RDSP Withdrawals: the LDAP and the 10-Year Rule
How money comes out, why the 10-year holdback matters, and how the LDAP formula stretches a plan to age 83.
Read articleThe Inclusion Strategist
QUESTION 1 OF 4
Do you have the Disability Tax Credit?
The DTC is the key that unlocks the RDSP. DTC eligibility is required to open one.
- Yes, it is approved
- Applied, waiting for an answer
- No, not yet
Made for everyone: these resources work with screen readers, keyboards and large text. If any part is hard to access, contact us and we will provide it in another format.
If you leave and come back, this checker can pick up where you stopped. Your answers are saved only on this device, never sent anywhere, and they clear when you finish.
One last step, only if you want it
Want Sean to walk through your result with you? Leave your name and email and he will follow up personally. This is optional. Your checker answers stay on your device.
Who is eligible for an RDSP?
Four things have to line up. The person the plan is for, called the beneficiary, must:
- Be approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). This comes first, because nothing else can happen without it.
- Be a resident of Canada when the plan is opened and when contributions are made.
- Have a Social Insurance Number.
- Be under 60. A plan can be opened until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 59, and grants and bonds are paid until December 31 of the year they turn 49.
No DTC yet? The RDSP starts with the Disability Tax Credit. Check that first, it takes two minutes. Want the whole picture first? The Disability Finance guide explains the RDSP in plain English.
How much could the government add? Up to $90,000 over a lifetime, as much as $70,000 in matching grants and $20,000 in bonds. The grant matches contributions up to $3,500 a year, and the bond can pay up to $1,000 a year with no contribution at all. The checker above shows how those rules land on your situation.
Understanding the RDSP
What it is
The Registered Disability Savings Plan is a long-term savings plan for Canadians who are approved for the Disability Tax Credit. The federal government adds matching grants and income-tested bonds, up to $90,000 over a lifetime. The program is explained on the Government of Canada pages: Registered Disability Savings Plan and how much you could get in grants and bonds.
Who it helps
Anyone with DTC approval, and the families who love them. Grants and bonds are paid until the end of the year the beneficiary turns 49, and a plan can be opened until the end of the year they turn 59. A parent, spouse, or other qualifying person can be the holder who manages the plan.
Common mistakes
Waiting, because every year of delay can leave grant and bond money unclaimed. Assuming a low income means skipping the plan, when the bond needs no contribution at all. And withdrawing early without understanding the repayment rules, which the guide below explains in plain English.
Keep learning
The full guide lives on the Disability Finance hub. Go deeper with the $90,000 most families miss, choosing your RDSP holder, and RDSP withdrawals and the LDAP. Not approved for the DTC yet? Start with the DTC eligibility checker. Curious what the account could grow into over time? Run your own numbers in the RDSP calculator.
RDSP questions, answered.
Am I eligible for an RDSP?
You may be eligible if the beneficiary is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, lives in Canada, has a Social Insurance Number, and is under 60. DTC approval comes first. An RDSP can be opened until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 59, and grants and bonds are paid until December 31 of the year they turn 49.
Who is eligible for an RDSP?
Canadians with a severe and prolonged impairment who are approved for the Disability Tax Credit. A parent, spouse, or other qualifying person can hold and manage the plan for the beneficiary. If the DTC is not in place yet, that is the first step, and the DTC checker on this site can show where you stand.
Can I open an RDSP without the Disability Tax Credit?
No. Disability Tax Credit eligibility is required to open an RDSP, and it is required in the year a contribution is made for grants to be paid. The good news is that unused grant and bond entitlement can be carried forward for up to 10 years once approval is in place, so time spent getting the DTC approved is not wasted.
Am I too old to open an RDSP?
An RDSP can be opened until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 59. Grants and bonds stop after December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 49, so opening later still shelters contributions and growth, even when the government matching has ended. If the beneficiary is 60 or older, the RDSP window has closed, but the DTC itself is still valuable.
How much can the government put into an RDSP?
You may qualify for government grants and bonds through an RDSP. For 2026, with family net income at or below $117,045, the Canada Disability Savings Grant can reach $3,500 a year on a $1,500 contribution. The Canada Disability Savings Bond can add up to $1,000 a year with no contribution needed. The combined lifetime maximum is $90,000.
When do grants and bonds stop?
Here are the RDSP deadlines that matter most. Grants and bonds stop on December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 49. Contributions can continue until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 59.
How late can I open or contribute to an RDSP?
Did you know? The 2026 RDSP contribution deadline is December 31. You can open an RDSP and make contributions up to December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 59. The lifetime contribution limit is $200,000, with no annual limit.
Do I need to contribute to get the bond?
No. The bond is income-tested and needs no contribution at all. If the beneficiary is DTC-eligible and the family income qualifies, the bond can be paid into the RDSP automatically. Single parents of children with disabilities may qualify for the bond even when no contribution is made.
What if I missed years of grants or bonds?
Unused grant and bond entitlement can be carried forward for up to 10 years, with catch-up grants capped at $10,500 per calendar year. Missed years are not necessarily gone. If the RDSP is new to you, you may qualify for up to $3,500 a year in grants, and much of the missed entitlement may still be available.
Is the Disability Tax Credit required?
Yes. DTC eligibility is required in the year a contribution is made (for grants) or the bond is payable. The DTC is the key that unlocks the RDSP. Cancer survivors may qualify too, sometimes years after treatment ends. It is worth checking whether the DTC applies in your situation.
Keep reading
RDSP After 60: The Payoff Years
Grants end at 49 and contributions at 59. After 60, decades of patience turn into a paycheque for life.
Read article