The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) provides money to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children.
Similar to the popular Canada Child Benefit, Ontario Child Benefit payments are dependent on your family’s net income and the number of children under the age of 18.
It is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on behalf of the Ontario Government.
Besides the OCB, the following child-related tax credits and benefits are also available to Ontarians:
- Ontario Child Tax Credit
- Ontario Works child-related benefits (Newborn Allowance, Child Care Start-Up Benefit, and Transition Child Benefit).
Read on to learn how Ontario’s child benefit program works, the payment dates, benefit amounts, and how to apply.
What is the Ontario Child Benefit?
The Ontario Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment to eligible families with low to moderate income.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a resident of Ontario
- Be a primary caregiver for one or more children under 18 years of age
- File a personal income Tax return for the previous year, even if you didn’t earn any taxable income.
- Have registered your child for the Canada Child Benefit
You must also meet the income threshold required to qualify for OCB payments.
For July 2023 to June 2024 payment period, you qualify for full Ontario Child Benefit payments if your adjusted family net income is $24,542 or lower.
Your 2022 tax return is used to determine your eligibility for OCB payments from July 2023 to June 2024.
Benefit payments are recalculated every July, and while the program is administered by the CRA, it is fully funded by the Province of Ontario.
Ontario Child Benefit Payment Dates 2023
Ontario child benefit payment dates for 2023 (combined with the CCB) are on:
- January 20, 2023
- February 20, 2023
- March 20, 2023
- April 20, 2023
- May 19, 2023
- June 20, 2023
- July 20, 2023
- August 18, 2023
- September 20, 2023
- October 20, 2023
- November 20, 2023
- December 13, 2023
How Much Ontario Child Benefit Will You Receive?
You will get up to a maximum of $1,607 per child per year or $133.91 per month per child under 18 years of age.
You may receive a partial benefit if your family’s net income exceeds $24,542.
OCB payments are paid with Canada Child Benefit (CCB) as a single payment each month.
How to Apply for the Ontario Child Benefit
The CRA will automatically assess your eligibility for the OCB when you register for the Canada Child Benefit.
To apply for the CCB, you can either do so:
- At the time of registering the birth of your newborn
- Online through your CRA My Account.
- By mail when you complete Form RC66 and send it to your tax centre.
Newcomers to Canada must also complete Schedule RC66SCH and mail it alongside Form RC66 to the CRA office for your area.
You should start receiving payments within 8-11 weeks of submitting your application.
For questions relating to the OCB, contact CRA at 1-800-387-1193.
Learn about how to maximize your Canada Child Benefit.
What is the Ontario Child Care Tax Credit?
The Ontario Child Care Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit available to families to help them with childcare costs. It is also referred to as the Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit.
To be eligible for this tax credit, you must:
- Have a family income of $150,000 or lower
- Be a resident of Ontario
- Be able to claim the Child Care Expense Deduction
Eligible families can claim up to 75% of their eligible childcare expenses, including childcare fees at a day nursery school or day-care centre, day camp, boarding school, camp, or educational institution.
Tuition fees and transportation costs are not eligible for deductions.
How much is the Ontario Child Care Tax Credit?
A family can get up to:
- $6,000 for each child under the age of 7
- $3,750 for each child between the ages of 7 and 16
- $8,250 for each child with a severe disability
A refundable tax credit reduces or eliminates the taxes you owe at the end of the year. If you have excess credits, you may get a tax refund.
Your family income level determines the percentage of eligible childcare expenses you can claim on your tax return.
Here is how the credit rate for determining your child care expense deduction is calculated:
| Family Income | Rate Calculation |
| $0-$20,000 | 75% |
| $20,000.01 to $40,000 | 75% minus 2% for each $2,500 (or part of) above $20,000 |
| $40,000.01 to $60,000 | 59% minus 2% for each $5,000 (or part of) above $40,000 |
| $60,000.01 to $150,000 | 51% minus 2% for each $3,600 (or part of) above $60,000 |
| $150,000.01 and over | 0% |
Examples
If your family income is $15,000, you can claim 75% of eligible childcare expenses when you file your tax return (up to the maximum limit per child).
If your family income is $65,000 for the year, you can claim 47% (51% minus 2% x 2) of eligible childcare expenses on your return.
For questions about the Ontario Child Care Tax Credit, contact the CRA at 1-800-959-8281.
Ontario Works Child Benefits
Ontarians who are recipients of financial or employment assistance through Ontario Works may be eligible for child-related benefits.
In general, to qualify for Ontario Works, you must be a resident of Ontario, need assistance to pay for food and shelter, and show you are making reasonable attempts to find a job.
1. Child Care Start-Up Benefit
A one-month advance payment for child care is available if required to help you start work.
The maximum benefit is $600 per child for unlicensed child care, and there is no maximum for licensed child care. You can only apply for this benefit once in a 12-month period.
To apply, contact your caseworker.
2. Money for Newborns
You may be eligible to receive financial assistance towards purchasing baby gear and clothing for a new child. The benefit includes up to $260 for purchasing a new crib and up to $100 for clothing and bedding.
You can apply through a caseworker starting from four months before delivery or up to one year after the child’s birth.
3. Transition Child Benefit
Families on Ontario Works who are not yet receiving the Ontario Child Benefit may qualify for the Transition Child Benefit (TCB) if they have children under 18 years of age.
The TCB amount is $230 per child per month.
You do not need to apply separately for the Transition Child Benefit, as it is automatically added to your Ontario Works monthly payment.
For questions relating to Ontario Works social assistance, you can find the contact information for your local office.
Ontario Child Benefit FAQs
In 2023 and 2024, you can receive up to $133.91 per month for each child under 18 years of age through the Ontario Child Benefit program. This is equivalent to a maximum of $1,607 per child per year. In addition, you may be eligible for up to $619.75 per month per child in Canada Child Benefit payments.
The OCB is a tax-free benefit paid to families with children under age 18 who meet the residency and income threshold requirements. OCB payments are not reported on your tax return; however, you need to file a tax return for CRA to assess your eligibility.
I have not been receiving my Child Tax Benefit since June/20.
please delete my comment, I reread your article and realized I misread. So sorry, my son has autism so I was trying to figure out how much more we should be getting once he’s officially diagnosed. I have really bad mom brain because my son stimms with movement and sound and I haven’t adjusted to be able to think lol
@Samantha: Done, all the best!