By Evelyn Jacks, RWM, MFA, MFA-P, FDFS on March 9, 2026 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

How to claim the Canada Caregiver Amount due to infirmity

By Evelyn Jacks, RWM, MFA, MFA-P, FDFS on March 9, 2026 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The Canada Caregiver Amount can help families supporting loved ones with infirmities. Learn who qualifies and how much you can claim.

Every year tax filers—professional and do-it-yourselfers alike—face the challenge of making a claim for family members whose health has changed. Aside from the Spousal Amount, a Canada Caregiver Amount is available. It’s a complex claim and it’s made on Schedule 5 of the T1 return. Here are some of the nuances.

Claiming the Canada Caregiver Amount for a spouse

Let’s begin with making a claim for a spouse, common-law partner, or eligible dependants who are either under or over age 18.  

A spouse is someone to whom the taxpayer is legally married, or a common-law spouse or partner with whom the taxpayer has lived for at least 12 consecutive months, or if the couple had a child together at any time during the year. In the case of separation or divorce, it may be possible to claim the Amount for Eligible Dependant for one child per household. 

If you are making the claim for a spouse or eligible dependant, the Canada Caregiver Amount may be claimable. But it cannot be split with another taxpayer and it can’t be claimed for someone who is just visiting the taxpayer. In 2025, the Canada Caregiver Amount is a claim of $8,624, which must be reduced if dependant’s income is between $8,624 and $28,798.  

In addition, you can claim $2,687........

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