Family Resources

March 7, 2012


The Nobody’s Perfect Program
Canada Education Savings Grant
The Canada Learning Bond
Registered Education Savings Plans
The Cadets Program
Canada Child Tax Benefit
National Child Benefit
Child Disability Benefit
Compassionate Care Benefits
The Family Supplement
Maternity and Parental Benefits
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Children’s Benefits
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Survivor’s Pension

The Nobody’s Perfect Program provides parenting education and support to parents of children five years of age and under. It is designed to meet the needs of parents who are young, single, socially or geographically isolated or who have low income or limited formal education. Nobody’s Perfect reaches parents less likely to access resources or support in the community.

For more information: 1-800-267-1245 or DCA_public_inquiries@phac-aspc.gc.ca

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Canada Education Savings Grant

When you, as a parent, friend or family member, open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) on behalf of a child and apply for the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), the Government of Canada will deposit a percentage of your own contribution directly into the RESP. To date, more than three million children have benefited from the Canada Education Savings Grant.

For more information: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/learning/education_savings/public/cesg.shtml

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The Canada Learning Bond is a grant offered by the Government of Canada to help parents, friends, and family members save early for the post-secondary education of children in modest-income families.

For more information: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/learning/education_savings/public/clb.shtml

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Registered Education Savings Plans

With the help of an RESP you, as a parent, friend or family member, can start putting aside money for a child’s post-secondary education. Your contributions can grow surprisingly quickly when you use this special savings account, as the Government of Canada offers the Canada Education Savings Grant and the Canada Learning Bond exclusively to RESP subscribers.

For more information visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/learning/education_savings/public/resp.shtml

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The Cadets Program gives youth the opportunity to develop leadership skills, increase their physical fitness and make new friends while enjoying a variety of interesting and challenging activities.  The program is delivered by: Department of National Defence (DND).

Eligibility Information: Participants must meet the following criteria: be 12 to 18 years of age and be Canadian citizens or legal residents of Canada.  Please note other criteria may apply.

Contact Information: 1-800-627-0828 or cadet-info@forces.gc.ca

Related Info: Once enrolled in the Program, youth may participate in it until their 19th birthday.  Cadets are not members of the Canadian Forces, nor are they obligated to join the military. Youth can choose to join the Air, Army or Sea Cadets.  There is no cost to join Cadets and uniforms are provided free of charge.

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The Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. The CCTB may include: the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) and the Child Disability Benefit (CDB).

For more information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/cctb.shtml

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The National Child Benefit is a joint initiative of the federal, provincial, and territorial governments that  will help prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty; promote attachment to the workforce by ensuring that families will always be better off as a result of working; and reduce overlap and duplication of government programs and services.

For more information: www.nationalchildbenefit.ca/eng/home.shtml

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The Child Disability Benefit is a tax-free benefit for families who care for a child under age 18 who is eligible for the disability amount.

A child is eligible for the disability amount when a qualified practitioner certifies, on Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, that the child has a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, and the Canada Revenue Agency approves the form.

The CDB is paid monthly to the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) eligible individuals and also as a supplement to the Children’s Special Allowances (CSA).

For more information: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/dsblty-eng.html

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Compassionate Care Benefits are Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to people who have to be  away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill and who has a  significant risk of death within 26 weeks (six months). A maximum of six weeks of compassionate care benefits may be paid to eligible people.

For more information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/compassionate_care.shtml

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The Family Supplement is a feature of Employment Insurance (EI) that provides additional benefits to low-income families with children.

For more information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/family/familysupplement.shtml

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Maternity and Parental Benefits

Employment Insurance (EI) is provided to individuals who are pregnant, have recently given birth, are adopting a child, or are caring for a newborn.  Current application processing time is 28 days.

For more information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/benefits/maternityparental.shtml

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Canada Pension Plan Children’s Benefits provide a monthly benefit to the dependent
children of disabled or deceased contributors.

For more information visit: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/cpp/childrenpension.shtml

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The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit provides a one-time payment to, or on behalf of, the estate of a deceased contributor.

For more information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/cpp/deathpension.shtml

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The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Survivor’s Pension provides a monthly pension to the surviving  spouse, common-law partner or children of a deceased contributor. 

For more information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/cpp/survivor/survivorpension.shtml

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