Discussions

I looked in my account this morning and saw I received the new Canadian child benefit BUT I still also received the universal child care benefit. The amount I got for the new benefit I'm assuming is for my two kids but the universal was the amount for one child. I just had a baby in May and hadn't received any benefit increases until now, so could the universal be like back pay for last month? Just want to figure this out because if it's a mistake I'm sure they will be wanting their money back.

If you had you baby in May, they will back pay you till the when you had your baby, it will be from the old system except for this months payment, as the new system kicked in July 1, so you should be getting 2 different type payments this month as your back payment is on a different system.

Do you have a CRA online account? All the info about your payments will be there. But I'd guess that in addition to the new child benefit, you also received a retro active payment for May and June.

Haha thanks to a partner this stay at home mom of 3 gets nada now. The little I got was helping, but we were still living pay check to pay check even with his funds. Now it's all on him, unless I can find a job that can pay for the $80 a day in daycare fees plus gas for living out of town, and the extra $300 I was contributing to bills.

McNugget said "Haha thanks to a partner this stay at home mom of 3 gets nada now. The little I got was helping, but we were still living pay check to pay check even with his funds. Now it's all on him, unless I can find a job that can pay for the $80 a day in daycare fees plus gas for living out of town, and the extra $300 I was contributing to bills. "

If you are a mom of three who makes no money at all and will not be receiving benefits this must mean that your husband is pulling in a pretty decent wage.  
 
I am a single mom of one making 20 dollars an hour and I will be getting the max payout.

Happy1986 said "    McNugget said "Haha thanks to a partner this stay at home mom of 3 gets nada now. The little I got was helping, but we were still living pay check to pay check even with his funds. Now it's all on him, unless I can find a job that can pay for the $80 a day in daycare fees plus gas for living out of town, and the extra $300 I was contributing to bills. " If you are a mom of three who makes no money at all and will not be receiving benefits this must mean that your husband is pulling in a pretty decent wage.     I am a single mom of one making 20 dollars an hour and I will be getting the max payout. "

I had the same thought. Household income would be above $200,000 I think to get nada.  
 
Plus, why do you need daycare fees if you stay at home? I'm confused.

He makes nowhere near $200,000 otherwise I'd definitely not be responding on this thread. The money I got allowed me to stay at home, now it's not so certain.

We're both teachers. We have a 10 year old and a 16 year old and we got 80 in total.

McNugget said "Haha thanks to a partner this stay at home mom of 3 gets nada now. The little I got was helping, but we were still living pay check to pay check even with his funds. Now it's all on him, unless I can find a job that can pay for the $80 a day in daycare fees plus gas for living out of town, and the extra $300 I was contributing to bills. "

I would think you should be getting more than before, even though I'm on mat leave at the moment it's based off my taxes from last year, both me and my husband make decent money and I'm getting more than I would on the old system.  
 
It should be in your account today unless they mail you a cheque, as long as you did your taxes.

If someone didn't file a return, you won't get paid.  
 
If you didn't previously claim your relationship (especially common-law relationships) and now you're "together" on their system (either by you claiming it or them catching you), you may not get paid.

This is why tons of people don't claim common-law. It screws you over

Who is screwing who if you are not claiming common law and should be?

Dekatie said "This is why tons of people don't claim common-law. It screws you over "

And these comments are why we are what we are today. This whole child tax thing drives me nuts. I didn't see a penny of the child tax as it all went into an account and is going to be used for schooling. If we didn't have enough money coming in we got more jobs. We both worked a couple jobs until we were stable enough to work one job each and get out of mb housing. I read in the paper the other day about how a lady used the food bank and is looking forward to the increased money each month. It mentioned something about almost having to get a job to help provide for the family........REALLY?!?! Then it mentioned about being able to take a vacation. It is frustrating looking at my paycheque seeing the deductions and then hearing about someone maybe having to have to work to provide for their family.......Jesus!

lovemygirl said "Who is screwing who if you are not claiming common law and should be? "

Had a buddy who thought it was better claiming separate.....gov't caught on. For years they seemed to have the same mailing address. He was listed as father of children, she claimed, massive income tax returns. Years go by....oh audited....over 40 grand having to pay back. Yup was worth it I'm sure.

Frustrating. I get CCTB. However we both work. During the summer months our child care tab is over half my income. The friend of a friend is a single parent but she does work. Her child's father pays his child support on time plus extras. She gets max benifits on her child tax. She as a single parent can afford to take trips, get her nails done, drive a nearly new car. She would also qualify for child care subsidy although doesn't use it as her child spends time with an extended family or long periods with her father. So with her work income, CCTB and child support this lady clears nearly what my family does with two people working and paying child care to a tune of 400 bucks a week. We can't be the only family like this. I often wonder why my spouse and I don't keep separate houses and just has a booty call a couple times a week. I, as a single parent, would be further ahead. This seems like a flawed system. Although I guess I can be grateful it's an untaxable benifit. Mr. Harpers stunt last July was a pretty neat trick too!

They should nix the whole program. It's a waste of money anyways and then people abuse it. No one should be paid to have kids. If you can't afford it make better choices. Plus it's not right that children of higher income people are not treated the same in terms of the benefits that are handed out. Guess those kids aren't as valuable as the ones who max out.

Why are people so cruel! And not all people abuse the money there kids get from the government! The government gives LOW INCOME families max based on one thing! They are LOW INCOME! And they do this so that kids from low income families have just as much a chance as any other kid! And yes some people don't have jobs so they can stay home and take care of the kids! But who's to say that only kids with parent who make ends meat deserve to have a stay at home mother or father'. There are other reasons people don't have jobs besides being lazy! And for a parent with say 1 -2 children, it would be a lot easier to support or even pay for child care then it would be for a parent with say 5 children! Some people need help to get ahead! Why is that so bad! Not everyone does things in order! Ex: get an education, get married and then have kids! But there are a lot of single parents who stay at home with their kids while they are small and then go to school and get education later! That's just life! Everyone goes down different paths! Tho discussion just got completely off topic!

The new government money that is going out to Canadian families, and is indexed to family income, is just a quiet way for government to cover up a system that is broken.  
Some people have benefits tied to their jobs and some peole don't. When I hear of wages for some jobs and then hear of benefit packages on top of those wages that may be up to an additional 40%, I'm thinking we might have a problem. I've never studied economics as a student, but wonder what causes an economy a larger problem, paying people benefits to stay in the game (subsidizing lower income families) or allowing the population to start to drop. Population growth is important to any economy, and if people don't have children then you go the immigration route. It is not like this money is taken out of the economy, the largest part of it will go back as direct spending on supporting the family unit, or some of it may be saved to provide a child a better education to get a good job later in life, hopefully a job with good wages to support pension and benefit programs for the generation that preceded.  
 
Like I said, the system is broken, I didn't break it, and in many cases the blame for breaking it does directly to government, that is why we see government bandaid programs to fix it.

1. Reduce the cost of children's sports and arts programs to make them more accessible.  
2. Reduce child care costs and open up more daycare spaces.  
3. Put the money directly in a fund that the kid can use to pay for college or university tuition when the time comes.  
 
Spend the same amount of money, but ensure it is used for the actual kids, not abused. And at the same time, reduce the cost of the government bureaucracy to administer it.  
 
This was a blatant vote buying scheme by Trudeau and to a smaller extent, Harper before him.

Are being mean. Myself i:ncluded. I just think my kids deserve as much of a hand out as everybody else's. We both work. However, my children aren't enjoying 1000.00 dollar pay days because I chose to have children. I'm just saying, if we want equality for all then that's how it should be for every one. Low income families are also those that get more CCTB, qualify for cheaper child care, get government money to attend school, qualify for cheaper housing, if they are on social assistance dental and drug care are covered for their family. This is all tax free for those receiving it. I'm not sure but some sports programs are sponsored as well. Like seriously, I'm sorry these kids are being raised in a low income family. I don't like to see kids go without stuff. I work with kids and have kids of my own. I see lots of family situations. However, being raised without means they may make better life choices for themselves and won't raise their own children to live the way they are. Again, I'll likely take flack for this post, but the middle class is getting to be poorer every year. . Between this tax and that tax and whatever else, my kids don't join many sports or other cause we just can't afford it on a middle class income. A middle class income without all the perks. I'm sure we aren't the only ones who feel this way. In fact, in the current state and if taxes go up anymore I doubt we will be able to afford to keep our home and will have to sell in the very near future. And We both work! Just some perspective, from the middle class. And yes, I do agree that not all family's are using there CCTB for manicures and trips to Disney, however these are things that every family should be able to enjoy if they so choose. More often than not middle class family's are not enjoying these things.

Mum said "Why are people so cruel! And not all people abuse the money there kids get from the government! The government gives LOW INCOME families max based on one thing! They are LOW INCOME! And they do this so that kids from low income families have just as much a chance as any other kid! And yes some people don't have jobs so they can stay home and take care of the kids! But who's to say that only kids with parent who make ends meat deserve to have a stay at home mother or father'. There are other reasons people don't have jobs besides being lazy! And for a parent with say 1 -2 children, it would be a lot easier to support or even pay for child care then it would be for a parent with say 5 children! Some people need help to get ahead! Why is that so bad! Not everyone does things in order! Ex: get an education, get married and then have kids! But there are a lot of single parents who stay at home with their kids while they are small and then go to school and get education later! That's just life! Everyone goes down different paths! Tho discussion just got completely off topic! "

it bothers me that priorities are so skewed now a a days! i know things happen and sometimes people end up in situations they shouldn''t be in with a bit more thought but priorities should be first to feed and cloth and teach independence to your children before thinking you or they deserve a stay at home parent, you made the kids so its your job to look after them,not mine nor the governments, which is what happens with tax transfers, they take form one persons earning to give to someone else, its frustrating when that person receiving, instead of being grateful for the hand up act entitled, no one is entitled to anything in this world, no matter how good of a person you are everyone has to make their own way which leaves me thinking If you want or wanted better for your children you should have made better choices if you didnt then you and your children should live with the choices just like I have to live with mine  
 
if the government is going to get involved at redistributing money i found it much fairer to give a flat rate to everyone, and honestly to be fair to ones without kids if done right im starting to think the guaranteed income method might not be all that bad instead of all these special interest subsidies  
 
Edited by traveller, 2016-07-21 08:17:22

With our family situation, we don't earn too much. Don't spend too much either. We're comfy, however daycare costs literally eat up 90% of my take-home pay. That means if husband's paycheque takes care of all the bills, there's no way to get ahead or save for a rainy day.  
This new child benefit increased our monthly money by about $400, and you can be sure it'll be put to good use. We don't consider ourselves super-low income, but this extra money will break the cycle of living paycheque-to-paycheque.  
Everyone on here complaining about it should stop and realize that it IS good for some people, and not everyone who receives it is abusing the system.

I can't complain our benefit has now reached a point where it pays for a least one of my kids full month of daycare so for that I am grateful. My husband and I both work and do well but have never had enough to go on vacations or buy extravagant things. With that said do you think the government is almost promoting women and men not to get married, or to have children without the want to be with a partner. It is more lucrative to stay single and sponge off the system. Now I am generalizing but for a large portion of the population that is the consensus. I'm not promoting marriage I'm just saying that we have handed out this very large crutch and we seem to be only making it more appealing to hang on to it!

Enough said "I can't complain our benefit has now reached a point where it pays for a least one of my kids full month of daycare so for that I am grateful. My husband and I both work and do well but have never had enough to go on vacations or buy extravagant things. With that said do you think the government is almost promoting women and men not to get married, or to have children without the want to be with a partner. It is more lucrative to stay single and sponge off the system. Now I am generalizing but for a large portion of the population that is the consensus. I'm not promoting marriage I'm just saying that we have handed out this very large crutch and we seem to be only making it more appealing to hang on to it! "

I get CCTB too however I often say the same thing.

I'm just speechless about some poster's attitude. Just because there are a few bad apples abusing the system (I know there are a few everywhere), the rest of the people who need the support badly shouldn't get any support at all? So why don't we get rid of EI, Welfare, Pension plans and Public Healthcare all together? Everybody should be on their own!  
Lets see when unforeseen circumstances (illness, accident, divorce, bankruptcy etc.) push a stumbling block under your feed and all of a sudden that nice dual or high single income is not available any more. Wouldn't you be thankful then, if the government reaches out with a helping hand?  
As a single father with two kids (no financial support from the mother and a mediocre paying job), I appreciate the really needed tax free support the government is granting me.  
Did I foresee the divorce when I got my two wonderful children? Hell no! Would I expect to get child support with two incomes available? Absolutely not!  
So, to all those with 50 grant or more available to their name, come and walk in my shoes.

The calculations are available online to see who qualifies for how much of this child tax benefit.  
It used to be that there was a small family allowance for all kids and then a larger child tax credit that was a lump sum in your tax refund if you qualified, and often that would be used towards all the kids getting glasses, braces, vacation if there wouldn't be one otherwise, car repairs, etc.  
I'd like to see all those complaining actually give their family income, source of income, etc before judging that others shouldn't be receiving what they are receiving.  
 
For instance, the one poster compared her situation to that of a single mother with supportive co-parent and extended family. Well first off, it's NOT EASY being a single parent, that is a fact. And if that lady is able to maintain good relationships that make her life and her kids' lives easier and more stable? GOOD FOR HER. Maybe everyone should be putting in more effort to good relationships. That lady having extended family available to watch her kids is none of your business. Like REALLY.  
 
I personally work full time, my ex husband contributes very little and used to contribute nothing (for years) owes me many thousands of dollars, has never taken care of our kids since we split, etc. I get LESS with this new thing because I had to cash out a pension to pay accumulated debts that he should have been helping with. Do I begrudge those who are getting more? NO. And my kids are special needs but not enough to qualify for disability, so I spend all my vacation time taking them to appointments etc., no vacations over here.  
 
The only time you should look at your neighbour's plate is to make sure he or she has ENOUGH.

Tater said "The calculations are available online to see who qualifies for how much of this child tax benefit.   It used to be that there was a small family allowance for all kids and then a larger child tax credit that was a lump sum in your tax refund if you qualified, and often that would be used towards all the kids getting glasses, braces, vacation if there wouldn't be one otherwise, car repairs, etc.   I'd like to see all those complaining actually give their family income, source of income, etc before judging that others shouldn't be receiving what they are receiving.     For instance, the one poster compared her situation to that of a single mother with supportive co-parent and extended family. Well first off, it's NOT EASY being a single parent, that is a fact. And if that lady is able to maintain good relationships that make her life and her kids' lives easier and more stable? GOOD FOR HER. Maybe everyone should be putting in more effort to good relationships. That lady having extended family available to watch her kids is none of your business. Like REALLY.     I personally work full time, my ex husband contributes very little and used to contribute nothing (for years) owes me many thousands of dollars, has never taken care of our kids since we split, etc. I get LESS with this new thing because I had to cash out a pension to pay accumulated debts that he should have been helping with. Do I begrudge those who are getting more? NO. And my kids are special needs but not enough to qualify for disability, so I spend all my vacation time taking them to appointments etc., no vacations over here.     The only time you should look at your neighbour's plate is to make sure he or she has ENOUGH. "

Especially the last line.

DadOf2 said "I'm just speechless about some poster's attitude. Just because there are a few bad apples abusing the system (I know there are a few everywhere), the rest of the people who need the support badly shouldn't get any support at all? So why don't we get rid of EI, Welfare, Pension plans and Public Healthcare all together? Everybody should be on their own!   Lets see when unforeseen circumstances (illness, accident, divorce, bankruptcy etc.) push a stumbling block under your feed and all of a sudden that nice dual or high single income is not available any more. Wouldn't you be thankful then, if the government reaches out with a helping hand?   As a single father with two kids (no financial support from the mother and a mediocre paying job), I appreciate the really needed tax free support the government is granting me.   Did I foresee the divorce when I got my two wonderful children? Hell no! Would I expect to get child support with two incomes available? Absolutely not!   So, to all those with 50 grant or more available to their name, come and walk in my shoes. "

im amazed at some posters attitudes too  
 
its more then just a few bad apples there are lots of people that believe they are entitled to other peoples money because they just are, people that make middle to larger incomes made the sacrifices and continue to make sacrifices so their families dont have to struggle as much, yet the government takes more and more from them because people think that they deserve what other got from hard work, yet dont want to make the same sacrifices  
 
i have heard countless times, i cant because i cant work weekends, i cant work nights i cant work that many hours ect ect well that is what the people are doing that make a higher income, so why should they do that just to have the government take their reward away because someone didnt want to but wants the same benefits?  
 
a helping hand is nice and sometimes its needed but the attitude that they deserve nice things or deserve to be a stay at home single parent is atrocious, If we didnt have those helping hands there would be no choice but to get to work or starve so the hand up becomes a crutch instead  
 
BTW ei and cpp are based on working contributions and honestly I would be fine if we were on our own for more things then we are now, i support a flat tax rate, where everyone pays the same not one where there are a 1000 breaks for certain groups over other groups, no one should have to pay for my kids or anything i need or want and i shouldnt have to pay for anyone else, doesnt mean i wont choose to help someone but it will be my choice, not one that is forced on me  
 
 
I dont care if a person is broke, i care when they think that means they are entitled to what i have because they are  
 
ps, i have been so broke i lived on the street and also brought in enough income i didnt qualify for any benefits so i have seen both sides

im amazed at some posters attitudes too  
 
its more then just a few bad apples there are lots of people that believe they are entitled to other peoples money because they just are so where are your statistical numbers that prove that most people take an unjustified advantage of the system or is it just hearsay, filtered out and spread over everybody else who isn't as fortunate as you?, people that make middle to larger incomes made the sacrifices and continue to make sacrifices so their families dont have to struggle as much So, you actually assume other less fortunate people do not sacrifice their time and resources for their children with their means available...wow, that's the attitude, yet the government takes more and more from them because people think that they deserve what other got from hard work, yet dont want to make the same sacrifices Your point is not a point of this discussion as tax laws are set by the government we/you elected.  
 
i have heard countless times again hearsay and 'brushing all people over the same comb' attitude - great, i cant because i cant work weekends, i cant work nights i cant work that many hours ect ect maybe there is a reason for not being able to do such a thing, maybe you take the effort and look past your nearsightedness.  
well that is what the people are doing that make a higher income to do so, there are most likely the means necessary available to them - good for them/you. So how do the less fortunate suppose to pull it of?, so why should they do that just to have the government take their reward away I'm sure there is still a lot left for personal gain. because someone didnt want to but wants the same benefits? I'm sure low income earners do not get the same benefits/things high income earners have from their income. Do we really have to open another discussion about how our society works? Didn't you learn that in school already?  
 
a helping hand is nice and sometimes its needed but the attitude that they deserve nice things What nice things specifically are you talking about? A big house with a SUV in front, a trailer in the double garage packed with skidoos and a camper, etc? Rest assured, low income earners have none of that. Even though they might dream of those things to have one day for their children or grandchildren to experience. or deserve to be a stay at home single parent is atrocious maybe look a little closer into the reasons behind, maybe they could not find daycare, maybe they have special needs children with no places available to them but home, etc., If we didnt have those helping hands there would be no choice but to get to work or starve so the hand up becomes a crutch instead Employment fitting to every person, is not always easy to come by. That is defined by life/abilities itself and our society. So should we just set up some work camps and force people to work? Did you hear how that worked out in the past?  
 
BTW ei and cpp are based on working contributions and honestly I would be fine if we were on our own for more things then we are now, i support a flat tax rate, where everyone pays the same not one where there are a 1000 breaks for certain groups over other groups, no one should have to pay for my kids or anything i need or want and i shouldnt have to pay for anyone else, doesnt mean i wont choose to help someone but it will be my choice I'm really wondering who you would support with your money having that point of view shown, not one that is forced on me I'm sure high mid-income earners get more tax breaks on their tax return they can make use of then lower income earners. Thankfully we live in a rather socially oriented country, called Canada and not the US of A which would please your demands on the tax burden for mid-high income earners only to sacrifice social support.  
 
I dont care if a person is broke exactly the reason why you think everybody else lives of your so 'hard earned' penny, i care when they think that means they are entitled to what i have because they are  
I'm sure those child support payments will not buy us an SUV, neither will it pay for the mortgage of a big house or having any other luxury items.  
 
ps, i have been so broke i lived on the street and also brought in enough income i didnt qualify for any benefits so i have seen both sides  
So you call having enough income to not qualify for benefits, broke? I don't think you have really seen it what broke means. Being broke, living from a small pay check to the next is the ongoing financial state many people have to struggle with while raising their children.<p>  
BTW. how hard are you working when you spend so much time on eBrandon making your point. "Hard" earned Dollars well deserved, I guess. I sacrificed my lunch time posting my comment and almost spew some of my meal out, reading some peoples posts (especially yours) and now I still have to take the effort to post after a hard days of work. I think I deserved the little income I earned today and will cook my kids a good meal.<P>  
Good Day to you, Sir

Everyone in this country has an opportunity to become whatever they want to be. Just in our region, there are not nearly enough lawyers, accountants, doctors, etc. Yes it takes a lot of sacrifice to do it but if you really want it, it is there for you.  
 
But too many would rather take the easy way out, and then complain that those who have worked for what they have should be contributing more.  
 
Either make the child benefits the same for everyone, or get rid of it. This is just Marxism by a different name.