Supplement for Handicapped Children

The purpose of the Supplement for Handicapped Children is to provide financial assistance to families to help with the custody, care and education of a handicapped child. The impairment or mental function disability must significantly limit the child in carrying out his or her life habits for a period expected to last at least one year.

Life habits are those that a child must carry out, depending on his or her age, with respect to personal care and social life. The following life habits are taken into consideration in the review of applications:

• Nutrition
• Personal care
• Moving about
• Communication
• Interpersonal relations
• Responsibilities
• Development and learning.

Eligibility

To be entitled to the Supplement for Handicapped Children, you must:

• be eligible for Family Allowance 
• have a dependent child under age 18 who has an impairment or mental function disability that significantly limits him or her in carrying out his or her life habits for a period expected to last at least one year.

Retraite Québec’s team of health professionals determines whether your child is eligible for the Supplement for Handicapped Children based on established criteria . If your child’s condition does not meet the criteria, his or her eligibility is determined based on the severity of his or her limitations with regard to carrying out life habits for a period expected to last at least one year.  The assessment of the child’s limitations takes into account the disabilities resulting from the impairment or mental function disability, as well as factors in the child’s environment that facilitate or inhibit his or her ability to carry out his or her life habits. A diagnosis of an impairment or mental function disability alone cannot determine the severity of a child’s limitations or eligibility for the Supplement for Handicapped Children.

Additional information

If your child is receiving complex medical care at home or suffers from severe and multiple disabilities that prevent him or her from carrying out the life habits of a child his or her age without assistance, he or she could be eligible for the Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care.

Procedure

The Application for the Supplement for Handicapped Children  allows a person who cares for a handicapped child to apply for the Supplement for Handicapped Children.

The form has 2 parts:

1. the Parent’s part, which must be completed by one of the parents and includes an appendix concerning the child’s educational achievement
2. the Professional’s part, which must be completed by the professional (physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, etc.) who has assessed or treated your child and is most familiar with the child’s condition.

Assistance and resources

For more information on financial assistance for handicapped children, visit Retraite Québec’s Handicapped children  web page.

If you require assistance, contact the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec .