Can I claim the Canada Caregiver Credit for my parent?

What counts as supporting your parent?

The credit depends on support. That means paying for your parent's food, shelter or clothing from your own money.

Driving, running errands and managing your parent's bank account do not count, however much time they take. Your parent can live in a care home. You can still claim if you pay for some of those necessities yourself. Keep the receipts.

Does my parent have to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit?

No. It is enough that they depend on others for a long period because of an impairment.

Keep a signed note from the doctor saying when the impairment began and how long it is expected to last. You do not need a note if CRA has already approved a disability certificate.

How much is it, and who can share it?

For 2026, the Canada caregiver amount is up to $8,773. The amount shrinks as your parent's own net income rises, starting above $20,601 for 2026.

• Line 30450: another infirm dependant 18 or older, such as a parent.
• Line 30425: an infirm spouse or common-law partner, or an infirm eligible dependant 18 or older.
• Where more than one family member supports the same parent, they can share the line 30450 claim. Together they cannot claim more than one maximum.
• If your parent pays you as a caregiver, CRA's guidance does not say how that affects the claim. Ask CRA or a tax professional before claiming.

What about Alberta's caregiver credit?

For 2026, Alberta has its own caregiver amount, claimed on line 58400 of Form AB428. It is only for a dependant 18 or older who lives with you. It is worth up to $13,180. It shrinks as the dependant's income rises above $20,956 and is gone at $34,136.

From January 1, 2027, Alberta replaces it with a single Alberta Caregiver Credit. The new credit will no longer apply to healthy parents or grandparents over 65 who live with you. If you claim for a parent who is not infirm, 2026 may be your last year to do so.

Related questions

Can I claim my parent's unused Disability Tax Credit?

If your parent cannot use all of the Disability Tax Credit, a supporting child can claim the unused part on line 31800. The child must have supported the parent with the necessities of life and claimed, or could have claimed, the caregiver amount.

Can I also claim my parent's medical expenses?

If your parent depended on you for support, you can claim the parent's medical expenses on your own return, on line 33199. They are reduced by 3% of the parent's net income, or $2,890 for 2026 if that is less.

Can I get EI if I stop work to care for my parent?

You may qualify for EI caregiving benefits: up to 15 weeks for a critically ill or injured adult, or 26 weeks of compassionate care. EI pays 55% of your earnings, up to $729 a week for 2026.

Drawn from Legacy Planning in Care, Chapter 6. Family Caregiver I: paying the caregiver and the tax offsets, by Derik Godbout, PBA, CEA, DMA. Reviewed October 2026. General information, not advice for your situation; rules and amounts change, so confirm current figures before you act.

Go deeper: Event 1: Personal Tax Strategy, Benefits & Life Events

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