HACKER Q&A
📣 bryanrasmussen

How does taxes in your country handle extra costs due to disability?


I'm wondering, I am in a little fight with the taxes in my country as I have a child that breaks significantly more things and eats significantly more than a normal child their age due to various diagnoses.

The tax system says that's too bad, parents pay what children break.

I'm wondering how various countries handle it, I'm hoping to find examples where I can say hey look this country has the understanding of statistics and that if you're paying much more than other people because your child has a problem that you should be able to deduct that.


  👤 timonoko Accepted Answer ✓
Tax breaks are considered useless, because one has to pay some considerable amount taxes to get the breaks.

In this case you are entitled to https://www.kela.fi/child-home-care-allowance

In addition to: https://www.kela.fi/child-benefit

And maybe this too: https://www.kela.fi/disability-allowance-for-children


👤 robocat
Don't look at New Zealand. We don't have tax deductions.

New Zealand has socialised health care and socialised benefits, so there is a variable amount of government help or government money. But I'm fairly sure it is most often below what you would need. Some high needs kids might get more help.

I do know of parents that have moved to countries that have better socialised healthcare. It's a radical move but perhaps worth considering depending on your circumstances.

> breaks significantly more things

Use thrift stores, especially ones that give deep discounts for needy parents. No government will help you buy nicer things.