The Harper Government is looking for hundreds of thousands of families not currently registered for the enhanced child care benefit
OTTAWA, May 15, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, today marked the International Day of Families and took the opportunity to remind parents it is their last day to apply for the enhanced Universal Child Care (UCCB) in order to get a payment in July.
While the majority of families with children, approximately 3.8 million, are known and will automatically receive the enhanced UCCB or be contacted by the Government to confirm their information, an estimated 200,000 eligible families are not currently captured by the Government's UCCB system and may miss out on receiving money that is owed to them unless they apply. For example, it is estimated that are approximately 69,000 families with children in Ontario not currently registered. In 2015 alone, this represents potentially millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits.
Under the proposed enhancements to the UCCB, families would receive almost $2,000 per year for each child under the age of 6 and $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts would be retroactive to January 1, 2015, and be reflected in monthly payments to families in July 2015. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB are expected to more than double the number of families that benefit from 1.6 million to more than 4 million.
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 to find out how you can apply.
If an application is received after today, families will still receive the enhanced UCCB payment, including any retroactive payments, in a later month. Apply by June 1 to ensure you receive your payment in August.
Quick Facts
- Families that need to submit an application will need to do so by today in order to receive the enhanced UCCB payment in July 2015.
- 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 Expenses Deduction and Children's Fitness Tax Credit.
- Combined with tax relief introduced by the Harper Government 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 Harper Government'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.
Quote
"On this the International Day of Families, we should remember that families are the foundation of our communities, our cities and our country. Our Government understands this. With that in mind, I want to remind parents to apply for the 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."
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development
Associated Links
www.canada.ca/taxsavings
Your Kids, Your Way: The enhanced UCCB explained – Video
Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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Aaron Bell, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development, 819-994-2482, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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