Hi all!

Is childcare the same as the UK in the way of everyone getting funding for 3 hours per day for 3 year olds?

Or is it similar, do you get any help towards it?

Louise

There are two components here, however, it depends if you are here as a permanent resident, or as a temporary worker.

Assuming permanent status, The "Universal Child Care Benefit" gives you $100 per child under six per month regardless of income. This money is however TAXABLE, so in reality its not really $100, its more like 60 -70, depending on your tax rate.
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/g...ild_care.shtml


In addition to that is the Canada Child Tax Benefit, which is calculated based on your reported income and number of children. Its can be (but probably wont be) a few hundred a month, and is not taxable income. There is a calculator for it among other info here:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/cctb/


What you spend the money on is up to you. We try and save it into the college fund to pay for future expenses.. optimists that we are. When you can start to claim and receive the various benefits I forget, but if you search for the names, someone has surely filled in those gaps in previous thread on this topic, or else will be along to fill them in again if you are lucky. Those on work permits can get the money, but only after a while I seem to recall...

Thank you very kindly, that is most helpful!

Louise

Awesome, I'd forgotten about that.........we've been here long enough (18 months) now

Hi

When you land as PR's you get the forms, I filled these in and had payment in bank account about 6 weeks after arriving, we have one under 6 and one over and get the $100 and a further $74 for the other bit???

There is also a childcare benefit of some kind, this may vary province to province which is based upon your income.

I understand there is something from 3 for pre school type care for a small amount of time similar to uk, but not really looked into it yet?

Anything you pay in childcare can become tax free if you are working. The lowest paid partner gets to credit the money against tax