The special diet allowance is intended to help people on social assistance who require a special diet because of a medical condition.
The government has created a new special diet allowance application form that clearly lists the medical conditions that require a special diet, making it easier for health professionals and applicants to understand who is eligible for the allowance. The comprehensive list of medical conditions requiring a special diet was developed in conjunction with health care professionals, including dietitians, nutritionists and physicians.
The following is the list of medical conditions for which a special diet allowance may be paid:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Celiac Disease
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Wounds requiring protein
- Congenital Abnormalities of the Metabolic Type – Adults
- Congenital Abnormalities of the Metabolic Type – Infants and Children
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Diabetes
- Diverticulum/Diverticulitis
- Dysphagia/Swallowing or Mastication Difficulties
- Extreme Obesity
- Food Allergy – Eggs
- Food Allergy – Milk/Dairy or Lactose Intolerance
- Food Allergy – Soya
- Food Allergy – Wheat
- Gestational Diabetes
- Gout
- Hepatic Disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension
- Hypertension and Congestive Heart Failure and Grade 1 to 2 left ventricular function
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Inadequate lactation to sustain breast-feeding or breast-feeding is contraindicated during the first 12 months of infant’s life
- Liver Failure
- Macrocytic Anaemia
- Malabsorption
- Malignancy
- Marasmus or Kwashiorkor or Anorexia
- Microcytic Anaemia
- Osteoporosis/Osteomalacia/Osteopenia
- Ostomies (e.g., jejunostomy, ileostomy)
- Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Post-gastric surgery
- Prediabetes: Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting Glucose
- Renal Failure – Dialysis
- Renal Failure – Pre-Dialysis
- Short Bowel Syndrome
In addition, women on social assistance, while they are pregnant and for a further 12 months after delivery while breastfeeding, are eligible to receive the Pregnancy Nutritional Allowance.
The list of medical conditions requiring a special diet will be periodically reviewed and can be updated if a new medical condition that requires a special diet is identified by the medical community.
The government will also be conducting a phased review of all special diet allowance cases. As cases come up for review, individuals will be notified about the changes to the special diet rules and that their allowances are being reviewed. Recipients will be required to provide the necessary information to confirm that they have a medical condition that requires a special diet.
Upon review, recipients who have a listed medical condition that requires a special diet will continue to receive a special diet allowance. Recipients who are currently receiving a special diet allowance for a non-medical condition will not be eligible for a special diet allowance.