The Canadian government has introduced a new kids’ dental care program for families with an annual income of less than $90,000. This program will provide a tax-free lump sum payment to cover children’s dental expenses for uninsured children under 12.
The Canada Dental Benefit applies to those not insured under a dental plan (obtained through employment, privately purchased or paid entirely by the provincial or federal government). This program is an interim solution while a long-term national dental care program is developed.
Delivering dental care for children under 12 is vital to the government’s plan to continue making life more affordable this year and building an economy that works for all Canadians.
Delivering Dental Care for Children
Nobody should choose between caring for their kids’ teeth and putting food on the table. Amid economic uncertainty worldwide, Canadians are feeling the rising cost of living. To help families pay the bills, the Government of Canada is putting more money back in the pockets of people who need it most when they need it most.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, launched applications for the interim Canada Dental Benefit for children under 12 who do not have access to private dental insurance. Eligible families can apply to start from December 1, 2022.
The Canada Dental Benefit will provide eligible parents and guardians with direct, tax-free payments of up to $650 per child per year – to a maximum of $1,300 per child over the next two years – to help cover out-of-pocket dental care expenses for their children under 12.
The Benefit is available to parents and guardians with an annual adjusted family net income under $90,000 who do not have access to private dental insurance. This Benefit is expected to help up to 500,000 Canadian children get dental care.
It is the first step toward providing dental coverage for Canadian families who need it most.
Applications for The New Canada Dental Benefit Are Open
From: Canada Revenue Agency
Seeing a kid’s dental care professional is essential not only for oral health but for overall health. In Canada, a third of people do not have dental insurance, leaving many unable to visit an oral health professional to get their kids’ dental care.
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, and the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, are taking action to help those who need it most to access children’s dental care by announcing applications for the new interim Canada Dental Benefit are now open. The Canada Dental Benefit will give eligible families up-front, direct payments of up to $650 a year per eligible child under 12 for two years (up to $1,300) to support the costs of dental care services.
To access the benefit, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- They have a child or children under 12 as of December 1, 2022, and are currently receiving the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for that child;
- They have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000;
- Their child does not have access to private dental insurance;
- They have filed their 2021 tax return; and
- They have had or will have out-of-pocket expenses for their child’s dental care services incurred between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, for which the costs are not fully covered or reimbursed by another dental program provided by any level of government.
The CRA is leveraging its experience in administering essential benefits to Canadians to deliver a smooth, secure and user-friendly application process on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Eligible parents can apply for the Canada Dental Benefit quickly and easily through their CRA My Account.
Those who apply online and are signed up for direct deposit could receive a payment within five business days. Those who cannot apply online can call our new dedicated phone line at 1-800-715-8836 to complete their application with an agent.
Parents and guardians must keep the receipts for the dental care services their child received with the benefit for six years in case the CRA contacts them to validate eligibility. Applicants found to be ineligible for the use during the verification processes will be required to repay the benefit they received.
By delivering targeted financial support to those who need it most, the new interim Canada Children’s Dental Benefit represents just one of the ways that the Government of Canada is working to make life more affordable for families in Canada.
Canada Children's Dental Benefit
- This is the first stage of the Government’s plan to improve kids’ dental care for Canadians in families with an adjusted net income under $90,000. It allows children under 12 who do not have access to private kids’ dental care insurance to get the dental care they need. At the same time, the Government is developing a comprehensive, long-term national dental care program.
- Taxpayers can also securely access CRA My Account from their My Service Canada Account without having to sign in again or revalidate their identity. The link will take them directly to CRA My Account within a secure session.
- When applying, applicants should have the following information close by as they will be required to provide:
- the name, address and telephone number of their child or children’s dental care professional;
- the name, address and telephone number of their employer and their spouse’s or common-law partner’s employer; and
- the date (or expected date) of their child or children’s dental appointment.
- The CRA will use its full suite of existing compliance tools to verify an applicant’s identity and eligibility, including an up-front verification of the applicant’s income, child’s age, and family relationship and confirmation that they receive the Canada Child Benefit for that child.
Please visit the Government of Canada website for more information about the Canada Dental Benefit.
