Why should spouse with lower income claim medical expenses

[mariola]

Why should spouse with lower income claim medical expenses. How is this tax credit calculated? Is it just 10% in Alberta? 

[Delphision · Accepted solution]

The spouse with the lower income should claim the medical expense, usually, although it should be looked at carefully.  In order to claim medical costs, they must be more than 3% of your net income.  Lower income means that you may be able to claim more of the medical costs, provided you paid enough tax to get some of it back.

The total of the medical expense goes to schedule 1 and is multiplied by 15%.