Social Work included in Medical Expense Tax Credit

For Immediate Release
October 11, 2012

The Canadian Association of Social Worker (CASW)  is exceptionally pleased that Canadians who access clinical services provided by social workers now have the ability to claim these services on their income tax through the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC).

“The struggle to have social work included as an eligible deductable medical expense was years in the making and is truly an achievement of and for the profession” states Morel Caissie, CASW President. “This change will strengthen the profession and provide social workers with an equitable opportunity to promote clinical services to Canadians.”

As of September 26, 2012, Registered Social Workers are authorized as ‘medical practitioners’ under the Income Tax Act for the purpose of claiming medical expenses on income tax returns.  Under the METC, the federal government gives a non- refundable credit of 15 per cent on allowable medical expenses that exceed 3 per cent of the taxpayer's net income or $2,109 in 2012, whichever is less. The provinces also offer credits.

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Visit www.cra.gc.ca/medical to learn more about claiming the METC and click here to access the Canada Revenue Agency Chart list of authorized medical practitioners by province or territory for the purposes of claiming medical expenses.

For more information:
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
casw@casw-acts.ca
Tel.: 613.729.6668