This release was issued under a previous government.
Families will receive the next ACB payment starting today. All families earning less than $41,220 per year in net income, including those receiving AISH and Income Support, are eligible. The maximum annual benefit is up to $1,100 for families with one child and up to $2,750 for families with four or more children.
“We are very proud of this new program. It’s great to know that so many families are already benefiting from the support they receive through the Alberta Child Benefit. This is money that can go toward ensuring their children’s needs are met so they have every opportunity to succeed.”
“Every child in Alberta deserves a bright future. Our government is committed to supporting families in raising happy, healthy children with opportunities to thrive. We are pleased to see this new program making a difference in the lives of thousands of families.”
“Poverty reduction is a focus of most Alberta communities. The Alberta Child Benefit is a key initiative in supporting poverty reduction in our province. It puts additional dollars in the hands of Alberta’s lower-income families.”
Families who have not yet filed their 2015 tax return are urged to do so to benefit from support programs such as the ACB. Community organizations hold free tax clinics each year to prepare returns for eligible lower-income taxpayers. The Canada Revenue Agency’s website has more information about these clinics.
The program was first announced in November 2015, along with enhancements to the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit (AFETC). It is estimated that about 15,000 additional families, with an estimated 30,000 children, have begun to receive benefits through the enhanced AFETC.
Quick facts
- To qualify for the ACB, families must file a tax return, have lived in Alberta for at least one month, and have at least one child under 18.
- The ACB is a non-taxable, refundable benefit, meaning families benefit regardless of whether they pay provincial income tax.
- Albertans’ eligibility and benefit amounts for AISH, Income Support and Child Care Subsidy are not affected.
- Families will receive the new ACB in four payments – in August, November, February and May of each benefit year.