Canada makes dental-care benefit a law, here’s who is eligible

Picture Courtesy: radio-canada

On Thursday Canada passed legislation implementing dental-care benefit program for children under the age of 12. The bill bringing in the dental benefit for lower-income families—known as Bill C-31— received Royal Assent and has become law.

The dental benefit was an initiative sparked by an agreement between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The government has set a "target date" of Dec. 1 to open up the program for applications.

The benefit, for now, will be offered to children under the age of 12, with an annual family income of less than $90,000. This benefit would provide payments up to $650 per child per year, depending on family income.

• $650 would be provided per child if the family’s adjusted net income is under $70,000;

• $390 would be provided per child if the family’s adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999

• $260 would be provided per child if the family’s adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999

The program would cover expenses retroactive to Oct. 1, 2022. The Liberals estimate that 500,000 Canadian children would be eligible to have some of their dental care covered under this plan, and are vowing that receiving this benefit will not reduce any pre-existing federal income-tested benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit.

The first phase of dental care will provide eligible parents or guardians with "direct, up-front tax-free payments to cover dental expenses." However, in order to access the benefit, parents or guardians need to apply through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)