Ontario Child Benefit
aims to provide financial help to families who are deemed eligible to be assisted by the government.
So, do you live in Ontario and just become a parent wondering if you can qualify for a government child support program?
Good news! the Ontario government offers a Child Tax Benefit, also known as a baby bonus.
What is the Ontario Child Benefit?
The Ontario Child Benefit is a government program that can provide you with money to help pay for the cost of raising your children.
The Child Benefit provides grants and financial assistance to families. The money can help cover living expenses before and after the baby is born.
It provides payment to parents with newborns or adopted children under 18.
However, it is only offered to eligible families. You may be eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit if you meet the eligibility criteria.
It is an Ontario government-funded program run by the Canada Revenue Agency that assists families with the costs of raising their children.
The goal of the Ontario government is to make it easier for parents to raise children in Ontario.
When you have a child in Ontario, the government tries to help out with the additional costs of raising a child. The help parents receive is provided in a non-taxable baby bonus cheque.
Families with children in Ontario are eligible for the Ontario baby bonus. You’ll be required to apply for this program and provide your child’s health card number.
If you are eligible and decide to apply, the money will be paid into your bank account in one lump sum after your child is born.
The benefit is paid monthly, and the amount you receive will depend on the number of qualifying children you have in your net income.
Who Qualifies for Child Benefit in Ontario?
The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) provides financial support for people raising children under 18 years of age. The OCB is not a welfare payment.
It is a benefit paid by the Ontario government to help low-to-moderate income families raise their children.
The OCB is available to all families regardless of their employment or how much money they make.
To qualify for this benefit, you must be a resident of Ontario and meet all of the following criteria:
- You are a low-income parent with a kid under the age of 18
- There has been a tax return filed on your behalf by your partner or common-law partner
- You have completed the registration for the federal Canada child benefit
How Much Do You Get For Child Benefit in Ontario
When assessing your eligibility for either benefit, you’ll have to use your family’s net income from the previous year, which is then adjusted for inflation.
This means that if you didn’t file your taxes last year and had children under 18 years old in your care, you won’t be receiving Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) until you do so.
Also, the amount of money you get depends on how many children are in your family, and their ages.
For example, a single parent with one child could receive up to $6,000 per year in benefits, while a couple with two kids could get up to $12,000 annually.
How Much is Child Benefit in Ontario Per Month?
A family can get up to:
- $500 for each child younger than 6 years old monthly
- Children between the ages of 6 and 18 receive about $312 monthly
- While children with severe disabilities receive about $688 monthly
You may be able to reduce or eliminate taxes owing at the end of the year through a refundable tax credit.
How to Apply for Child Benefits in Ontario
The Ontario Child Benefit does not require a separate application. As a result, there’s a lot of paperwork to deal with.
If you currently receive Canada Child Benefit, OCB enrollment will be automatic for you. You can also apply for a baby bonus in Ontario if you do not receive CCB.
Whether you just had a new baby or have taken over the responsibility of a child, the procedure is the same. You can apply for Ontario child benefit through CRA if you are a new immigrant.
Upon registering for the Canada Child Benefit, the CRA will automatically assess whether you qualify for the OCB.
If you are moving from another province to Ontario, ensure you update your record with the Canada Revenue Agency as soon as possible to begin receiving the Ontario child benefit.
To apply for an OCB, you can use any of these methods:
- When you register the birth of your baby
- Through your “My Account” on the CRA website
- By mail when you fill out and send Form RC66 to your tax centre
- Besides completing the form RC66, newcomers should also complete the Schedule RC66SCH and mail it to the CRA office in their area
Payments should begin within 8 to 11 weeks after you submit your application.
Ontario Child Tax Benefit Payment Dates
Residents of Ontario who are eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit receive payments each month.
The benefits are paid based on the previous year’s income. For example, January 2023 payment will be based on your family’s income for 2022.
This means that tax returns and other income adjustment forms won’t affect payments until they’ve been filed and processed.
The payments and the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) form a single credit. Therefore, you can expect your benefit to coincide with the CCB dates.
For 2022, the Ontario Child Tax Benefit dates are as follows:
- January 20, 2022
- February 18, 2022
- March 18, 2022
- April 20, 2022
- May 20, 2022
- June 20, 2022
- July 20, 2022
- August 19, 2022
- September 20, 2022
- October 20, 2022
- November 18, 2022
- December 13, 2022
How to Receive the Benefit
To receive the Ontario Child Tax Benefit, you must file a tax return each year. Upon assessing your income tax returns for the previous year, the Canada Revenue Agency will automatically review your eligibility.
Applying for the Canada Child Tax Benefit in Ontario automatically entitles you to receive the Ontario Child Benefit if you are eligible.
If you are eligible but are not currently receiving benefits, you may be able to apply by providing a recent notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Is Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) Taxable?
Ontario child benefit (OCB) is a tax-free monthly benefit that helps low- and moderate-income families with the cost of raising children.
Your income tax returns will not require you to report the amount received on your income tax returns.
If you are eligible for OCB, your annual payments will be automatically deposited into your bank account.
You do not need to apply for OCB as eligibility will be determined based on Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) information.
However, you must have filed tax returns for the previous year to determine your eligibility.
Ontario Child Tax Benefits Increase 2022
Since OCBs are indexed to inflation, there will be a minor child tax benefits increase every year when the next benefit period begins in July 2022.
However, regardless of whether or not the families receive the maximum OCB amount, the increases are typically small and insignificant.
An extra $1.08 will be available every month or less than $13 per year, according to July 2021 to June 2022 period.
On the other hand, the Ontario government has provided a variety of additional one-time benefits to assist families in dealing with the effects of child-raising.
Other Government Baby Benefits in Ontario
Ontario has several social assistance programs for low-income families and individuals. These include:
Ontario Works Child Benefits
The Ontario government assists low-income families with children through Ontario Works. To qualify for the benefit, you must meet all of the program’s eligibility requirements.
Ontario Works requires that you be a province resident, need food and shelter assistance, and demonstrate that you are working hard to find a job.
The amount of financial support you receive also depends on various factors, including the size of your family and your shelter costs.
The amount of money paid out in child benefits depends on several factors, including the number of dependents in the household and their ages.
Child-related benefits through Ontario Works include:
Money for Newborns
You may be eligible to receive financial assistance towards purchasing baby gear and clothing for a new child. The benefit includes up to $260 for buying a new crib and up to$100 for clothing and bedding.
You can apply through a caseworker starting from four months before delivery or up to one year after the child’s birth.
Child Care Start-Up Benefit
To help you begin working, you can receive an advance payment of one month’s worth of child care.
For unlicensed child care, the maximum benefit amount is $600, and for licensed care, there are no maximums. In 12 months, you only can apply once for this benefit.
Transition Child Benefit
When a family on Ontario Works does not receive the Ontario Child Benefit yet but has a child under 18, they may qualify for the Transition Child Benefit. It can help with the costs of caring for children.
The Transition Child Benefit is a benefit paid to families on Ontario Works while they wait for their children to become eligible for the Child Tax Benefit.
Ontario Works will automatically add the Transition Child Benefit to your monthly payment, so you don’t need to apply separately if all of these conditions are met:
- A child under 18 is living in the home, and
- The child is not receiving any other provincial or federal benefit for low-income families, and
- The individual applying for the Transition Child Benefit is responsible for taking care of the child.
Each child is eligible for $230 per month under the Transition Child Benefit program.
Ontario Child Care Tax Credit
The Ontario Child Care Tax Credit offers a refundable tax credit to assist families with child care costs. It is also known as the Ontario child care access and expense relief tax credit.
The Ontario Child Care Tax Credit is for children under the age of 7 at the end of the taxation year.
The amount is based on your family income and the number of children under seven in your family.
You must meet the following requirements to qualify for the child tax credit:
- You must reside in Ontario
- Having the ability to deduct child care expenses
- Families making less than $150,000
- Eligible families can also claim up to 75% of their eligible child care expenses for fees at a daycare centre, a boarding school, or a camp,
There are no deductions for tuition fees or transportation costs.
Final Thoughts on Ontario Child Benefit
Whether you’re a parent or not, you must agree that the cost of raising a baby has overgrown.
That’s why the Canadian government offers financial support for new parents who are actively raising their babies in Ontario.
These financial benefits can significantly decrease the stress and ensure that your baby grows up healthy, happy and well-cared-for.
Hopefully, this article has given you a clearer idea of the various options for help if you are a parent or considering being one soon. If you found this post useful, please share this with your friends.
FAQs on Ontario Child Benefit
Does everyone receive child benefit?
Child benefit is available to all eligible individuals, regardless of their income and savings.
What is the max baby bonus in Ontario?
The maximum you will receive per child under 18 each year is $1,473.96 or $122.83 per month. You may receive a partial benefit if your gross family income is higher than $22,504.
Do you get money for having a baby in Ontario?
The Ontario Child Benefit helps low and medium-income parents pay for the costs of raising children by providing an annual payment of up to $1,473 per child. This benefit is available to both earning and jobless individuals.
