How to Apply for the Canada Student Grant for Students With Disabilities
Apply for the federal Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities through your provincial or territorial student aid application and provide disability documentation.
CA Canada
Education ~ 10 min read
14 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-04
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The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities can provide $2,800 per school year through the end of the 2026-2027 school year. To qualify, you must have financial need, study in a qualified program at a designated school, have a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, and provide documentation showing your disability. You do not apply directly to the federal government: apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory of residence. The grant is not available through the federal program in Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut because those jurisdictions operate their own student aid programs.
What you need
- Apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory of residence.
- Demonstrate financial need under the applicable student aid assessment.
- Be enrolled in a qualified program at a designated post-secondary school.
- Have a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program.
- Provide the disability documentation required by your provincial or territorial student aid authority.
- Meet the general Canada Student Grants and Loans requirements that apply to your study status and program.
- Complete any disability verification form or supporting medical or professional documentation required by your province or territory.
Eligibility
You could qualify for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities if you have financial need, are studying in a qualified program at a designated school, have a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, and provide documentation that shows you have a disability. The federal program recognizes both permanent disabilities and persistent or prolonged disabilities. The grant is not available through the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, which operate their own student financial assistance programs.
How to do it
- Check whether the federal grant applies in your jurisdiction. Students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut use their own student aid programs instead of this federal grant.
- Confirm that your school and program qualify. You must study in a qualified program at a designated post-secondary school.
- Prepare documentation of your disability. Your province or territory will specify the disability verification form or other documentation it accepts.
- Apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory. You do not submit a separate federal application directly to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program for this grant.
- Declare your disability and submit the required documentation. Follow your provincial or territorial student aid authority's instructions and deadlines.
- Complete the financial-need assessment. Financial need is a federal eligibility condition for the disability grant.
- Respond to requests for additional information. Your student aid authority may require additional disability, enrolment or financial documents before completing the assessment.
- Review your student aid assessment. If approved, the disability grant will appear as part of your student financial assistance assessment.
- Confirm your enrolment when required. Before student grant or loan funds are released, you or your school must complete the required enrolment confirmation process.
- Reapply for each year of study. The grant can be received in each year that you continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements.
How much is the disability student grant in 2026-2027?
The federal Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities provides $2,800 per year through the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
The federal student aid school year runs from August 1 to July 31. You can receive the grant for each year of your studies as long as you continue to qualify.
Unlike grants whose amount varies with assessed financial need, the federal government states that the amount of this disability grant remains the same regardless of the amount of your assessed need, provided you qualify for the grant.
Who qualifies for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities?
You could be eligible if all of the following apply:
- you have financial need;
- you are a student in a qualified program at a designated school;
- you have a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program; and
- you provide documentation showing that you have a disability.
Eligibility is assessed through the student financial assistance system of your province or territory rather than through a separate direct federal application.
What type of disability can qualify?
The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program recognizes both a permanent disability and a persistent or prolonged disability.
Permanent disability
A permanent disability is an impairment or functional limitation that restricts a person's ability to perform daily activities necessary to pursue post-secondary studies or participate in the labour force and is expected to remain for the person's expected life.
The federal definition can include physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairments, as well as functional limitations.
Persistent or prolonged disability
A persistent or prolonged disability is an impairment or functional limitation that similarly restricts activities necessary for post-secondary study or participation in the labour force and has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, but is not expected to remain for the person's expected life.
Where do you apply for the grant?
You apply through the student financial assistance authority for your province or territory of residence. The federal government does not provide a separate national application portal for this grant.
Your provincial or territorial application is used to assess your eligibility for Canada Student Grants and Loans, including disability-related federal assistance where applicable.
If you need broader help with the underlying student aid application, Helpydo separately explains how to apply for student financial aid, grants and loans in Canada.
What if you live in Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut?
The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is not available through the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to students from:
- Quebec;
- the Northwest Territories; or
- Nunavut.
Those jurisdictions operate their own student financial assistance programs. Apply through the applicable territorial or provincial student aid authority for information about disability-related assistance available there.
What disability documentation do you need?
The federal eligibility rules require you to provide document or documents showing that you have a disability. The specific verification form, professional certification and supporting evidence are administered through your province or territory.
Do not assume that documentation accepted for another disability program automatically satisfies your student aid authority. Follow the current instructions for your province or territory and submit the requested disability verification evidence with your application.
Do you have to demonstrate financial need?
Yes. Financial need is an eligibility requirement for this grant.
Your province or territory assesses your student aid application using the applicable financial assistance rules. Although you must have financial need to qualify, the federal government states that the disability grant itself is currently a fixed $2,800 per year for an eligible student through the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
Does your school and program have to qualify?
Yes. You must be enrolled in a qualified program at a designated school.
Canada Student Grants and Loans are delivered for study at designated post-secondary educational institutions. Your provincial or territorial student aid authority determines eligibility as part of your financial assistance application.
Can students with disabilities study a reduced course load?
Federal student aid rules provide additional flexibility for students with disabilities. Generally, a full-time student is enrolled in at least 60% of a full course load. For a student with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability, the full-time threshold can be at least 40% of a full course load.
Students with a recognized disability who are studying between 40% and 59% of a full course load can choose to be considered either full-time or part-time for federal student financial assistance purposes.
General part-time student aid normally applies to a course load of 20% to 59%. Your provincial or territorial student aid authority applies these rules to your individual assessment.
Step-by-step application process
The grant is accessed through your ordinary student aid application rather than through a separate federal application.
- Go to the student aid authority for your province or territory of residence.
- Start the applicable full-time or part-time student financial assistance application.
- Indicate that you have a disability where the application asks for this information.
- Complete the disability verification process required by that jurisdiction.
- Upload, submit or send the supporting disability documentation using the method specified by your student aid authority.
- Complete all financial, program and enrolment information required for your student aid assessment.
- Submit the application before the deadline set by your province or territory.
- Provide any additional documents requested during assessment.
What is the application deadline?
There is no single national application deadline for this grant. You must follow the deadline established by your provincial or territorial student aid authority for your study period.
Because disability verification can require additional documentation, submitting the required evidence early can help avoid an incomplete assessment. Use the deadline shown by the student aid authority that handles your application.
Is there an application fee?
The Government of Canada does not charge a federal application fee for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities.
Your application is made through the applicable provincial or territorial student financial assistance program.
How long does the application take?
The federal government does not publish one processing-time guarantee for this grant because applications are processed through provincial and territorial student aid systems.
Processing time therefore depends on your jurisdiction, whether the application is complete and whether additional disability, financial or enrolment documentation is required.
What happens after you apply?
Your provincial or territorial student aid authority reviews your financial assistance application and determines whether you qualify for available federal and provincial or territorial funding.
If you qualify for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities, the grant is included in your student aid assessment. To receive grant or loan funding, your enrolment must be confirmed by you or your educational institution as required by the student aid process.
If you receive a student loan as part of the same assessment, you may also need to complete the applicable loan agreement requirements before funds can be released.
Can you receive the grant every year?
Yes. The Government of Canada states that you can receive the grant for each year of your studies as long as you continue to qualify.
This means you should apply for student financial assistance again for each applicable study period and complete any disability documentation requirements your province or territory asks you to satisfy.
Do students with disabilities get a longer student aid lifetime limit?
Yes. Federal rules generally limit full-time students to 340 weeks of student financial assistance, with a 400-week limit for students in doctoral studies.
Students with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability may receive student financial assistance for up to 520 weeks. This lifetime limit includes relevant periods of federal student assistance and payment-free or interest-free status.
What if you also need disability-related services or equipment?
The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is separate from the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities.
The services and equipment grant can provide up to $20,000 per school year toward eligible education-related services and equipment. It has additional requirements, including written confirmation from a qualified person that the services or equipment are needed and documentation confirming their cost.
Students may therefore be assessed for the $2,800 disability grant while also seeking separate disability-related services or equipment funding if they meet the additional rules.
Can you receive other student grants or loans too?
Potentially, yes. Your eligibility for federal grants and loans is assessed through your provincial or territorial student aid application. Having a disability is one of the factors the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program takes into account when determining available assistance.
The disability grant may reduce or replace part of the student loan you would otherwise need. Depending on your circumstances, your student aid assessment may also include other federal, provincial or territorial grants and loans.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Looking for a separate federal application: apply through your province or territory's student aid system.
- Failing to submit disability documentation: proof of a recognized disability is a specific eligibility requirement.
- Assuming a diagnosis alone automatically qualifies: your disability must meet the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program definition and the required documentation must be accepted.
- Ignoring the financial-need requirement: this remains a condition of the $2,800 disability grant.
- Applying through the province where you attend school instead of your province or territory of residence: student financial assistance is generally administered according to your jurisdiction of residence.
- Missing your provincial or territorial deadline: there is no single national deadline, so check the deadline for your own student aid authority.
- Confusing the $2,800 grant with the services and equipment grant: they are separate forms of disability-related student assistance with different requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities in 2026-2027?
Eligible students can receive $2,800 per school year through the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
Do I apply directly to the Government of Canada for the disability student grant?
No. You apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory of residence, which assesses your eligibility for the federal grant.
What are the main eligibility requirements for the disability grant?
You must have financial need, study in a qualified program at a designated school, have a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program and provide documentation showing your disability.
Does a persistent or prolonged disability qualify for Canada student aid disability funding?
Yes. The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program recognizes both permanent disabilities and persistent or prolonged disabilities. A persistent or prolonged disability must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months.
Can a student with a disability be considered full-time with a 40% course load?
Yes. Students with a permanent or persistent or prolonged disability can generally be considered full-time when taking at least 40% of a full course load.
Can I choose part-time status if I take between 40% and 59% of a full course load?
If you have a recognized permanent or persistent or prolonged disability, federal student aid rules allow you to choose to be considered either a full-time or part-time student when studying between 40% and 59% of a full course load.
Do students in Quebec receive the federal Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities?
No. The federal grant is not available to students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut because those jurisdictions operate their own student financial assistance programs.
Is there an application fee for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities?
No federal application fee is charged for this grant.
What proof of disability do I need?
You must provide documentation showing that you have a disability. The specific verification form and supporting documentation are determined by the provincial or territorial student aid authority processing your application.
Is there one national deadline to apply for the disability student grant?
No. Application deadlines are set by provincial and territorial student aid authorities, so check the deadline for your study period in your jurisdiction.
How long does the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities take to process?
There is no single federal processing-time guarantee because provincial and territorial student aid authorities process the applications. Timing varies by jurisdiction and whether your file is complete.
Can I receive the disability grant every year?
Yes. You can receive it for each year of study as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Can I also get funding for disability-related equipment or services?
Potentially. The separate Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities can provide up to $20,000 per school year if you meet its additional requirements.
Do I have to repay the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities?
Canada Student Grants are grants rather than loans. Your student aid authority can explain any reassessment or overpayment rules that may apply if information in your application changes.
Official sources
Government of Canada - Canada Student Grant for Students with DisabilitiesGovernment of Canada - Apply for student grants and loans with your province or territoryGovernment of Canada - Canada Student Grants and Loans: How funding worksNational Student Loans Service Centre - How to ApplyGovernment of Canada - Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with DisabilitiesEmployment and Social Development Canada - Canada Student Financial Assistance Program annual report 2023 to 2024Related procedures
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