RDSP calculator

A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a tax-deferred savings account for people who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). It exists to help build long-term financial security, and its standout feature is government money: Ottawa tops up contributions with the Canada Disability Savings Grant and adds a Canada Disability Savings Bond for lower-income beneficiaries — even if you contribute nothing. Investments grow tax-free inside the plan, and you're only taxed on the government and growth portions when you withdraw.

The grant is a matching contribution from the federal government. If the beneficiary's adjusted family net income is $114,750 or less (2026), the government pays 300% on your first $500 (up to $1,500) and 200% on the next $1,000 (up to $2,000) — a maximum of $3,500 a year for a $1,500 contribution. Above that income, it's 100% on the first $1,000 (up to $1,000 a year). The lifetime grant limit is $70,000.

The bond is free money that requires no contribution at all. For 2026, if adjusted family net income is $38,237 or less, the government deposits the full $1,000 a year. Between $38,237 and $58,523 the bond phases down on a sliding scale, and above $58,523 no bond is paid. The lifetime bond limit is $20,000. Because it needs no money from you, opening an RDSP is worthwhile for a lower-income beneficiary even if you can't contribute.

Up to $3,500 in grant plus $1,000 in bond — $4,500 a year at the most generous income level. Over a lifetime the caps are $70,000 in grants and $20,000 in bonds, $90,000 total. A beneficiary who starts early and contributes $1,500 a year can hit both lifetime caps well before age 49, which is why the RDSP is often called the most powerful savings vehicle in Canada for those who qualify.

It depends on income. If family net income is $114,750 or less, contribute $1,500 — that captures the full $1,500 (300% on $500) plus $2,000 (200% on $1,000) for the maximum $3,500 grant. If income is above $114,750, contribute $1,000 to capture the full $1,000 (100%) grant; contributing more than $1,000 earns no extra grant at that income level. The calculator shows your grant for any contribution you enter.

To open an RDSP the beneficiary must be a Canadian resident, have a valid Social Insurance Number, be under age 60, and — crucially — be approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). The DTC is the gateway: without it, no RDSP and no grants or bonds. If you think you might qualify for the DTC but haven't applied, that's the first step, because approval can also be backdated.

Grants and bonds are paid until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 49. Contributions made from age 50 onward still grow tax-deferred but no longer attract government money. This is why starting young matters so much — every year of eligibility you leave on the table is up to $4,500 of free money gone. The calculator counts your remaining eligible years automatically.

Yes — this is one of the RDSP's best-kept secrets. Unused grant and bond entitlements carry forward for up to 10 years (back to 2008, when the plan started, or the year the beneficiary became DTC-eligible). When you contribute, the plan can pay out grants on prior-year room, up to $10,500 in grant and $11,000 in bond in a single year. If you're opening an RDSP late, a catch-up contribution can unlock years of missed government money at once.

Heavily. Both are income-tested against adjusted family net income. For a beneficiary under 18, the parents' family income is used; at 18 and older, it's the beneficiary's own income plus a spouse's. The CRA uses income from two years earlier — so 2026 grants and bonds are based on your 2024 tax return. Lower income means a richer match and the full bond; higher income reduces both.

Withdrawals come with a catch called the 10-year assistance holdback rule: any grant or bond received in the 10 years before a withdrawal must be repaid (up to $3 of government money for every $1 withdrawn). This is why the RDSP is built for the long term — pulling money out early can claw back the very grants and bonds that make it so valuable. Plan withdrawals carefully, ideally after the holdback window has passed.

Your own contributions come out tax-free (you already paid tax on that money). The grants, bonds and investment growth are taxable to the beneficiary when withdrawn — but since many beneficiaries have modest income, the tax is often low or nil. Growth inside the plan is sheltered along the way. As always, the after-tax outcome depends on your full situation, so confirm with a tax professional before drawing down.

No — it's an educational estimate using the published 2026 grant and bond rules and a simple growth projection. Real entitlements depend on your exact adjusted family net income, your DTC status, carry-forward room and your plan provider's figures. The income thresholds are indexed each year, so they'll shift over time. Confirm your numbers with the CRA, Employment and Social Development Canada, or your RDSP issuer before relying on them.