After talking about government benefits for spouses, let’s talk about government support for children (also called dependents). Once you have received your PR status or after you or your spouse has lived in Canada as a temporary resident for the previous 18 months, you will be able to access a large variety of grants, tax breaks, and benefits. Both the Canadian government and the BC provincial government administer different support programs to help families with the costs of raising children. Here is an overview of the different programs you might be eligible for.
DEPENDENTS / CHILDREN
By definition, ‘Dependents’ are classified as any children that are under the age of 22 years old and don’t have a spouse or common-law partners.
Benefits Include: Canada Child Benefit: A tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children. Families can receive up to 5,708 for each child from 6 to 17 years old. Families who are considered low and middle-income families will be prioritized with higher payments (those with higher incomes, generally about $150,000+ will receive a little less). This benefit is tax-free and most families receive a single payment every month.
You can directly apply for the Canada Child Benefit here.
GST/HST Credit: A tax-free payment of up to $592 per year, made to eligible families to get back some goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) they’ve paid. You can apply for the GST/HST Credit here.
BC Child opportunity benefits (BCCOB): A tax-free monthly payment for families with children under the age of 18. The BCCOB is combined with CCB (Canada Child Benefit) into a single monthly payment. If eligible you might be entitled to receive up to 83.33 per month for your second child, and $66.66 per month for each additional child. Find all information about the BCCOB here.
Use the child and family benefits calculator to figure out how much you may get from the different governmental programs in both Canada and BC.
Who can apply?To get these benefits and credits either you or your spouse / common-law partner must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or a protected person. As mentioned in the Newcomers to Canada section on the government website, If you are a temporary resident, you or your spouse must have been living in Canada for at least 18 months in a row and have a valid work permit on your 19th month of living in Canada before you can apply for the Canada Child benefit and any related provincial and territorial programs.
How can you know if you’re eligible or apply for these family-related benefits?
Use the Automated Benefits Application, it is the easiest way to apply for child and family benefits when you register the birth of your newborn in the province.
What if my children are under a student visa, can we still apply?
As long as the primary caregiver (parent), spouse, or common-law partner is applicable under the following:
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A Canadian Citizen
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A permanent resident
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A temporary resident who has been living in Canada for the previous 18 months, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month (Work visa/Study visas do apply here if you are able to get an extension on your 1-year work visa before your PR, then this may be applicable).
STUDENTS
There are several ways for the Canadian government to provide assistance to students of all ages. Whether it’s for a student loan, a scholarship, or other ways to help students cut down the costs of their education, different factors may play a role in your application for grants/scholarships: the number of hours, the type of education you’re pursuing, whether you are working or a full-time student, if you have any disabilities, your family income and the province or territory of residence.
StudentAid BC is the BC institution in charge of different programs that can help students by attributing grants, scholarships, and other financial supports. One of the basic eligibility criteria to get these financial supports is to be either a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident. The Canadian government is also in charge of a program called NSLSC - National Student Loans Service Center.
Suggested Prompts
How can families optimize their benefits by combining different government support programs for children?
What factors might influence eligibility for student financial aid across different provinces in Canada?
In what ways might changes in immigration status affect a family’s access to child and student benefits over time?
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