Government assistance, programs and benefitsCanada Caregiver Credit Do you support a spouse or common-law partner, or a dependent with a physical or mental impairment? The Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC) is a non-refundable tax credit that may be available to you. The Change Foundation This document, Legislation Supporting Family Caregivers in Canadian Jurisdictions and Selected International Jurisdictions (July 2018) provides a summary of Canadian (pages 6-7) and Ontario legislation (pages 10-11). Disability Tax Credit Find out if your loved one is eligible for the disability tax credit on this Canada Revenue Agency website. Family Caregiver Leave Family caregiver leave is unpaid, job-protected leave of up to eight weeks per calendar year per specified family member. Federal Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits Through Employment Insurance, you could receive financial assistance of up to 55% of your earnings, to a maximum of $547 a week. These benefits will help you take time away from work to provide care or support to a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care. As a caregiver, you don’t have to be related to or live with the person you care for or support, but they must consider you to be like family. Federal Leave Related to Critical Illness The following questions and answers will be of interest to employers and employees subject to federal jurisdiction. Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) If your loved one has a disability and needs help with living expenses, he or she may be eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program. ODSP offers: financial assistance to help with essential living expenses and has benefits including prescription drugs and vision care. Ontario Critical Illness Leave Critical illness leave is unpaid job-protected leave of absence of up to 37 weeks in relation to a critically ill minor child, or 17 weeks in relation to a critically ill adult within a 52-week period. Ontario Family Caregiver Leave Family caregiver leave is unpaid, job-protected leave of up to eight weeks per calendar year per specified family member. Family caregiver leave may be taken to provide care or support to certain family members for whom a qualified health practitioner has issued a certificate stating that they have a serious medical condition. Ontario Family Medical Leave Family medical leave is unpaid, job-protected leave of up to 28 weeks in a 52-week period. Family medical leave may be taken to provide care or support to certain family members and people who consider the employee to be like a family member in respect of whom a qualified health practitioner has issued a certificate indicating that they have a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death occurring within a period of 26 weeks.