As part of the three year evaluation mandated by the Canada Disability Savings Act (2007), members of the Canadian Disability Policy Alliance were contracted by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to conduct a review of international literature related to savings incentive programs for families and individuals with disabilities. The review surveyed literature from 2006 onward to discover what the additional living costs are for individuals or families affected by disability, which factors affect saving and financial planning among individuals or families affected by disability, and what programs exist in other jurisdictions that are similar to the Canadian Disability Savings Program, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Key findings of the report that was submitted to HRSDC in August of 2012 were: that Canada has a program that is unique in the world, that the lifetime costs related to disability have a very significant impact on individuals and families, and that research demonstrates that even financially challenged families can save when a number of programmatic “best practices” are included in the program architecture.
Unfortunately the report can not be shared, as specified in the contract with the federal government. However, we would be pleased to correspond with interested parties. For more information on this research please contact Dr Mary Ann McColl at mccollm@queensu.ca or Mike Schaub at schaubm@queensu.ca
For more information about the RDSP please visit PLAN Canada’s website by clicking here.
