The Canada Revenue Agency has benefit programs available for individuals with children.

The Canada Child Tax Credit:

The Canada Child Tax Credit is a monthly benefit designed which supplements your income to help with the cost of raising your child or children. To be eligible to receive the credit, you must meet the following criteria: you must live with a child under the age of 18; be the primary caretaker and responsible for this child; and you must be a resident of Canada and be either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, a protected person, or a temporary resident for the last 18 months with a valid permit for the 19th month. Your eligibility also depends on your income level. As of 2010, families or individuals with one or two children must earn less than $109,894; with three children you must earn less than $146,444. The basic benefit is $1,367 with additional funds for additional children. You can apply for the CCTC using the Automated Benefits Application. For more information on the credit, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency CCTC page.

The Universal Child Care Benefit:

The Universal Child Care Benefit is designed to help families and individuals with the costs associated with providing child care. Unlike the CCTC, the UCCB is only applicable for families or individuals with children under the age of 6.

To be eligible to receive the credit, you must meet the following criteria: you must live with a child under 6 years of age; be the primary caretaker and responsible for this child; and you must be a resident of Canada and be either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, a protected person, or a temporary resident for the last 18 months with a valid permit for the 19th month. Whether you intend to have your child placed in daycare or not, you may still receive the UCCB. Because the benefit is only applicable to families or individuals with children under the age of 6, the Canada Revenue Agency advises that as soon as the child is born, he or she should be registered for the benefit. To apply for the benefit, visit the Application page. For more information on the benefit, please see the Canada Revenue Agency UCCB page.

 

*All information taken from the Canada Revenue Agency’s Benefits page.