Stronger Canada Child Benefit means more money for middle-class families

Canada Child Benefit is a larger monthly tax-free support that helps families who need it most

MONTRÉAL, June 18, 2018 /CNW/ - Helping hard-working families provide the best start in life for their children is a top priority for the Government of Canada. That's why two years ago, the government launched the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to help families with the high cost of raising kids. The CCB ? which is targeted to middle class families and those working hard to join it ? is simpler, tax?free and more generous than previous child benefit programs.

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that starting on July 20, 2018, the benefit will be raised to keep up with the cost of living. This change comes two years ahead of schedule, as was announced in the 2018 Federal Budget, and will give Canadian parents even more money each month to help them provide for their children.

Indexing the CCB sooner will ensure that it will continue to play a vital role in supporting Canadian families and reducing child poverty. This means that the CCB, for the 2018-19 benefit year, will now have a maximum annual benefit of $6,496 per child under age 6 and $5,481 per child age 6 through 17. As an example, for a single parent with $35,000 of income with two children, the accelerated indexation of the CCB will contribute $560 towards the costs of raising his or her children, for the 2019-20 benefit year. For this parent, this means up to $12,992 in support every year.

Thanks to the CCB, 9 out of 10 Canadian families have more money. These families have received almost $2,300 more on average per year than under the programs the CCB replaced. Since July 2016, the CCB has given over $23 billion dollars each year to Canadian families to help pay for things like sports programs, music lessons and back-to-school clothes. And even more importantly, because of the CCB, more than half a million people?including 300,000 children?are being lifted out of poverty.

Quote

"The Canada Child Benefit has helped millions of middle-class Canadian families since its creation in 2016. Our Government is committed to ensuring that this tax-free benefit continues to help the middle class and those who are working hard to join it. The enhanced Canada Child Benefit will mean more money is on the way next month."
? The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Member of Parliament for Québec

Quick Facts

• Every month, CCB payments support 3.3 million Canadians, helping lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty in Canada.
• Over 860,000 families in Quebec received approximately $5.4 billion from the CCB in the 2016?2017 benefit.
• Across Canada, over $23.3 billion in benefits were paid between July 2016 and June 2017.
• The CCB, together with initiatives such as the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework with provinces and territories, and an Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework, is an integral part of a larger approach by the Government of Canada to support low and middle-income families and grow Canada's economy.

Associated Links

Canada Child Benefit
Canada Child Benefit Overview 
Canada Child Benefit Calculator

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada