Sharon D. has a disabled child. She struggled for years with what to do
should something happen to her or her husband.
How would her child survive? How
would her child get money? Who would
take care of the child? Questions like
these plagued Sharon D. and inflicted much anxiety and hardship on her
day-to-day life.
Then one
day, a friend told her about the National Benefit Authority (NBA). Sharon was skeptical at first but the friend
mentioned that the NBA has a vast array of resources to help families and
individuals with disabilities. Still
Sharon balked. Her friend persisted and
Sharon finally realized she had nothing to lose; it couldn’t hurt just to ask a
few questions.
Sharon
contacted the NBA and, after talking to one of their highly-trained Benefit
Specialists, was pleased to discover just the thing she had been looking for to
ensure the future well-being of her child.
The
National Benefit Authority told Sharon about the Registered Disability
Savings Plan (RDSP) that is available to qualifying individuals and their
families to help provide for the future financial security of loved ones with
disabilities.
The
Registered Disability Savings Plan (similar to a Registered Education Savings
Plan) allows for the contribution of up to $200,000 for the future needs of the
beneficiary. Contributions are not
tax-deductible, and earnings and growth accrue on a tax-deferred basis. Anyone
can contribute. The contributions grow tax-free until withdrawn – at which time
a proportion of the plan (earnings and growth received) is taxable and will
need to be declared as income in the hands of the beneficiary at that time.
The National
Benefit Authority provided Sharon with the guidance and expertise necessary to navigate
the Disability Tax Credit process, which, upon completion, allowed her to
establish an RDSP for her child to ensure that money would be available to
provide care for future needs.
Sharon D.
was also pleased to find that the National
Benefit Authority’s website was more than just a place to make contact or
gather information about the company; it was a place where people with
disabilities (and their families) can meet and talk about issues they have in
common. Sharon and her family now
frequently participate in the disabilities
forum or share resources on the disability
blog with the hope that their experience can somehow benefit others.
Sharon and
her family also shout the benefits of the National Benefit Authority far and
wide. Sharon makes a point to highlight
the many ways that the NBA can help Canadians with disabilities. She recounts how the NBA helped her find the
RDSP (and other programs) that addressed her specific need. She expresses her gratitude for their
assistance translating the seemingly impenetrable legal jargon that made the
application process almost impossible. She describes the caring and compassion with
which the NBA helped her navigate the oft murky waters that is the Canadian
government’s disability benefits process.
Sharon D.
will be forever grateful for
the National Benefit Authority and their assistance in helping her family take
advantage of the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
The
Registered Disability Savings Plan is one of many resources available to
individuals with disabilities. Find out
how you can take advantage of these programs, get answers to your questions,
and sign up for a free consultation by visiting the National Benefit Authority
at www.TheNBA.ca.
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