Ever heard of the Alberta Child and Family Benefit? Whether you have or not, this article could be of great use to you or your loved ones.
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is a financial assistance program set up for residents of Alberta. It supports families and raises the standard of living of children (especially children that come from families with limited resources).
Did you know this program is guaranteed to pay you four times a year? Did you also know the ACFB is non-taxable?
In this post, I will provide a detailed description of the program, eligibility, how to apply, and the ACFB payment dates for 2022.
Without skipping a beat, let’s talk about the ACFB payment dates for 2022.
Alberta Child and Family Benefit Payment Dates 2022
The Alberta child and family benefits are paid quarterly in four installments by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA).
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit dates 2022 are:
- February 25, 2022
- May 27, 2022
- August 26, 2022
- November 25, 2022
You either get the money deposited into your bank account or a cheque is sent to you via mail.
Keep in mind that if your ACFB payment is below $10 (in a quarter of a year), it may be paid in one lump sum.
What is the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)?
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is a program administered by the CRA on behalf of the government of Alberta.
It supports families and raises the standard of living of children, especially children that come from families that are financially limited.
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit was created in 2020 by merging two income support programs- Alberta Child Benefit and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit.
ACFB Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- You must be a resident of Alberta
- Have children below the age of 18
- Meet the Alberta child and family benefit income criteria
- File your income tax return
Keep in mind that getting benefits from other benefit programs in Alberta does not negatively affect your eligibility for an ACFB.
How Much Can You Get from the Alberta Child and Family Benefit?
The ACFB amount you get is dependent on how many children you have that are below 18 years of age. Other factors include your working income situation and the net income of your family.
ACFB has two components called the base component and the working component.
The base component pays a maximum of $3,325 to low-income-receiving families with kids. Their working/employment situation is not a factor.
As for the working component, a maximum of $1,795 is paid. This component is available to families with employment income that is more than $2,760 in total. This component is meant to be an incentive for families to be a part of the workforce.
The table below should give you a detailed understanding of Alberta Child and Family Benefit amounts at a glance:
| Number of Children | Max Base Component | Max Working Component |
| 1 child | $1,330 | $681 |
| 2 children | $1,995 | $1,301 |
| 3 children | $2,660 | $1,672 |
| 4 children | $3,325 | $1,795 |
How to Apply for The Alberta Child And Family Benefit
If you have already signed up for the Canada Child Benefit, you don’t have to apply for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit separately.
To continue to remain eligible for the ACFB year in and year out, you must make sure to file your income tax returns (irrespective of whether you earned income from employment or not).
On a side note, if you are interested in knowing about the free tax software you can use to file taxes, check out our detailed article on the topic.
How Family Changes Affect ACFB Benefits
Regularly, the CRA reassesses eligibility and how much the ACFB can pay. This is not peculiar to just the ACFB. Other benefit programs undergo similar processes.
This is why it is crucial to inform the CRA of relevant changes in your family situation as quickly as you can. Situations like this include childbirth and moving to another province in Canada.
Information about yourself can be updated on the CRA website.
An assessment can lead to you being qualified for more benefit payments (which is clearly a favorable situation).
Keep in mind that a reassessment might wipe off your Alberta Child and Family Benefit entirely (or reduce them considerably). If this scenario ever applies to you, the CRA will definitely let you know how and why their actions have been taken.
Does ACFB Affect Other Government Benefits?
Your extra government benefits (like the CCB) will not be negatively affected if you are eligible for an ACFA.
The ACFB payments you receive every quarterly are not documented as income and will not be factored in when calculating the amount you can receive or your worthiness for other federal or Alberta benefits.
The programs you can enjoy benefits from alongside the ACFB include AISH, Child Care subsidy, Income Support, GST/HST, CCB, and a host of other benefits.
Another benefit that is available to residents of Alberta is the Alberta Seniors Benefit.
Final Thoughts on the Alberta Child and Family Benefit
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit was created to help parents in Alberta raise their children without the fear of financial hardship and can be a great financial help if you qualify. If you want to participate, just make sure you are eligible and well informed.
FAQs on the Alberta Child and Family Benefit 2022
Is ACFB Paid Monthly?
No, it is not. ACFB beneficiaries get their benefits in February, May, August and November (in other words, quarterly). In contrast, your CCB payments are received every month.
Can ACFB Payments Be Taxed?
ACFB is a non-taxable benefit (just like the CCB). You won’t have to include them in your income tax returns when you file your taxes.
How Often Do You Get Alberta Child and Family Benefit?
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit is received in payments four times per annum in February, May, August, and November. Families who are eligible get their payment from the CRA via the payment method already set up by them.
How Much Is the Child Benefit in Alberta?
The Alberta Child Benefit (which is now part of the Alberta Child and Family Benefit) pays a max amount of $5,120 to low/middle-income families in Alberta.
Who Is Eligible for the Alberta Child Benefit?
Applicants have to have one or more kids aged 18 or under, be residents of the province of Alberta, file tax returns, and fit the income criteria set by the government.
Where Can I Get an Alberta Child and Family Benefits Calculator?
In order to know precisely how much you can get from the ACFB, you may utilize the CRA Child and Family Benefits calculator.
For you to use it, certain details about your status of residency and family will be submitted to them.
Will I Continue to Receive CCB If I’m Eligible for ACFB?
The ACFB does not get in the way of the CCB program. You can continue to get CCB if your eligibility is still intact. Also, receiving both CCB and ACFB does not affect the amounts you can receive from either.
I Didn’t Receive My ACFB payment, What Can I Do?
The reason for this could be that your eligibility is no longer valid or changes to your employment/family situation tipped a balance. There are cases where income changes drastically affect the payment amounts of recipients or stop payments altogether.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements and your payments fail to arrive, you can get in touch with the CRA.
Hi, I'm Adeola Adegoke. I am a licensed Insurance Broker in Manitoba, and I hold a master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences (with a major in Financial Modeling) from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Tanzania.
Also, I have a second master's degree in Statistics from the University of Regina, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Manitoba.
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