A MacGregor Man is growing frustrated in his attempts to receive the Disability Tax Credit from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Lorne Brown discovered last year he was eligible for the tax credit, and had his doctor fill out the necessary paperwork to make a claim for the credits owed to him between 2005 and 2015. In March, Brown was told the claim was denied, as his current doctor had retired. He then contacted his current doctor at the Portage Clinic to re-do the forms, and made a second submission. Brown notes that second submission was denied once again, with the CRA citing a lack of information, without indicating what information was needed.

After being denied a second time, Brown filed an appeal to have the decision reversed. He called the CRA in mid-April to see if the claim had been submitted, and if all necessary information was included. The representative had told him the appeal was moving ahead, and being processed. They later indicated a decision would be made May 19th.

After hearing nothing last Thursday, Brown called their office once again, only to be told his appeal wasn't even in the system.

"The woman checked in with the agent who looks after it in Winnipeg and they said I had requested to change all my tax forms, which I had not, and that there was no way they had done anything with it. She said they had misunderstood, but how can you misunderstand these letters."

Brown says he just can't understand just why this process continues to drag along, noting he's been collecting documentation of the process the entire time. He notes he's living with several health issues that impact his ability to walk, and feels he's being penalized for not having a consistent family doctor.

"I've had infections and all kinds of stuff, a stroke, seizure, and everything else. If I'm being penalized because I don't have a family doctor every single hour of my life --because I lived in Alberta before I moved down here-- how am I going to pay for reports from the medical profession? Whatever is on file is what's available, and I don't even know what that is exactly."

He feels ignored by the system, noting his brother was able to receive disability, while facing less significant medical issues, much faster. Brown says he usually files in own returns, and he's more than willing to provide the Canada Revenue Agency with whatever documentation they need.

"Why is it that they're all of the sudden picking on me. I've always done my own taxes, and if there's something they didn't like about it, why didn't they say something right out? Never mind beating around the bush. If you don't have something you really need, I'll produce it if I can, but they're not even saying anything. They're just blowing me off."

While he's continuing the discussions with the Canada Revenue Agency, he's also planning to reach out to Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen, to help see some resolution to the issue.