What is the Ontario Child Benefit?
The Ontario Child Benefit is financial support that low-income families can receive to help provide for their children.
About 465,000 families with 960,000 children receive a monthly Ontario Child Benefit payment each month. Currently, that’s up to $50 per child each month. The government is proposing to increase the benefit to just under $92 per child each month starting in July 2009. When the program is fully implemented in 2012, more than 600,000 low-income families will receive up to $1,310 per child annually.
Your payment is based on the number of children under age 18 in your family and your family net income. You may be eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit whether you work or not.
Families currently receive up to $600 a year per child; the government is proposing to increase the Ontario Child Benefit starting this July to a maximum of $1,100 per child per year.
As part of the poverty reduction strategy released in December 2008, the government has committed to increasing the OCB to $1,310 a year per child.
To see how much you may be eligible for, use the online calculator or see the chart below.
Ontario Child Benefit Monthly Payment Estimates for July 2008 to June 2009 ($)
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| Year |
Number of
Children |
$20,000 |
$25,000 |
$30,000 |
July 2008
to
June 2009 |
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Ontario Child Benefit Monthly Payment Estimates for July 2009 to June 2010 ($)*
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| Year |
Number of
Children |
$20,000 |
$25,000 |
$30,000 |
July 2009
to
June 2010 |
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* Figures based on the government’s proposal to increase the Ontario Child Benefit for July 2009.
Your eligibility is based on the number of children in your family and your family net income. You may be eligible whether you work or not. You may be eligible for the benefit if you:
- Have a child under 18 years old and are in a low-income family.
- Have filed your income tax return and so has your spouse or common-law partner.
- Are registered for the federal Canada Child Tax Benefit.
- Are a resident of Ontario.
For the purposes of determining your entitlement for the Ontario Child Benefit, family net income is defined as:
The net income amount on line 236 of the Canada Revenue Agency personal income tax form for both you (and your spouse/common-law partner if applicable) minus any federal Universal Child Care Benefit payments.
To receive the Ontario Child Benefit, you must file an income tax return for the previous year and register for the Canada Child Tax Benefit. The Canada Revenue Agency will automatically review your eligibility for the benefit once your return is assessed.
To find out more about the tax-filing process, visit the Canada Revenue Agency.
Where can I get the forms I need to file a tax return?
Visit the Canada Revenue Agency website to download an Ontario General Income Tax and Benefit Package from. You can also request the forms by calling 1-800-959-2221, or you can pick them up at your local Tax Services Office.
Families who have babies mid-year should notify the Canada Revenue Agency immediately. You should also register for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and file your income tax return if you haven’t done so already. Eligible families will begin to receive their benefit up to 80 days after their Canada Child Tax Benefit application is submitted. Families will receive retroactive payments from the month after their baby is born.
Visit the Canada Revenue Agency website to download the Canada Child Tax Benefit application. You can also request a form by calling 1-800-959-2221.
The process to receive the Ontario Child Benefit is the same for all Ontario families. You and your spouse or common-law partner must file an income tax return
and submit a
Canada Child Tax Benefit Application
to be eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit.
Even if you are not usually required to file an income tax return, you must do so to be eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit. To continue receiving the Ontario Child Benefit, you and your spouse or common-law partner must file an income tax return each year.
If you have questions about filing your taxes, contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281. Or for more information on the tax system for Status Indians, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website.
Who do I contact if I don't get a cheque when I'm supposed to?
For information on your payment, you can contact the Canada Revenue Agency toll-free at 1-866-458-2198 (TTY: 1-800-665-0354)
No application is necessary. If you are an Ontario resident receiving the federal Canada Child Tax Benefit and you and your spouse/common-law partner have filed an income tax return for the previous year, the Canada Revenue Agency will automatically assess your eligibility for the Ontario Child Benefit.
For specific information about your payment, contact the Canada Revenue Agency toll-free at 1-866-458-2198 (TTY: 1-800-665-0354).
For general information about the Ontario Child Benefit program, contact our toll-free number at 1-866-821-7770. TTY: 1-800-387-5559.
