Budget 2010 proposes changes to Universal Child Care Benefit

Since July 2006, the Government of Canada has been providing parents with financial assistance to help with the cost of the child care they choose. Under the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), parents are given $100 per month—up to $1,200 a year—for each child under six. That is direct support for over 2 million children and their families!

This direct financial support helps parents—regardless of where they live, what hours they work or what choices they make—choose the option that best suits their families’ needs.

In Budget 2010, the Government of Canada is proposing to make some changes to the Benefit, to support Canadian families. The Government proposes to improve the taxation of the UCCB to ensure that single-parent families receive comparable tax treatment to that received by two-parent families. This change will provide up to $168 in tax relief for single parents with one child under the age of six.

The Government is also proposing to allow parents with joint custody greater flexibility to split the monthly UCCB amount when a child lives in both households. This change will ensure that this benefit is paid out in a timely fashion to help parents meet the needs of their children.

The Government of Canada is more committed than ever to supporting Canadian families with children.

For more information, visit Budget 2010.