Please encourage your parents and other family members to take the time to file their income taxes and to register for the federal government’s Canada Child Tax Benefit. By taking these two easy steps, your family could have up to an extra $1,100 per child per year.
Reducing poverty is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do. It’s good for families, it’s good for business, and it’s good for the future success of Ontario.
That’s why the McGuinty government is helping low-income families by almost doubling the Ontario Child Benefit from a maximum of $600 last year to up to $1,100 per child this year. The increased benefit will put more money in the pockets of families who need it most.
We know that your parents work hard to provide the very best for you and to make sure you have every opportunity as you grow up. A little help can make a big difference, and the Ontario Child Benefit is one way that the government can help families provide just a little bit more.
Families that earn $20,000 or less in a year receive the full benefit for each child, and families earning more may also be eligible, depending on the number of children under 18 and their family net income. The OCB will reach 1.3 million Ontario children and 600,000 low-income families – making a meaningful difference in their lives.
In a tangible way, the Ontario Child Benefit means that for a family with two children, the benefit can provide close to $200 a month – this can mean extra healthy groceries every month or the chance for kids to take part in some after-school or summer activities that weren’t an option before.
In addition to nearly doubling the amount of money a family can receive this year, by the time the OCB is fully-implemented, it will mean that families could get up to $1,310 annually per child. For a single parent on Ontario Works with two children under the age of 13, their total income will be more than 35% higher than it was in 2003.
Getting more money into the pockets of people who need it the most is how we’re working toward providing more opportunities for all Ontarians and the Ontario Child Benefit is a cornerstone of our ambitious efforts to reduce child poverty. Our plan is to reduce the number of kids living in poverty by 25% in five years. To be specific, that will mean lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty. But we know there is more to do to get there. That’s why, this past May the Ontario government passed historic legislation that will now require future governments to continue the fight against poverty. We want everyone in Ontario to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
If you think your family might be eligible for this benefit based on your household income, all your family needs to do is file their taxes. Please encourage your parents and other family members to take the time to file their income taxes and to register for the federal government’s Canada Child Tax Benefit. By taking these two easy steps, your family could have up to an extra $1,100 per child per year.
Unlike other government programs, families are eligible for Ontario Child Benefit regardless of their source of income. So both families receiving social assistance and those with working parents are eligible if they are still low-income. Also, receiving the Ontario Child Benefit won’t reduce the amount of social assistance your family already receives. With the introduction of the OCB, nearly every family in Ontario receiving social assistance will be at least $50 better off per child.
I am very proud of our ability to support families and kids by providing a little bit extra. But I need your help in encouraging your parents to file their taxes to ensure that everyone who is eligible for the OCB receives it.
To learn more about the Ontario Child Benefit, visit www.ontario.ca/childbenefit or call 1-866-821-7770.
Author: The Honourable Deb Mathews – Minister of Children & Youth Services
To learn more about the Ontario Child Benefit, visit www.ontario.ca/childbenefit or call 1-866-821-7770.
