, support services and supervision given to a person applying for income support or a person in a residential care facility.

Your spouse is (even if temporarily absent):

• the person who lives with you and with whom you are married or in a civil union;
• the person who lives with you and is the other parent of at least one of your children;
• the adult person who lives with you in a conjugal relationship and who, at a given time, lived with you for at least one year.

An occupation that provides a salary or wages equal to the maximum annual amount a person could receive as a disability pension.

A plan that is tailored to you to meet all of your needs that are currently unmet.

An indication of a disorder or disease, especially a subjective one such as pain, nausea, or weakness.

The percentage of your income a person or company has to pay in taxes.

Subject to being taxed.

The portion of an individual’s or a company’s income used to calculate how much tax they owe the government in a given tax year.

Money that AISH does not count as income that you would like to be considered as exempt asset. This money must be invested in an exempt asset within a year (365 days). If it is not, it will be considered a non-exempt asset.

A disability lasting for at least six months but is not expected to be permanent.

A trust that is set up after someone dies.

An arrangement where a person (trustee) holds property for the good of one or more beneficiaries.

Income you receive from sources that are not earned through employment.