What
- The Government of Canada has implemented the interim Canada Dental Benefit.
- This is the first stage of the Government’s plan to improve dental care coverage in Canada among families with an adjusted net income under $90,000. It will allow children under 12 with no access to private dental care insurance to get the dental care they need while the Government develops a comprehensive, long-term, national dental care program.
- The temporary Canada Dental Benefit gives parents up-front, direct payments totalling up to $1,300 per eligible child under 12 (up to $650 per year) to help cover the costs of dental care services.
When
- Applications open in the Canada Revenue Agency’s CRA My Account on December 1, 2022, for dental care received by eligible children between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.
- Applications for the second benefit year will open on July 1, 2023, and will be for dental care received by eligible children between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
How
- Applications for the Canada Dental Benefit are on the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) My Account – it’s a quick, easy and secure way to apply. If you apply online and are signed up for direct deposit, you can get your payment within 5 business days.
- Did you know that you can also securely access CRA’s My Account from your My Service Canada Account without having to sign in again or revalidate your identity? The link will take you directly to your CRA My Account within a single secure session.
- To receive the Canada Dental Benefit, you need to make sure you have filed your 2021 tax return.
- When applying, you’ll need to provide: the name, address and telephone number of your child or children’s dental care professional; the name, address and telephone number of your employer and your spouse’s or common-law partner’s employer; and the date (or expected date) of your child or children’s dental appointment
- To receive your payment quickly, ensure your address, direct deposit and child information are up to date in CRA’s My Account.
- If you are unable to apply for this new program online, call 1-800-715-8836 to get your application started. Before calling, check the approximate wait times on Canada.ca. In order for CRA to validate your identity, make sure you have your SIN, address, date of birth, and a copy of your most recently assessed tax return.
- The CRA is leveraging its experience and best practices in delivering essential benefits to Canadians to administer the Canada Dental Benefit on behalf of the Government of Canada.
- The CRA is ready to deliver a seamless, secure and user-friendly experience, to make it as easy as possible for eligible Canadians to get the money they need for their children’s dental care.
- The CRA will use its full suite of existing compliance tools to verify an applicant’s identity and eligibility, including an up-front verification of the applicant’s income, child’s age, and family relationship and confirmation that they are in receipt of the Canada child benefit for that child.
Why
- Having access to quality dental care is an integral part of our overall health, but it can be expensive. We know that a third of Canadians do not have dental insurance and, as a result, many go without necessary dental care because it costs too much.
- It is estimated that more than 500,000 children in Canada will benefit from this targeted investment of up to $938 million.
- The Canada Dental Benefit is a temporary benefit that’s in place to support families who need it most, giving children under 12 who have developing teeth and gums the opportunity to get much-needed dental care.
