Universal Child Care Plan

Universal Child Care Benefit

The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) provides financial assistance to all Canadian families with young children, regardless of where they live, whatever their family circumstances or preferences.

The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) is a taxable federal program designed to assist Canadian families through direct financial support regardless of income. It will be taxable in the hands of the lower-income parent in the case of couples, and for single-parent families is declared as their own income, or as income of an eligible child for whom the UCCB is paid. The UCCB is given to families for every child they have who is under the age of 6 years and is paid out in installments of $100 per month for each child. The benefit is issued on the 20th day of each month, and one week earlier in December.

Do apply if you’ve never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit, because enrolment for the Universal Child Care Benefit is processed at the same time. If you’ve never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and you wish to receive the UCCB, please complete Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application.

Do not apply for the UCCB if you have applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Even if you were not eligible for it, you should automatically receive the UCCB for each child under six. Also do not apply if at the time of the birth of your child, you provided your consent to use the Automated Benefits Application (ABA) service on the provincial/territorial birth registration form, you must not re apply online or complete an RC66 for the child. Re-applying may result in a delay in processing your ABA application and issuing payments

Visit the Universal Child Care Benefit (Canada Revenue Agency) section for more information.

Child Care Spaces

Finding day care for your children can be challenging. To help Canadian families juggle child care and work responsibilities, the Government of Canada will continue supporting the creation of new child care spaces throughout the country.

New child care spaces are being created by transferring $250 million each year to provinces and territories, which are responsible for the delivery of child care programs and services. This funding will help provinces and territories to meet the needs of families within their respective jurisdictions.

A 25 percent investment tax credit is available to businesses that create new child care spaces in the workplace, to a maximum of $10,000 per space created. This will allow employers to respond to their business needs and the needs of their employees.