Ben Nguyen 
As part of the Canada Child Benefit, the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) provides financial assistance to families raising children under 18 in the Province. This guide covers everything parents and guardians need to know about the OCB for the 2024/2025 benefit year, including eligibility requirements, payment amounts, application process, payment schedules, and more. Read on for complete details on accessing this essential support that is part of the Canada Child Benefit program.
What is the Ontario Child Benefit?
The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) is a monthly, tax-free payment provided to low and moderate income families residing in Ontario to assist with the costs of caring for children under 18 years old.
Specifically, the Ontario Child Benefit aims to help families in the Province who are struggling financially, in order to support them in providing essentials like food, housing, clothing and other necessities for their children.
The program is entirely funded by the provincial government of Ontario. However, the benefit is administered federally by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on behalf of Ontario. This structure allows the Province to deliver financial aid to residents in need, while leveraging the administrative infrastructure of the CRA to handle eligibility assessments, payment calculation and issuance.
Eligible families receive the OCB together with the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) in one consolidated monthly payment. The CRA combines an approved family’s CCB and OCB amounts and provides one deposit per month into the recipient’s bank account. This simplified approach prevents the need for separate applications or payment schedules for each benefit.
Who is Eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit?
The Ontario Child Benefit is intended to support low- and moderate-income families in Ontario who are raising children under 18 years of age. The specific eligibility criteria are:
- The child must be under 18 years old
- The primary caregiver must be an Ontario resident
- Adjusted family net income falls within established thresholds
For the 2024/2025 OCB year, families with adjusted net incomes of $25,646 or less qualify for the full, maximum OCB amount per child.
Families with higher incomes may still receive partial OCB payments on a sliding scale, but benefits are reduced and eventually phased out completely at higher income thresholds.
Some additional OCB eligibility factors:
- The parent or guardian with primary custody of the child can apply, regardless of work status
- For shared 50/50 custody situations, the benefit is split evenly between households
- Foster parents are eligible to apply for children under 18 in their foster care
Overall, the OCB is carefully targeted to provide the greatest financial assistance to lower-income families struggling the most with the high costs of raising children. But middle-income households can also receive support through partial OCB payments.
How Much is Child Benefit in Ontario?
According to details provided in the reference documentation, the maximum Ontario Child Benefit payment for the July 2024 to June 2025 benefit year is:
- Up to $140 per month, or
- $1,680 per year
for each eligible child under 18 years old.
Therefore, a family with two qualifying children could receive up to $2,800 in total OCB funds annually at the maximum benefit rate.
The specific OCB amount each family ultimately receives is calculated based on their total adjusted household income and number of eligible dependents.
Families earning $25,646 or less in adjusted net family income qualify for the full OCB amount. Families with income above the $25,646 threshold begin to receive reduced OCB payments on a gradual scale. Once family income reaches certain higher thresholds, payments phase out completely.
Here’s an example of how the OCB benefit amount is calculated:
- Family A has two children under 18 and an adjusted net family income of $25,000. They qualify for the full OCB amount of $1,680 per child annually. This means they will receive $280 per month in total ($140 per month per child).
- Family B has one child under 18 and an adjusted net family income of $30,000. Since their income exceeds the $25,646 threshold, they will receive a reduced OCB amount. To estimate the exact amount they will receive, families can use the CRA Child and Family Benefits Calculator, which factors in income and family size to calculate OCB payments.
Read more: Average Household Income in Canada
How to Apply for the Ontario Child Benefit?
Applying for the Ontario Child Benefit is straightforward, as the application is combined with the Canada Child Benefit. Here are the steps:
- Submit an application for the Canada Child Benefit through the CRA, either online, by mail, or through direct contact.
- When completing the CCB application, provide all required information regarding dependents, marital status, income, custody arrangements, and any other family details.
- The CRA simultaneously assesses eligibility for both the CCB and OCB using the family income and details supplied.
- If approved, the CRA calculates the OCB amount based on adjusted family income and number of children. This OCB amount is added to the CCB payment.
- Combined CCB + OCB payments are issued together monthly to the recipient’s bank account.
Therefore, families simply need to complete one Canada Child Benefit application, and the CRA will automatically determine eligibility and calculate amounts for both programs in one consolidated process.
When are Ontario Child Benefit Payments Issued?
Since the Ontario Child Benefit is combined with the Canada Child Benefit, the payment schedule is aligned:
- Benefits are paid monthly
- Payments go out on the 20th of each month
- If the 20th falls on a weekend or public holiday, payments are issued on the last business day prior
- The OCB year runs from July of one year through June of the next
Here are the CCB payment dates for 2024/2025 period:
- July 19, 2024
- August 20, 2024
- September 20, 2024
- October 18, 2024
- November 20, 2024
- December 13, 2024
- January 20, 2025
- February 20, 2025
- March 20, 2025
- April 17, 2025
- May 20, 2025
- June 20, 2025
Why File Taxes to Get the Ontario Child Benefit?
While the Ontario Child Benefits is intended to aid lower-income families, submitting tax returns annually remains crucial in qualifying for the benefit. Here’s why:
- The CRA depends on family income and other details from your tax return to calculate OCB eligibility and benefit amounts.
- OCB payments are based on the adjusted net family income reported on the prior year’s tax return. For example, the 2024 tax return data determines OCB payments from July 2024 to June 2025.
- If tax returns are not filed, OCB payments can be delayed or missed entirely until the information is updated.
Therefore, it is vital for all families to file tax returns yearly, even if income is very low or zero. This ensures your eligibility for the OCB is properly reassessed each year.
Other Child and Family Benefits in Ontario
In addition to the OCB, the Province of Ontario offers various other programs and benefits designed to aid families raising children, such as:
- Child Care Fee Subsidy: This program helps families cover the cost of licensed child care, depending on their income and family size. Families can apply for this subsidy through their local municipal government, which assesses eligibility based on income.
- Child Disability Benefit (CDB): This tax-free benefit provides additional financial support to families caring for children with severe disabilities. Families who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) are automatically considered for the CDB. The benefit can provide up to $3,173 per year ($264.41 per month) for each child with a disability.
- Ontario Trillium Benefit: This program helps families with low to moderate incomes manage additional costs, such as energy bills, property taxes, and sales taxes. The benefit combines payments from three programs: the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (if applicable).
Families can check their eligibility for these programs and apply through the Government of Ontario website or their local municipal office.
Child Benefits Programs in Other Provinces
In addition to the Ontario Child Benefit, there are also provincial and territorial child benefits programs available to families across Canada. Here are some of the main provincial child benefits:
Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)
BC Family Benefit 2024/2025 Overview
Summary
In summary, the Ontario Child Benefit is a crucial program providing tax-free monthly support to low and moderate income families struggling to cover the substantial costs of raising children under 18.
For the 2024/2025 benefit year, the maximum OCB amount per eligible child is $140 per month or $1,680 annually. Submitting taxes annually and applying through the Canada Child Benefit process is necessary to receive OCB payments.
This financial assistance makes a major difference in helping Ontario families provide essentials like food, housing, clothing and more for their children. Tap into available resources so your family can thrive.
FAQs related to the Ontario Child Benefit
How do I apply for the Ontario Child Benefit?
You apply for the OCB when applying for the Canada Child Benefit. The CRA automatically assesses eligibility for both programs based on your family details.
What are the OCB income thresholds for 2024/2025?
For 2024/2025, families with incomes of $25,646 or less qualify for the maximum OCB amount. Higher income families receive partial benefits.
Where does the money for the OCB come from?
The OCB is funded entirely by the Province of Ontario, but delivered by the federal Canada Revenue Agency.
Why should I file taxes to receive the OCB?
You must file taxes every year for the CRA to assess your eligibility and calculate your OCB amount, even if you have low or no income.
When will I receive my OCB payments?
OCB is paid monthly on the 20th, together with the Canada Child Benefit.
How much is the maximum 2024/2025 OCB benefit?
For 2024/2025, the maximum OCB amount is $140 per month, or $1,680 annually, for each eligible child under 18.
Do both parents get the OCB for shared custody?
For 50/50 shared custody, the OCB payment is split equally between households.
What other child benefits are available in Ontario?
Other programs include the Canada Child Benefit, child care fee subsidy, Child Disability Benefit, and the Trillium Benefit.
