Toronto 
The Ontario government is once again providing a one-time payment of $200 per child for families facing new education-related expenses in the COVID-19 era.
**Parents to Get New $400 Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit Starting April 26, 2021**
The new Support for Learners program will provide direct one-time payments to help offset additional learning costs, whether their children attend school in person, online or a mix of both. This initiative is part of the 2020 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover.
Minister of Finance Rod Phillips said, “We have heard from parents that new expenses to support their kid’s education in this COVID-19 era are straining their pocketbooks. This $380 million investment in families builds on the $378 million provided to parents during the first wave of COVID-19. So, for example, an Ontario family with three children, including one with special needs, would receive $1,300 this year to help cover the costs of an accessible workspace and technology to enable learning online.”
The program was launched today by Premier Doug Ford, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, and Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, at the Civic Centre Resource Library in Vaughan.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT
Eligible parents will receive a one-time per child payment of:
- $200 for children aged 0 to 12
- $250 for children or youth aged 0 to 21 with special needs
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR $200 CHILDCARE
Support for Learners is available to parents if their child is attending a publicly funded, private, First Nation operated or federally operated school (either in-person or online), is homeschooled, is enrolled in child care, or is at home.
All parents, irrespective of their income are eligible if you have a child who is:
- up to 12 years old
- up to 21 years old with special needs
You are eligible if your child:
- attends a publicly funded school
- attends a private school
- attends a First Nation operated or federally operated school
- attends school in-person or online
- is homeschooled
- is enrolled in child care
HOW TO APPLY FOR $200 CHILDCARE
The deadline to apply is February 8, 2021 (extended from January 15, 2021).
- Only one parent should apply and the parent who applies should have custody of the child.
- The application form available online will need the name of your child’s school and school board (if applicable), your child’s date of birth, your banking information and a valid email address.
- If you are unable to provide banking information and require a cheque, you can submit a special request for one.
- You will receive an email confirmation with an application reference number after you submit your application. Payment will be dispersed through direct deposit within two weeks.
According to the website, payment through cheques will take up to several months from the date you apply.
Applications can only be submitted online.
I am a sponsor helping a Syrian family who have significant challenges and are unable to navigate the system to apply for the program. I submitted their information but one child did not receive the last payment and I cannot figure out why. I have tried calling to fix the issue but never able to get through. I have their confirmation # and would like to resolve it. As it didn’t go through last time, I need to apply for this child’s benefit again on May 3 but need to find out the error first so it’s not a mistake again.
i apply for january twice and when i called they said never receive any thing i dont know what to say
I had great difficulty getting through the phone lines…tried almost daily. Never got the benefit. If this is going to be offered, find a better sign-up system!! Don’t understand why there would be a time limit to apply??? Are we not still in a pandemic?? Support should still be offered and beyond the pandemic as families are struggling!! Changes need to be made!!!
Every time I call regarding this benefit they tell me it’s closed. Apparently it reopened and now it’s closed again. We have never gotten it. Thanks fir your support!
Hello, the government of Ontario website states that kids qualify up to GRADE 12 rather than up to age 12 as noted in your article. You should adjust for accuracy.
Expanded support for learners — The Ontario government has expanded the Support for Learners program to include secondary school students to help offset education expenses. Support will be available for those who attend a public or private school or who are homeschooled. https://www.todocanada.ca/expanded-support-for-learners-for-high-school-students-how-to-apply-for-ontarios-200-covid-19-high-school-student-support/