Supplement for Handicapped Children

The Supplement for Handicapped Children provides financial assistance to parents who have a dependent child under age 18 who has a physical impairment or a mental function disability. The child's condition significantly limits him or her in carrying out his or her life habits compared with what is expected for a child his or her age. The expected duration of the disabilities must be for at least one year. We determine your child's eligibility for the Supplement for Handicapped Children based on certain requirements.

Retraite Québec has a team of health professionals who assess the applications for the Supplement for Handicapped Children. The team is made up of physicians, speech-language pathologists, psychologists and nurses.

The team determines whether the child is eligible for the Supplement for Handicapped Children based on all the information contained in the child's file. In addition to the information provided by the family who files an application, Retraite Québec's team of health professionals takes into account all relevant information provided by medical or paramedical sources (contemporary scientific literature, assessment reports and follow-up notes from health professionals, examination results, etc.). Information provided by the school, daycare and psychosocial workers who know the child well is also considered.

Preconditions

Parents must receive Family Allowance for the child concerned by the Application for the Supplement for Handicapped Children. If it is not the case, they must file an Application for Family Allowance Payments before sending the Application for the Supplement for Handicapped Children or when filing it. The Application for Family Allowance will be studied first. If the family is eligible for Family Allowance for the child, the application for the Supplement for Handicapped Children will then be studied.

The requirements for receiving the Supplement for Handicapped Children are different from those of other programs, including the programs administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, because they are governed by different laws. Consequently, a child can be eligible for one program without necessarily being eligible for another program.

The amount paid is the same for each eligible child, based on the requirements for the Supplement for Handicapped Children, regardless of family income or type of handicap. The monthly amount for 2025 is $236. The amount is adjusted each year to the cost of living, in January. The amount is not taxable.

Did you know?

You may also need to assume extraordinary responsibilities regarding the care and safety of your child because he or she has severe and multiple disabilities, and/or his or her medical condition requires complex medical care at home. In that case, your child may also be eligible for the Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care. The state of your child must meet the eligibility requirements for the Supplement for a period expected to last at least one year.

The A handicapped child section provides more information on financial assistance programs for handicapped children.