Caring for a child

This benefit, which replaced the B.C. Early Childhood Tax Benefit gives a tax-free monthly payment to families with children under the age of 18.

You may be able to get a supplement to fully or partially cover the cost of attendance at a recognized camp if you are getting income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance, and you are caring for a child. You may also be able to get this support if your child has a disability.

The Healthy Kids Program provides coverage for basic dental treatment, optical care and hearing assistance to children in low-income families, who are not in receipt of income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance.

Eligible young adults with care experience can receive Mental Health and Counselling, Dental and Optical, and Medical Benefits. These benefits are designed to help eligible young adults to access and receive services to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Eligible young adults with care experience can receive Housings Supports between the ages of 19 and 21 to assist with housing or help cover living expenses to improve financial stability and independence. Additional monthly assistance is available to eligible young adults between the ages of 19 and 27 who are renting in the private market for up to two years.

Eligible young adults with care experience can receive Unconditional Income Support of up to $1,250 per month from age 19 to 20 to assist with living expenses, improve financial stability and prevent the experience of homelessness. This monthly assistance can be continued up until age 27 through Conditional Income Support if the young adult is enrolled in one or a combination of post-secondary, vocational, life-skills, rehabilitative or cultural programming.

Eligible young adults with care experience who are focused on developing and/or participating in life-skills programs, pursuing post-secondary education not covered by the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP), training or cultural learning, or a combination of the above, can access up to $11,000 in additional funding up to their 27th birthday to support the pursuit of their goals.

Eligible youth and young adults aged 14 to 25 can access transition planning support by a SAJE Navigator, a SAJE Guide, or a similar role available through Indigenous Child and Family Service (ICFS) agencies. These workers assist young people with exploring their hopes and dreams for the future and making a plan for transitioning into adulthood.

A School Start-Up Supplement is provided to recipients of income assistance, disability assistance and hardship assistance to assist with extra costs associated with schooling for a person under 19 years of age.

If you’ve been in foster care or in a comparable arrangement under Indigenous law, you may qualify for the Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE) program to help cover the cost of things like housing, childcare, tuition and health care while you go to school or do job training, or attend rehabilitation, mental health, or life skills programs.

If you are a recipient of income, hardship, or disability assistance you may be eligible for a supplement to help assist with extra expenses for the winter holiday season.

If you are a dependent child under 25 and your parent is living with a disability or they die, you may be able to get a monthly payment from this benefit if your parent was getting Canada Pension Plan benefits. If you live in Quebec, you should refer to the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) instead, and contact Retraite Québec if you have any questions.

This benefit provides a monthly, tax-free benefit for families who care for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged physical or mental disability.

The Connecting Families Initiative assist eligible families get affordable monthly home internet package from $10 per month.