Canada Student Grants – Students with Permanent Disabilities

Irrespective of someone’s physical or mental capabilities, our Canadian society believes that higher education is for everyone. While there are colleges and universities that offer exciting opportunities of post-secondary education for students with permanent disabilities, there are several federal programs that ensure students with physical or mental impairments have a multitude of options to seek financial help, just like other students. 

There are several types of federal grants that students can avail based on their requirements and eligibility. Federal Student Grant for students with permanent disabilities is one such program offered by the federal government that specifically caters to the academic costs of higher education for students with disabilities.

CSG for Students with Permanent Disabilities – Eligibility & How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for Federal Grant for students with permanent disabilities, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You are a student with a permanent disability. A permanent disability is defined as a functional limitation that will remain with you for life, caused by either physical or mental impairment, which affects your daily activities, and prevents you from working in a substantially gainful employment.
• Your financial aid application includes any of the following as proof of your disability: a medical certificate, a psycho-educational assessment, or documents to prove that you’ve received federal or provincial permanent disability assistance.
• You have a need for financial assistance. Just like most federal grants, even this grant is offered to individuals from low and middle-income families.
• You have enrolled in a qualified program at a designated educational institution, where students are eligible to receive Canada Student Loans and Grants.
• You don’t reside in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut or Quebec. Students from these provinces cannot apply for Federal Student Grants as these provinces have their own financial aid program for students.

How to Apply

To receive the federal grant for students with permanent disabilities, the federal and provincial governments require you to apply for student financial aid with the province or territory of your residence. A common application for student aid is all you’ll need, which will set the ball rolling to check your eligibility for both federal and provincial loans and grants. After you’ve successfully submitted your application, your provincial student aid service will be in touch with you to guide you through the next steps to follow.

How Much Can You Get?

Now that we have got you excited about this grant, it is obvious that you are curious to know all about the grant amount you might receive if you meet the eligibility requirements.

For the school year of 2022-2023, you could receive a grant of $4,000. Please note that the grant amount of $4,000 mentioned here is only for the school year 2022-23. You can receive the grant amount for each academic year as long as you still qualify. If your assessed need for a grant is less than $4,000, you could still receive a $4,000 grant, while lowering your borrowing needs in the form of loans. Your school year starts on August 1st and ends on July 31st.

Other Federal Financial Aid Options

Bidding farewell to your academic dreams since you didn’t qualify  for the federal grant for students with permanent disabilities? Think again! There are plenty of other financial aid options to help you get back to school.  You could try your chances for student aid with Federal Student Loans, Federal Student Scholarships, and even Federal Student Bursaries. There’s also the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for students with permanent disabilities, which helps cover the cost of education-related services and equipment.

So are you ready to explore your school options? Find a school today!