Down Syndrome Funding: Q+A
Answers to Your Questions about the BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit and Supplement
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
In the wake of MCFD’s announcement of the new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit and Supplement, many DSRF families have questions about how this will impact your child and your services at DSRF.
DSRF is committed to helping you through this transition, and maximizing the support your child receives. Below, you will find answers to our most frequently asked questions. We do not yet have full clarity on every aspect of the new system, and we have noted where our information is incomplete.
This page will be updated regularly in the weeks ahead. If you have a question that is not yet answered, please use the form at the bottom of the page to submit it to us, and we will do our best to find the answer.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate this transition together!
BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit
The new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit provides direct funding for children and youth (ages 0 to 19) who have lifelong disability resulting in significant and/or complex support needs. This Benefit replaces current funding for therapy services available through the At Home Program and Autism Funding Unit.
Yes. All children and youth with Down syndrome automatically qualify for the Benefit from birth through the direct admit pathway, and will remain eligible until the age of 19.
No. Your child will not need a new medical assessment. If your child or youth is already receiving services based on an existing medical assessment, that same assessment will be used to determine how your child or youth transitions to the new programs.
There are two tiers of funding available under the benefit: $6,500 per year (base tier) or $17,000 per year (for children and youth with higher support needs).
No. The Benefit amount is not impacted by family income levels.
It depends on family circumstance.
Currently, the maximum available funding for therapies through the At Home Program is $17,280 per year, and the the maximum available funding for therapies through the Autism Funding Unit is $6,000 per year for children age 6+ ($22,000 for children under 5). A family receiving both AHP and AFU for a child over 6 currently receives a total of $23,280 for therapy services.
Under the new Benefit, the maximum is $17,000. However, the BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement provides up to $6,000 in additional funding (see below for more information). So, a family who receives the highest tier of the Benefit and the highest level of the Supplement will receive a total of $23,000 for therapy services.
In summary:
- Families currently receiving both AHP and AFU can receive approximately the same amount in total if they are approved for the higher tier of the Benefit and if they qualify for the maximum Supplement.
- Families currently receiving only AHP can receive approximately the same amount for therapies if they are approved for the higher tier of the Benefit – and can receive additional funding through the Supplement.
- Families currently receiving only AFU for a child over 6 will receive a slight increase for therapies – and can receive additional funding through the Supplement.
Status: Unknown
If your child or youth is already receiving services based on an existing medical assessment, that same assessment will be used to determine how your child or youth transitions to the new programs. It is less clear for children and youth who are not currently receiving funding.
As of this update, the process for determining a child or youth’s support needs is still being developed. We will update this document as more information becomes available.
Funding received under the Benefit can be spent on services and intervention including respite, paediatric therapies, behavioural intervention, inclusion worker for childcare, family counselling, mental health services and supports, and some diagnostics or assessments (e.g., genetic testing not otherwise covered by MSP).
It can also be spent on equipment, supplies, and training including assistive and augmentative communication supports, certain medical travel expenses, certain training expenses, inclusive recreation programs, genetic testing, and sensory clothing. Special authorization can be sought for safety beds.
DSRF programs and services that will be eligible under the Benefit include:
- Speech language therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Positive behaviour support
- Mental wellness and clinical counselling (including family counselling and/or individual counselling for parents)
- Recreational programs such as Improv, Taekwondo, Hip Hop, and Summer Camp
Currently DSRF has a two-tiered rate system: the full rate paid by families who receive AHP or AFU funding, and a subsidized rate for families who do not have access to funding. Going forward under the new Benefit, all families will pay the full rate. More information regarding DSRF fees and the timing for these changes will be forthcoming.
Families currently receiving At Home Program funding will begin transitioning to the new Benefit in April 2026. You will be contacted by an MCFD representative who will walk you through the process. It is expected to take several months to transition all families.
Families currently receiving Autism Funding Unit funding will begin transitioning to the new Benefit in July 2026. You will be contacted by an MCFD representative who will walk you through the process. It is expected to take several months to transition all families.
Families who are not currently receiving funding will be eligible to apply for the Benefit in April 2027. More information on the process will be forthcoming.
Until April 2027, you can continue to apply to the At Home Program or have your child assessed for autism to receive funding through the Autism Funding Unit.
There are three ways to manage your funding under the Benefit:
- Direct Payment: Families receive lump sum payments from MCFD and are responsible for coordinating and directly paying service providers they hire, and tracking their use of funding (maximum flexibility; high administrative burden for families) – eg. family receives funding from MCFD; DSRF invoices family for services; family tracks spending and reports to MCFD
- Invoicing: Families choose providers but do not need to manage funding or invoicing directly, similar to the current Autism Funding Unit (high flexibility; medium administrative burden for families) – eg. family receives services from DSRF; DSRF invoices MCFD
- Agency Coordinated: Families choose an authorized agency such as DSRF to coordinate and deliver supports on their behalf; agency receives the funding and works with the family to determine which agency services the funding will be used for (family has full control over which supports their child needs; low administrative burden for families) – eg. funding goes directly to DSRF; DSRF works with the family to determine how to allocate it to DSRF programs including speech therapy, occupational therapy, behaviour support, mental wellness support, etc.
BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement
The new BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement is a monthly payment that helps middle-and low-income families with the cost of raising a child with support needs. The Supplement will be a direct monthly payment to families for families to use at their discretion.
All children and youth who have been approved for the Canada Disability Tax Credit will qualify for the supplement. Down syndrome is generally sufficient to qualify for the Canada Disability Tax Credit, but it does not happen automatically. Families who have not yet done so should apply for the Disability Tax Credit as soon as possible.
No. The only requirement is to be declared eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). The DTC application is a questionnaire completed by a physician.
The maximum Supplement is $6,000 per eligible child.
The amount of the Supplement is based on adjusted family net income and the number of eligible children in the family. For example:
$50,000 adjusted family net income:
- One child: $6,000 per year ($500/month)
- Two children: $12,000 per year ($1,000/month)
- Three children: $18,000 per year ($1,500/month)
$100,000 adjusted family net income:
- One child: $4,000 per year ($333.33/month)
- Two children: $10,000 per year ($833.33/month)
- Three children: $16,000 per year ($1,333.33/month)
$180,000 adjusted family net income:
- One child: $800 per year ($66.67/month)
- Two children: $6,800 per year ($566.67/month)
- Three children: $12,800 per year ($1,066.67/month)
The Supplement is reduced to zero for families with adjusted family net incomes above $200,000.
The BC Disability Supplement is flexible, household support. Families can decide how to use the money for any costs related to raising a child with support needs, including:
- Tutoring or extracurricular activities
- Disability-related costs not covered elsewhere
- Therapies
- Counselling for siblings
- Childcare
- Respite
Families do not need to submit paperwork – allowing more autonomy to choose what they need most.
The Supplement can be used for any DSRF service not already covered by the Benefit.
Payments begin in July 2027 for those who have already been approved for the Disability Tax Credit.
The Supplement is paid out in monthly installments along with the Canada Child Benefit on the 20th of each month.
Do you have questions about the BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit and Supplement? Please use the form below to contact us and we will respond shortly.