Eligible low-income families will soon receive a one-time cheque from the province for up to $250 for each of their children.
The minister of children and youth services said Sunday parents receiving the Canada Child Tax Benefit should start checking their mailboxes for the payments.
"The new Ontario Child Benefit is one of the steps we are taking to help alleviate poverty," Mary Anne Chambers said in a press release.
"Our government is committed to supporting Ontario's children and families so no one is left behind."
To make sure they cash in, parents have to:
- Be a primary caregiver of one or more children under 18 years old, born on or before June 30, 2007, in a low-income family, whether you are able to work or not;
- Have filed their 2006 tax return and had it assessed (although some who haven't may still get a cheque);
- Have registered for the federal Canada Child Tax Benefit; and
- Be a resident of Ontario as of July 1, 2007.
After the initial one-time cheque, eligible families will start getting regular monthly payments next July.
The province has said the Ontario Child Benefit will grow to a maximum of $1,100 annually per child by 2011.
At maturity, it's slated to support nearly 1.3 million children under age 18 in more than 600,000 families.
"In addition to helping all children in low-income families, the Ontario Child Benefit also means parents would be able to move off social assistance without worrying about losing support for their children," Chambers said.
