When most Canadians hear the word addiction their mind immediately jumps to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or other substances which they may have personally seen destroy someone’s life. While the continued use of a psychoactive substance regardless of the negative effects most certainly qualifies as an addition, the Canadian Disability Tax Credit program recognizes a definition which is significantly broader. If you suffer from any repetitive behavior which negatively affects your ability to live a normal life, you may be living with an addiction.

What is an Addiction?

As briefly described above, an addiction can be described as the compulsive use of a psychoactive substance or continued repetition of an action regardless of any negative effects which may go along with it. While many of us may desire to do the same thing, like eating ice cream, over and over again we are able to control ourselves and realize that the negative effects would outweigh any psychological reward we may receive. This is where the healthy brain and the brain of someone living with an addiction differ. While we may WANT the ice cream, the addict feels as if they NEED the object of their addiction regardless of the cost.

As you can imagine, the costs associated with simply living with an addiction can be staggering and the costs of treating that addiction can easily reach unimaginable levels. Canadian Disability Benefits can help you offset those costs by collecting up to $35,000 in disability benefits at no cost to you until after you receive the money you’re entitled to.

Symptoms of Addiction

While each individual addict and addiction will have its own set of specific symptoms, there are similarities which occur throughout the spectrum and will work as a basis for our discussion regarding the Canadian Disability Tax Credit. The simplest and most common thread which weaves its way across the majority of addictions is the continued use of the substance or repeating of the action regardless of any negative consequences.

For example, Hank suffered from a gambling addiction for more than 30 years. Near the end of that period he watched his career, family and life savings wither away because of his addiction, but never once missed his weekly poker game as he was sure that the next game was going to be the one where he won everything back. Hank had lost everything and was facing a life on the street when the few friends he had not driven away finally convinced him to get help.

The next day, he walked through the front door of our office and qualified for enough money under the Disability Tax Credit program to enter a treatment facility and get his life headed back down the right path. Hank still considers himself to be an addict and feels the lingering effects of his addiction most days, but thanks to the help, both medical and financial, that he received, he is able to cope with his compulsions and see a brighter future headed his way.

How Canadian Disability Benefits Helps

The cost of treating an addiction can quickly run into the tens of thousands of dollars and become a serious burden on anyone’s budget. At the CDB we will provide you with 30 years of experience in the financial industry and make sure that you receive the maximum amount of Canadian Disability Benefits that you are entitled to. Living with an addiction is nothing to be ashamed of and we can help you get the treatment you need.