You may have heard. “Canada pays you to have children” but in reality these programs were not designed to incentify having children but rather provide families with the financial assistance they need to raise them. Having children can be extremely expensive. You have to buy diapers, formula, clothes, daycare the list goes on. So what exactly does the Canadian government assist with?
It all depends on the province you reside in but the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a federal program that applies to all provinces.
What is the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment which was introduced in July 2016 as a part of the government effort to reduce child poverty and to support eligible families in Canada. It helps to cover the cost of raising children under the age of 18.
Who Can Apply?
To meet the eligibility criteria for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), the family must:
- Have a child under the age of 18 who lives with them.
- Reside in Canada and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or temporary resident who lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and who has a valid permit in the 19th month other than one that states “does not confer status” or does not confer temporary resident status.
- An individual who is registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act.
How much do you get?
The amount that is paid out depends on several factors including:
- The family net income.
- The number of the children.
- The age of the children.
- Whether or not the children have any special needs or disability.
Let’s look at the year 2021-2022, the annual benefit per child was $6,833 for children under the age of 6 and $5,5765 for children aged 6 to 17. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is income based, meaning that families with higher incomes receive smaller benefits while those lower incomes receive larger benefits. The system is designed to ensure that the benefits are targeted to those who need them the most.
When do I get the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?
As mentioned earlier, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment so you can expect the payment monthly.
You should expect the first payment within 8 weeks after your application has been received online and 11 weeks if sending the application by mail.
The 2023 payout dates are as follows:
- January 20, 2023.
- February 20, 2023.
- March 20, 2023.
- April 20, 2023.
- May 19, 2023.
- June 20, 2023.
- July 20, 2023.
- August 18, 2023.
- September 20, 2023.
- October 20, 2023.
- November 20, 2023.
- December 13, 2023.
Let’s look at two examples:
1.
Sarah is a single mother and a permanent resident living in the province of Ontario. In 2022 she had a salary of $50,000.00 CAD. Her son is three years old and does not qualify for disability. Her monthly payment is approximately $483.00.
2.
John and Amanda are married and reside in the province of Manitoba. They are both Canadian citizens. Their combined income for the year 2022 was $70,000.00 CAD. They have two children ages five and 10. They could receive approximately $430.00 CAD a month.
Overall, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is an important program that helps support Canadian families and ensure that all children have the opportunity to thrive.
Remember that at Velosa Immigration we are here to make your Canadian dream come true, so we are waiting for you in a consultation to start your project of making Canada your new home and workplace!
