Are there financial benefits for newcomer families with children?
Yes! Canada provides financial benefits for eligible families, including newcomer families, in Canada.
Canada Learning Bond
The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is free money provided by the government to lower-income families to assist them in saving for their child’s future education after high school. Children born after 2004 are eligible to apply for the bond and can apply after they have their SIN numbers. Parents must open an RESP account for their child in order to receive the CLB, and children can earn a maximum of $2,000 over the lifetime of the bond for post-secondary education.
Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. All children in the family under 18 are eligible for the CCB as long as they have SIN numbers. Settlement teams can help the newcomers apply for the program or find a settlement agency to assist, and forms may be found here.
Recreation Subsidies
Most provinces and territories will have some form of subsidies or tax credits for low-income families so that children can participate in recreation, cultural or camp activities. These are worth exploring and can be a substantial benefit.
