An estimated 23,763 families with children in British Columbia are eligible to receive money under the Government’s proposed enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), but are at risk of not receiving the benefit unless they apply.
John Duncan, Member of Parliament, asked for help on Monday from the media and the public to encourage families to apply for the benefit.
“We want to ensure that every family with children receives the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit. If you’ve got kids under 18, you qualify. It doesn’t matter how much you make or the type of child care you choose. Apply now so you can receive the money that is owed to you,” Duncan said.
The majority of Canadian families with children, approximately 3.8 million, are known and will automatically receive the enhanced Child Care Benefit or be contacted by the Government to confirm their information. However, there are many eligible families not currently captured by the Government’s UCCB system that may miss out on receiving money that is owed to them unless they apply.
Under the enhanced benefits, families would receive almost $2,000 per year for each child under 6 and $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts are retroactive to January 1, 2015.
If your family is not currently receiving the UCCB, has never received the UCCB, or has never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and you still have children under 18 in your care, please go to www.canada.ca/taxsavings in order to apply. In order to receive money in July, families must sign up by May 1, 2015. This first payment will be for the enhanced UCCB retroactive to January 1, 2015. If a new application goes in after that date, families still receive the benefit but it will be delayed.
Quick Facts:
- All families with children will benefit from the new Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, which includes the Family Tax Cut, and enhancements to the UCCB, Child Care Expense Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
- Combined with tax relief introduced by the Government of Canada since 2006, a typical family of four can receive up to $6,600 in tax relief and enhanced benefits in 2015.
- Low- and middle-income families will receive two-thirds of the overall benefits provided by the Government of Canada’s new family measures.
- The Family Tax Cut will eliminate or significantly reduce the difference in the federal tax payable by a one-earner couple relative to a two-earner couple with a similar family income.
Associated Links:
www.canada.ca/taxsavings
Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper