Wealth Strategies: New Child Dental Benefit

Overview: 

On December 1st, the federal government opened applications for the new Canada Dental Benefit. The benefit is designed to help lower dental costs for eligible families that do not have access to private dental coverage by providing support for children under the age of 12. There is currently a maximum of two payments for each eligible child, with the first benefit period currently taking place for care received between October 1st, 2022, and June 30th, 2023. The second benefit period will take place between July 1st, 2023, and June 30th, 2024. The government is currently expecting the coverage to help approximately 100,000 children.  

Who Can Apply: 

There are specific criteria that must be met to qualify for the benefit. The child must have been born on or after December 2nd, 2010, making the child under 12 years old as of December 1st, 2022. The child must have received care on or after October 1st, 2022, or will receive care before June 30th, 2023. Individuals can qualify if they have a future appointment scheduled but would be required to repay the benefit if the care does not occur during the stated coverage period. The care must be provided by a dentist, denturist, or dental hygienist. The child would not qualify if they had access to any private or other government dental insurance or had a parent decline coverage that would have otherwise been provided through an employer. Only one parent can claim the coverage and taxes must have been filed by all parents in 2021, with a net family income under $90,000. 

Benefit Amounts: 

There is a calculator available on the Government of Canada website. 

The Benefit Amounts are based on family net income as follows: 

Families may be qualified for an additional payment for costs over $650, with the application for higher payments opening on July 1, 2023. 

How to Apply: 

Applications can be completed online through the CRA My Account website: 

Applications can also be made by phone at: 1-800-715-8836 

To apply, you will need the following information: 

• each eligible child's dental care provider's name, address, and telephone number 
• date or expected date of your child's dental appointment 
• your employer's name, address, and telephone number (if applicable) 
• your spouse or common-law partner's employer's name, address, and telephone number (if applicable) 

You will also need to keep your dental receipts for up to 6 years in the event that the CRA is looking to complete a review.