Question Period Note: SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Student Financial Assistance for Students with Disabilities

• To help students afford post-secondary education, the Government has increased non-repayable Canada Student Grants by 40 percent over pre-pandemic amounts for the current school year, including the targeted Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities, which was increased from $2,000 to $2,800.
• The Government has also made Canada Student Loans permanently interest-free and has increased the weekly loan limit from $210 to $300 for this year.

• Furthermore, starting August 2022, the Government also extended eligibility for disability targeted support to Canadians with persistent or prolonged disabilities, ensuring more students with disabilities are able to access post-secondary education.

The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program provides need-based grants and interest-free loans to help students access post-secondary education and offers the Repayment Assistance Plan to borrowers with financial difficulty. In addition to supports available for all students, students with permanent disabilities, and persistent or prolonged disabilities, are also eligible for:
• Students with Disabilities receive $2,800 in CSG per year. This is in addition to other grants they may be eligible for.

• Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities is another grant of up to $20,000 per year which helps to offset the costs of education-related services and equipment needed for students with disabilities to participate in post-secondary studies – covering the cost of things like tutors, behavioral coaches, and assistive technologies.

• Students with disabilities are not expected to make a financial contribution of up to $3,000 to their own education, which the program otherwise assumes for other students.

• Students with disabilities who are enrolled in less than 60% of a full course (but more than 40%) can elect to be considered full-time students. This means these students can access greater levels of assistance than if they were considered part-time students.
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Students with disabilities also benefit from wider enhancements to CSGs and CSLs in recent years.
Canada Student Loans (CSLs) were also increased from $210 per week to $300 for 2024-2025. This means full-time students can receive a maximum of $10,200 for a typical 34-week academic year (previously $7,140).
On April 1, 2023, the Government of Canada permanently eliminated interest accrual on Canada Student Loans (CSLs) and Canada Apprentice Loans. This built on temporary waivers on interest during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If Pressed

• Grants are non-repayable, so they provide students with additional funding to attend school without increasing debt. Students with disabilities can access both general grants targeted to low and middle income families, as well as those reflecting disability specific costs and needs.

• Loans are a cost-effective way of providing students with more up-front support to pay for things like tuition and housing while in school.

• Permanently eliminating interest accrual on loans means that the cost of repaying a student loan is lower, and not subject to changes in interest rates.

“As a means-tested program that provides a return-on-investment of $3.50 for every dollar invested, the federal government has consistently been able to effectively remove financial barriers and ensure equal opportunities for marginalized students through Canada Student Grants.”
- Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, Pre-Budget 2025 submission, August 2024

“Budget 2024 also addresses significant concerns for student parents, students with disabilities, and mature students on issues with affordability and accessibility. We look forward to working with the government on the policy development of several key policies to ensure more victories are achieved in the years to come, including a focus to ensure funding for the Canada Student Grants Program is increased and extended further than the current funding model is committed to.”
- Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), April 2024