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Two-Thirds of RDSP Money Goes Unclaimed: How Ottawa's $70,000 Disability Benefit Actually Works

  Published August 19, 2026 Of the 311,000 active Registered Disability Savings Plans opened since the program launched in 2008, Canadians have contributed $3.3 billion — and Ottawa has matched that with $5.1 billion in grants and $2.1 billion in bonds, according to figures reported by BNN Bloomberg on Wednesday. That sounds like a program working as intended. It isn't. The same report cites the latest Statistics Canada tally showing that two-thirds of the government money set aside for the RDSP goes unclaimed every year, largely because eligible Canadians don't know the plan exists. If you or someone in your family is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, this is one of the highest-value accounts the federal government offers — richer, dollar for dollar, than the RRSP, the TFSA, or the RESP. Here's how the math actually works, and what it takes to claim your share. Who qualifies Anyone approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) — via CRA Form T2201, certified by a medi...

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Coconut Macaroons

 

Soft and chewy on the inside, crisp and golden on the outside — these are the perfect coconut macaroons

INGREDIENTS

  • 14-oz bag sweetened flaked coconut, such as Baker's Angel Flake (see note)
  • ⅞ cup sweetened condensed milk (see note below on measurement)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs whites
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, best quality such as Ghirardelli, chopped (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Set two oven racks near the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. 2. In a medium bowl, mix together the coconut, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
  3. 3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form. Use a large rubber spatula to fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.
  4. 4. Using a mini ice cream scoop or two spoons, form heaping tablespoons of the mixture into mounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back, until the tops and edges are golden. Let cool on the pans for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. 5. If dipping the macaroons in chocolate, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at medium power, stopping and stirring at 30 second intervals, until just smooth and creamy. (Alternatively, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water.) Dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the bowl, and return to the lined baking sheets. Place the macaroons in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set. The cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.
  6. Note: ⅞ cup = ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons
  7. Note: Make sure to use parchment paper (NOT wax paper) on the baking sheets. The macaroons will stick to wax paper.
  8. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The macaroons can be frozen for up to 3 months. (If you plan to dip them in chocolate, wait until you thaw them to do that.) Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.

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