Yes, it is possible to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit even if you can still walk. You do not have to be unable to walk. For the walking restriction, taking at least three times as long to walk the same distance as someone of a similar age without the impairment, 90% or more of the time, can meet the timing and frequency requirements.
That is very different from being unable to walk at all. You may still walk into appointments, move around your home or complete a short trip, but take three times as long to do so. If you have ruled yourself out simply because you can still walk, this distinction matters.
The restriction must remain despite appropriate treatment, medication and devices, and must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 continuous months. A medical practitioner must complete and certify the medical information, and the CRA makes the approval decision.
What do “three times as long” and “90% of the time” mean?
The comparison is about the time needed to walk the same distance, not whether you can walk any distance at all. As a simple illustration, if a person of a similar age without the impairment takes two minutes to complete a particular walk, three times as long would be six minutes. In that example, you are still walking and completing the route.
Those numbers are an illustration, not a fixed walking test or a universal benchmark. The comparison needs to reflect your circumstances. Include necessary rest stops when describing the time involved.
The three-times-as-long restriction must apply all or substantially all of the time, generally 90% or more, rather than only during an occasional flare-up or on your worst day. Explain how often it affects you and what happens when you use your usual treatment or walking aid.
Why “I can still walk” is not the complete answer
You may have adapted your routine so thoroughly that other people do not notice your difficulties. You might park close to entrances, choose routes with benches, allow extra time for appointments, or avoid places where you cannot rest.
Those adjustments help you get through your day, but simply saying “I manage” leaves out what managing requires. Describe the walking itself: how far you go, how long it takes and why you need to stop or receive assistance.
Instead of focusing only on whether you can walk, explain whether walking takes at least three times as long and whether that restriction is present 90% or more of the time. The examples below can help you describe your actual experience when discussing an application.
Details that help explain a walking limitation
Distance and necessary stops
Think about a short, familiar route you actually use. How far can you usually walk before you need to stop? Why do you stop, and how long do you need to rest before continuing? If you cannot complete the route, explain that rather than estimating a time for a walk you cannot manage.
The total time involved
Include necessary rest stops when describing your experience. A walk that takes several stages may be quite different from an uninterrupted walk of the same distance. If you do not know the time, say so; do not invent measurements or push through unsafe activity to produce them.
Walking aids, treatment and assistance
Explain whether you use a cane, walker, prescribed treatment or help from another person. Include the difficulties that remain when you use them. Using a walking aid does not automatically establish eligibility, and not using one does not settle the question either.
Frequency and duration
A description of your worst day alone may not represent your usual experience. Explain whether the three-times-as-long restriction applies 90% or more of the time, what better and worse days look like, and when it began. Also discuss whether the restriction has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 continuous months.
Conditions that may affect walking
Different conditions can create similar walking limitations. For example, arthritis may make weight-bearing and movement difficult, while spinal stenosis may affect the distance or time you can manage.
People with the same condition can have very different experiences. A diagnosis helps explain the medical background; the application also needs to describe its effect on your daily functioning. For condition-specific information, read about osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
What if getting dressed is difficult too?
Tell your medical practitioner about other affected activities rather than assuming walking is the only relevant difficulty. For example, the same hip or back limitation may make putting on socks or trousers difficult. Hand problems may affect buttons and zippers.
Explain each activity separately, including the extra time and help involved. Having difficulties in two activities does not automatically mean you qualify. Our guide to dressing difficulties and the DTC provides practical examples, while our walking and dressing overview introduces both areas.
Can you qualify if you still work or leave the house?
Employment and the ability to leave your home do not provide a complete picture of your walking ability. Explain how you manage those activities and any assistance, accommodations or restrictions involved. Being unable to work is not a substitute for describing the functional restrictions relevant to a DTC application.
How to prepare for a conversation about the DTC
Bring a few truthful examples, information about when the difficulties began, and details of your treatment or aids. Existing observations are useful; do not change your treatment, stop using an aid or attempt an unsafe walking test to demonstrate a limitation.
True North Disability Services can discuss your circumstances and explain the application process. Your medical practitioner completes the medical portion, and the Canada Revenue Agency makes the approval decision.
Start an eligibility assessment or contact TNDS about your walking difficulties. If we’re not successful in securing your refund, there’s no charge from us. See how our services work for more information.
