RDSP grant and bond in 2026: how much the government adds, with a calculator
The Registered Disability Savings Plan is one of the most generous savings programs in Canada and one of the least used. The government can add several dollars for every dollar a family puts in, and sometimes money with nothing put in at all. Here are the 2026 numbers from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), a calculator for your own income, and the 10-year rule that catches families who withdraw early.
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RDSP grant and bond calculator
2026 grant and bond for your family income
| After | You put in | Grant | Bond | Total |
|---|
Uses ESDC's 2026 thresholds: full match rates at family income of $117,045 or less, full bond at $38,237 or less, no bond at $58,523 or more. The partial bond uses the formula in ESDC's issuer guidance: $1,000 minus $1,000 × (income minus $38,237) ÷ ($58,523 minus $38,237). The projection holds income and contributions flat, applies the $70,000 grant and $20,000 bond lifetime limits, ignores carry-forward and investment growth, and assumes the beneficiary is under 49 for every year shown. Thresholds are indexed every year. Your Statement of Entitlement is the official figure.
Who can open an RDSP
ESDC lists four conditions for the beneficiary, the person who will receive the money:
- approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) by the CRA
- applies before December 31 of the year they turn 59
- a resident of Canada
- has a Social Insurance Number
The holder opens and manages the plan. For a minor, that can be a parent, legal representative or public department. An adult who can enter into a contract must be the holder of their own plan. If an adult cannot, a legal representative holds it, or in some cases a spouse, common-law partner, parent or adult sibling. Each beneficiary can have only one RDSP. Both holder and beneficiary need a SIN.
Grants and bonds stop after December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 49. A plan can still be opened up to age 59 for tax-sheltered growth, and ESDC says contributions and money held in an RDSP do not affect other federal or provincial disability benefits.
How the grant works
The grant is a match on what you put in. The rate depends on family income, and the income used for 2026 is the one on the 2024 tax return. For a beneficiary 18 and under, family income is the parents' or guardians' income. From the year they turn 19, it is the beneficiary's own income plus a spouse's, if any. That only works if the beneficiary files a tax return every year.
| 2026 family income | Match | To get the maximum | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| $117,045 or less | $3 per $1 on the first $500, then $2 per $1 on the next $1,000 | Contribute $1,500 | $3,500 |
| More than $117,045 | $1 per $1 on the first $1,000 | Contribute $1,000 | $1,000 |
ESDC's own examples: a $50 contribution at $40,000 income gets $150. A $1,200 contribution at $60,000 gets $2,900 ($1,500 on the first $500, plus $1,400 on the next $700). A $2,000 contribution at $80,000 still gets $3,500, because nothing above $1,500 is matched. The grant usually lands within 6 to 8 weeks.
There is no annual contribution limit, but there is a $200,000 lifetime contribution limit. Contributions above the amount that earns the match are called unassisted contributions.
How the bond works
The bond is money the government deposits for low and modest income families. No contribution is needed. Once you open a plan and apply, it arrives automatically each year you qualify.
- Family income of $38,237 or less: the full $1,000
- Between $38,237 and $58,523: a partial bond that shrinks as income rises
- $58,523 or more: no bond
The lifetime bond limit is $20,000. Because the bond needs no contribution, a family with little to spare still builds savings just by opening the plan. If money is tight, the FCAC's no-cost account commitment also covers people who receive the Disability Tax Credit; see our low-cost and no-cost account guide.
Worked example: Amira's family
Amira is 12 and approved for the DTC. Her parents' 2024 family income was $45,000. They open an RDSP and contribute $1,500 in 2026.
- Grant: 3 × $500 + 2 × $1,000 = $1,500 + $2,000 = $3,500
- Bond: $1,000 − $1,000 × ($45,000 − $38,237) ÷ ($58,523 − $38,237) = $1,000 − $1,000 × 6,763 ÷ 20,286 = about $666.62
- Government total for the year: about $4,166.62 on a $1,500 contribution
If income and contributions stayed the same for 10 years, the plan would hold $15,000 of contributions, $35,000 of grant and about $6,666 of bond: roughly $56,666 before any investment growth. Real thresholds are indexed each year, so the actual bond will move. Growth depends entirely on how the plan is invested; our compound interest guide shows how time changes the picture.
Compare that to the RESP, where the basic grant is 20% of contributions: see our RESP grant guide. A family with a child who qualifies for both is looking at two very different match rates.
Catching up on past years
If the beneficiary was DTC-approved in earlier years but had no RDSP, or had one but did not contribute enough, ESDC lets you carry forward grant and bond from the past 10 years.
- Grant catch-up needs contributions. The grant paid in a single year, including carry-forward, is capped at $10,500. It can take a few years to catch up.
- Bond catch-up needs no contributions. When you open a plan and apply, you can receive up to $11,000: up to $1,000 for each eligible year in the last 10, plus the current year.
- Only contributions made until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 49 attract grant, including catch-up grant.
ESDC's example: Lisa was DTC-approved from 2021 with family income of $19,000. When she opened a plan in 2026, $6,000 of bond was deposited, $1,000 for each year from 2021 to 2026. Every February, plan holders get a Statement of Entitlement showing how much grant is available and how much to contribute to get it.
The 10-year rule on withdrawals
The RDSP is designed as long-term savings. Regular payments must start by December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 60. You can withdraw earlier, but:
- If any grant or bond was paid into the plan in the last 10 years, you repay $3 of grant or bond for every $1 withdrawn, up to the total grant and bond paid in those 10 years.
- Example: withdraw $1,000 when the plan received $20,000 of grant and bond in the last decade, and $3,000 goes back to the government.
- No repayment applies once the last grant or bond is more than 10 years old, or after age 60. Different rules apply to a beneficiary with a life expectancy of 5 years or less, or one who loses DTC approval.
When money comes out, the grant, bond and investment growth are taxable to the beneficiary. The original contributions are not. ESDC also notes that withdrawals may affect provincial benefits in Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
Options people compare
| Account | Government money | Tax on withdrawal | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDSP | Grant up to $3,500 and bond up to $1,000 a year | Grant, bond and growth taxable; contributions not | DTC needed; 10-year repayment rule |
| RESP | Basic grant of 20% on contributions | Grant and growth taxed to the student | See RESP grant |
| TFSA | None | None | Contribution room; see TFSA limit 2026 |
| RRSP | None, but a tax deduction | Fully taxable | Needs earned income; see RRSP explained |
These are options to understand, not recommendations; which account fits depends on your family, income and benefits. More calculators are on the tools page.
How to open an RDSP and apply for the grant and bond
- Make sure the beneficiary is approved for the Disability Tax Credit and has a SIN.
- File tax returns every year, for the parents or for the beneficiary from age 17, so family income is on record.
- Open an RDSP with a financial institution that offers them, and apply for the grant and bond at the same time.
- Contribute $1,500 in the year if family income is $117,045 or less, or $1,000 if it is higher, to get the full annual grant.
- Check the Statement of Entitlement each February for carry-forward grant and bond.
- Before any withdrawal, ask the issuer how much grant and bond from the last 10 years would have to be repaid.
Questions people ask
How much is the RDSP grant in 2026?
Up to $3,500 a year and $70,000 over a lifetime. With 2026 family income of $117,045 or less, the first $500 contributed is matched $3 for $1 and the next $1,000 is matched $2 for $1. Above that income, the first $1,000 is matched $1 for $1.
How much is the RDSP bond in 2026?
Up to $1,000 a year and $20,000 over a lifetime, with no contribution needed. The full bond is paid at family income of $38,237 or less, a partial bond between $38,237 and $58,523, and none at $58,523 or more.
How much do I need to put in an RDSP to get the full grant?
$1,500 in the year if family income is $117,045 or less, which earns $3,500. If income is higher, $1,000 earns the $1,000 maximum.
Which year of income is used for the 2026 RDSP grant and bond?
The family income reported on the 2024 tax return. ESDC uses income from two years before.
Can I get RDSP grants and bonds for past years?
Yes, for up to 10 past years in which the beneficiary was DTC-approved. Catch-up grant needs contributions and is capped at $10,500 in a year. Catch-up bond needs no contributions, up to $11,000 when you open a plan.
What is the 10-year rule for RDSP withdrawals?
If grant or bond was paid into the plan in the last 10 years, every $1 withdrawn requires repaying $3 of grant or bond, up to the total paid in that period.
Until what age can you get the RDSP grant and bond?
Until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 49. A plan can still be opened until the end of the year they turn 59.
Does an RDSP affect disability benefits?
ESDC says opening and contributing to an RDSP does not affect other federal or provincial disability benefits. Withdrawals may affect provincial benefits in Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
Looni's calculators show what each registered account adds with your own figures, so you can see the options side by side. Read-only, no advice, just the arithmetic.
Sources
Employment and Social Development Canada, How much you could get in grants and bonds (2026 thresholds, match rates, $1,500 for the full grant, lifetime limits, carry-forward, the $10,500 and $11,000 limits, ESDC examples), Who can open a plan and apply (eligibility, holders, age 49 and 59), Withdraw money from your plan (10-year rule, $3 for $1 repayment, taxable portions, provincial benefits) and InfoCapsule on the Canada Disability Savings Bond (partial bond formula); Canada Revenue Agency, RC4460, Registered Disability Savings Plan.