Minister Bergen encourages the almost 32,600 Pickering and Toronto families not currently registered for the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit to sign up

PICKERING, ON, May 22, 2015 /CNW/ - An estimated 600 families with children in Pickering and an estimated 32,000 families in Toronto are eligible to receive money under the proposed enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), but are at risk of not receiving the benefit unless they apply. Today, the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, visited the Petticoat Creek Library and Community Centre to highlight the UCCB and explain how parents can still apply.

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. However, many 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. 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 starting in July 2015, depending on when their information entered the system. 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 in order to find out how you can apply.

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 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.

Quotes

"We recognize that families across this country have a variety of child care needs and every family with children deserves support. The UCCB provides direct financial support and respects each family's choice in how they choose to look after their children. Apply now so you can receive the money that is owed to you." 
– The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development

"The UCCB will help every single Canadian family with children under the age of 18 as they try to balance work and family life, by supporting their child care choices through direct financial support.  Our Government's Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan puts more money in the pockets of every single family with kids."
– Corneliu Chisu, Member of Parliament for Pickering—Scarborough East (Ontario)

Associated Links

www.canada.ca/taxsavings
Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]