What's attendant care and what can I claim in TurboTax?
Attendant care is care that's given by someone (the attendant) for someone else who can't do certain personal tasks for themselves.
If you or a dependant are receiving attendant care or care in a facility, you may be eligible to claim a portion of those costs. The CRA has outlined a few guidelines to explain eligibility, both for an individual receiving care and for their attendant.
Who qualifies as an attendant?
An attendant:
Can't be your spouse or a common-law partner
Must be 18 years of age or older when they received money for their services
Who qualifies as a dependant and who can claim those expenses?
A dependant is a person who depends on another for support. These individuals can include:
Your or your spouse/common-law partner’s child or grandchild
Your or your spouse/common-law partner’s parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, or nieces who lived in Canada at any time of the year
You or your spouse/common-law partner can claim medical expenses paid to an attendant or in-facility for care given.
What can be claimed as a medical expense?
If you have a dependant who's receiving full-time or specialized care, you can claim the entire amount paid to:
Nursing homes that provide full-time care
Schools, institutions, or other facilities providing care or care and training
Care is considered full-time when the recipient requires constant care and attendance. Other facilities and care services may also include outpatient clinics, such as detox and other treatment organizations. Recreational, summer camps, and other facilities, even if providing services to those with disabilities, aren't included in the list.
Which expenses can I claim for home or in-facility services?
In most cases, you can claim payments made to people who provide these medical services as medical expenses:
Food prep
Housekeeping for a resident’s personal living area
Laundry services for personal items
Healthcare provided by registered nurses, practical nurses, certified healthcare workers, and personal support workers
Social activities programmers
Salon services that are included in nursing home fees
Personal drivers
Security
If you receive in-home attendant care, you can only claim expenses for the time spent at home. To qualify, you’ll need either a disability tax credit certificate from the CRA or a note from a medical practitioner confirming the care is needed.
