Do I need a certificate to be considered as a caregiver?

Do I need a certificate to be a caregiver?

To the question, “Do you need a certificate to be a caregiver?” The answer is: no, but…

If you meet the Act’s definition of a caregiver, you are a caregiver. You don’t need a certificate to attest to your role as caregiver:

• No legal document is required to support the care receiver.
• No legal document certifying your status as a caregiver will be required, for example, to participate in a support group, access respite services, access a resource, receive transportation assistance or be a caregiver to your family;
• No official certification is issued by any level of government;
• Recognizing yourself as a caregiver is enough to be recognized as such.

Certain measures currently in place—such as tax credits and benefits—in part recognize the responsibilities you assume as such.

CNESST certification

Providing care for someone can have an impact on the professional activity of caregivers who have to take time off work to provide that care.

The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) specifies that:

Workers may be absent from work to fulfil obligations relating to the health of a person for whom they act as a natural caregiver. During their absence, their employment relationship is protected. To be recognized as a natural caregiver, the worker must apply to health and social services professionals to obtain a certificate.

Employed caregivers can benefit from short-term absences (for parental or family obligations) or extended absences.

The CNESST therefore provides caregivers who are employed with a Certificate of informal caregiver status. This form:

• Allows you to “attest to an employee’s status as a caregiver (…)”;
• Must be completed by a health and social services professional;
• Must be used solely and specifically in connection with the caregiver’s employment.

Questions and possible solutions

If I don’t have a caregiver certificate, how do the authorities and my employer know that I’m a caregiver for my brother with schizophrenia?

When you apply for certain forms of assistance, your reality as a caregiver becomes apparent from an administrative point of view. For example, if you’re applying for employment insurance benefits for caregivers, you’ll be asked to complete an attestation form, as well as a medical certificate.

Among caregivers, we discuss this official document. I’m surprised to learn that it doesn’t exist…

Yes, it’s one of the 10 myths about caregivers: “I’m a caregiver if I have a legal document attesting to it.” Actually, no! There is no legal document.

I still have questions about what it means to be a caregiver!

That’s understandable, and l’Appui pour les proches aidants is here to answer them. You can visit the Being a Caregiver section of the website. If you’d like to speak with a counselor, don’t hesitate to contact Caregiver Support.