Single mom federal benefits in Canada 2025

A comprehensive list of Canadian federal benefits, tax credits and grants for single parents

Let’s face it, life as a single parent ain’t easy – in 2024, there are 1.84 million single parent families in Canada (that’s a 15% increase from 10 years ago). Whether you’re parenting solo, co-parenting, receiving child support, living on your own or with family – it’s still one of the hardest jobs in the world. Of all families with children, 28% are headed by a single parent – that’s almost one third of all families! 

Did you also know that of all Canadian single parent families, 78% of them are headed by women? Modern day society and family dynamics still look to women as the primary caregivers – the pressure that single mothers carry is very real. Here are a few more interesting stats:

  • Single parent families were 4x times more likely (26%) than coupled-families (6.7%) to be in low income
  • Families with a single mom were more likely to be in low income (27.4%) compared to those with a single dad (21.1%)
  • Immigrant single mothers were more prevalent (82.5%) v.s. non-immigrants (75.5%)

Clearly, single parents (and especially moms) need all the support we can get!

Canada has numerous benefits programs, tax credits and community support initiatives available for single parents, and we should take advantage of as many as possible to ease our burden. Benefits for single parents include child care costs, housing support, healthcare plans, unemployment insurance, etc. Some are federal programs, and some are province-specific programs.

What do Canadian federal benefits, tax credits and grants for single parents cover?

  1. Benefits and tax credits for children and child care expenses
  2. Benefits and tax credits for families with disabilities
  3. Benefits and grants for children’s education
  4. Benefits and tax credits for employment
  5. Health and dental benefits

There are additional province and territory-specific benefits that you may also benefit from. See below to learn more:

  • Benefits for single parents in British Columbia
  • Benefits for single parents in Alberta
  • Benefits for single parents in Ontario

A little help can go a long way in making life easier for single parents – discover which ones you may be eligible for and make sure to apply!

1. Benefits and tax credits for children and child care expenses

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment to help families with the cost of raising children under 18.

  • Who’s eligible? Families with children under 18. 
    • Child lives with you more than 60% of the time: You have full custody for the CCB.
    • Child lives with you between 40-60% of the time: You have shared custody, both you and the other parent should apply for the CCB. 
    • Child lives with you less than 40% of the time: You are not eligible for the CCB.

  • How much support? Amounts are based on income, number of children, and their ages. The maximum annual benefit is up to $6,997 per child under 6 and $5,903 per child aged 6 to 17 (as of 2024).

  • How to apply? 

Eligible Dependant Tax Credit

A non-refundable tax credit that reduces taxable income for single parents.

  • Who’s eligible? You have to meet both criteria:
    • You were single, separated, divorced or widowed, supported a dependant who lived with you at any time in the tax year
    • The dependant is your child, grandchild, sibling and under 18 years of age or had impaired physical or mental functions, or is your parent or grandparent

       

  • How much support? The federal amount for the 2024 tax year is $15,000. Additional provincial/territorial and disability tax credits may increase the total claimable amount.

     

  • How to apply? 
    • Complete Schedule 5 on your tax return and include required information

       

  • Tip: 
  •  

Child Care Expense Deductions

A deduction for child care expenses incurred while a parent or primary caregiver works, studies or carries on research under a grant.

  • Who’s eligible? All of the below criteria have to be met:
    • The child was under 16 or was impaired physically or mentally
    • The child is your/your spouse or common-law partner’s child, or the child is dependent on you/your spouse or common-law partner
    • Child care expenses were incurred to look after the eligible child so you could work, run a business, study or research under a grant
    • The child lived with you
    • Services were provided in Canada by a Canadian resident
    • You are the only person supporting the child while they lived with you, or if another person eligible for the deduction lived with you

  • How much support? You can claim eligible expenses such as daycare, day camp, overnight camp program and nanny services fees.
    • You can claim up to $8,000 per eligible child aged 7 and under
    • You can claim up to $5,000 per eligible child aged 8-17

  • How to apply?
    • If you are the only person supporting and living with the child, fill out Form T778 on your tax return
    • If you lived with another person eligible for the deduction, determine who can claim (or how much each of you can partially claim) the deduction
    • Follow instructions here to calculate and claim your allowable deduction on your tax return

  • Tips:
      • Keep all your daycare expense receipts and documents – CRA can request to see them later (happened to me a couple of times)
      • If you share custody with another parent, you can each claim the child care expenses you have personally paid.

2. Benefits and tax credits for families with disabilities

Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC)

The Canada Caregiver Credit is a non-refundable tax credit that lowers taxable income for those who are supporting a dependant, spouse or common-law partner with a physical or mental impairment.

  • Who’s eligible? You can claim this credit if you are supporting any one of the following because of a physical or mental impairment:
    • Your (or your partner’s) child or grandchild
    • Your (or your partner’s)  relative
    • Your spouse or common-law partner

  • How much support? 
    • For infirm children under age 18: You can claim $2,616 (Line 30500)
    • For infirm children age 18 or older: You can claim $2,616 (Line 30500) and potentially an additional amount up to $8,375 (Line 30450)

  • How to apply?
  • Tip: 

Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit that helps individuals with disabilities, or their supporting family member, reduce their taxable income.

  • How much support? You may be able to claim up to $15,630 for your child.
  • How to apply? 
    • Follow the instructions here to apply and submit the digital or paper form. A medical practitioner also needs to certify the impairment as part of the application.
    • Once CRA approves your application, claim the DTC on your tax return

  • Tip: If you were eligible for DTC in past years but didn’t claim it, you may be able to claim it back up to 10 years.

Child Disability Benefit (CDB)

The Child Disability Benefit is a monthly payment for families with a child with a physical or mental impairment.

  • Who’s eligible? You must meet the below criteria:
    • You are eligible for the Canada Child Benefit (CBB)
    • Your child is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

  • How much support? The CDB is calculated based on income and the number of eligible children. You can receive up to $3,322 ($276.83 per month) for each child.

  • How to apply? No need to apply – you will get it automatically if you are already getting CBB for your child who is eligible for the DTC.

  • Tip: Ensure you’re filing your taxes on time every year, even if you had no income, to avoid delays or interruptions in payments.

Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC)

The Home Accessibility Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for eligible individuals to claim renovation expenses incurred to make their home more accessible.

  • Who’s eligible? If you meet one of the following:
    • Qualifying individual: You’re eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) or are age 65 or older
    • Eligible individual: You’re the parent, relative, spouse or common-law partner of a qualifying individual
    • Eligible dwelling: A housing unit which is owned by the qualifying individual, or by the eligible individual and is inhabited by both the qualifying and eligible individual

       

  • How much support? Qualifying renovation expenses of up to $20,000 can be claimed per year.

     

  • How to apply? Fill out line 31285 on your tax return, and include supporting documents.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

The Registered Disability Savings Plan is a tax-sheltered, matching savings plan from the government that helps eligible individuals with a disability save for their long-term financial security.

  • Who’s eligible? You can designate an individual (such as a family member) as the beneficiary if they meet all of the below requirements:
    • Approved for the DTC
    • Has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
    • Is a resident of Canada
    • Is under the age of 60
  • What’s the contribution limit? 
    • No annual contribution limit for the RDSP
    • A lifetime contribution limit of $200,000
    • Contributions can be made until the end of the year the beneficiary turns 59

  • How much is taxed? While funds are in an RDSP, no taxes have to be paid. Upon withdrawal, taxes may have to be paid on part of it. 
  • How to apply? Most financial institutions in Canada offer the RDSP:
  • Tip:
    • Open an RDSP as soon as possible to:
    • Receive government grants or bonds before the beneficiary turns 49
    • Maximize government and personal contributions
    • Harness greater financial gain from compound interest
    • The RDSP is designed to act as a pension plan for Canadians with disabilities after they turn 60. Early withdrawals may incur a penalty.

Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG)

The Canada Disability Savings Grant is a matching grant from the government that will be deposited into a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) when contributions are made. The grant amount varies depending on the contribution amount and adjusted family net income.

  • Who’s eligible?: 
    • A beneficiary of an RDSP up to the end of the year when they turn 49
  • How much support?
    • A matching grant of 100%, 200% or 300% will be paid into the RDSP depending on the beneficiary’s adjusted family net income and the amount contributed
    • The adjusted family net income for a beneficiary age 18 and under is based on their family’s net income
    • Beneficiaries aged 19 to 49’s adjusted family net income is based on their personal income (even if they live with their parents) plus their spouse or common-law partner’s income, if any
    • A maximum of $3,500 of matching grants can be received in one year
    • A lifetime maximum of $70,000
    • Learn more about the grant here 
  • How to apply?
    • Make annual contributions into a beneficiary’s RDSP to receive the grant
  • Tip: 
    • If the beneficiary’s income is $111,733 or less, contribute at least $1,500 to receive up to $3,500 that year
    • For incomes greater than $111,733, contribute at least $1,000 to receive up to $1,000 that year
    • Open an RDSP as soon as possible for a beneficiary to maximize grant amounts before they turn 49

Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB)

The Canada Disability Savings Bond is a payment from the government into the Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs) of low-income Canadians with disabilities

  • Who’s eligible
    • Beneficiaries of an RDSP who meet the adjusted family net income threshold of $55,867 or less
    • Beneficiaries who are eligible for the bond can receive it up to the year they turn 49

  • How much support? Bond amounts according to the beneficiary’s adjusted family net income:
      • $36,502 or less: A bond payment of $1,000
      • Between $36,502 to $55,867: A partial amount of $1,000
      • More than $55,867: Not eligible
      • Learn more about the bond here

  • How to apply? 
    • The beneficiary must have filed income tax and benefit returns for the past two years 
    • No contribution to the RDSP is necessary to receive the bond
    • Beneficiaries under age 18’s bond amounts are calculated based on their families’ combined incomes

  • Tip:
      • To continue receiving the correct amounts after the beneficiary turns 19, make sure to file personal income taxes when they turn 17
      • Government disability benefits are unaffected if a beneficiary is receiving money in their RDSP

3. Benefits and grants for children's education

Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)

The Registered Education Savings Plan is a tax-sheltered long-term savings plan to help families save for their child’s post-secondary education costs. The financial institution that opens the RESP for your child can help apply for government benefits such as the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), Canada Learning Bond (CLB), and provincial benefits such as the British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) and Québec Education Savings Incentive (QESI).

  • Who’s eligible? 
    • Any adult (the subscriber) can open an RESP account for a child (the beneficiary)
    • Adults can also open RESPs for themselves
  • Three types of RESPs:
    • Family plan: For families who have more than one child. Earnings along with the CESG and provincial benefits may be used for any eligible beneficiary named in the RESP
    • Individual (non-family) plan: For families who have only one child. Adults can open this type of RESP for themselves.
    • Group plan: Offered by scholarship plan dealers that come with their own restrictions and fees. Members contribute according to contribution schedules, pay unique fees and the plan dealer pools all plan members’ funds and makes investment choices. 
  • What’s the contribution limit?
    • No annual contribution limit
    • A lifetime maximum of $50,000 per beneficiary
  • How much is taxed?
    • Growth of the money is tax-sheltered in the RESP
    • Funds paid out as EAPs are taxed at the student’s tax rate. Since most students have minimal or no income, withdrawals are usually tax-free
  • What if you don’t use the RESP for education?
    • The funds can be transferred to another registered savings plan (RRSP, RDSP, RESP)
    • The subscriber can make taxable withdrawals
    • The amount you contributed won’t be taxed
    • Accumulated income payments (AIPs) are withdrawals on interest earned from an RESP. They are taxed at your regular income tax level, plus an additional 20% (12% if the subscriber lives in Quebec)
    • Unused benefits such as the CESG and CLB must be returned to the government
    • The RESP can be closed – see here for more details
  • Tips:
    • It’s important to track your RESP contributions to ensure you don’t over-contribute, resulting in penalties
    • Choose a financial institution that can offer all the benefits your beneficiary can qualify for, since not every RESP promoter offers benefits such as the CLB, additional amounts of the CESG, or the BCTESG

Canadian Education Savings Grant (CESG)

The Canadian Education Savings Grant is an incentive for families to save for children’s post-secondary education. It’s a grant paid to contributions made to a child’s Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), and is deposited directly into the RESP account. 

  • Who’s eligible?
    • Children designated as eligible beneficiaries under an RESP 
  • How much support
    • Basic CESG amount: 20% of annual contributions made to an eligible RESP for a qualifying beneficiary, to a maximum of $500 (Which is $2,500 in annual contributions)
    • Additional CESG: Either 10% or 20% on the first $500 of contributions each year, if the primary caregiver meets adjusted net income levels 
  • Carry-forward amounts: 
    • Unused Basic CESG room in a given year can be carried forward to future years before the beneficiary turns 17. Annual maximum Basic CESG amount is $1,000 (which is $5,000 in contributions)
    • Unused Additional CESG room cannot be carried forward
    • Lifetime maximum CESG amount for one beneficiary: $7,200
  • How to apply? Your RESP provider can apply for the CESG on your behalf (see this list of all RESP providers in Canada. Note not all of them offer the Additional CESG or other government incentives such as the CLB or BCTESG). 
  • Tips:
    • To be eligible for CESG, an RESP must be opened before the child turns 15, and meet minimum contribution requirements
    • To maximize efficiency in receiving all government education grants that you may be eligible to receive, choose a RESP provider that can offer:
      • Basic CESG
      • Additional CESG
      • Canada Learning Bond (CLB)
      • British Columbia Training and Education Grant (BCTESG)
    • If the beneficiary doesn’t pursue post-secondary education, the CESG amounts are returned to the government

Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

The Canada Learning Bond is an additional incentive of up to $2,000 for low-income families to start saving for their children’s post-secondary education. It’s deposited directly in the child’s Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

  • Who’s eligible? 
    • Beneficiaries of an RESP from a low-income family
    • The primary caregiver must have filed tax returns for each year they wish to request for the beneficiary’s CLB, and be eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
  • How much support? 
    • $500 for the first year in an RESP, and another $100 for each eligible year up to age 15
    • A lifetime maximum of $2,000
  • How to apply?
    • Your RESP provider can apply for the CLB on your behalf
    • No contributions are needed to get the CLB
    • The primary caregiver can request the CLB for an eligible child until before they turn 18. After they turn 18, the beneficiary can request for the CLB for themselves until before they turn 21 
  • Tip: The CLB is retroactive and accumulates each eligible year until the beneficiary turns 15. You may be able to receive retroactive amounts if the beneficiary didn’t have RESP for certain eligible years.

4. Benefits and tax credits for employment

Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) and Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB)

The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit to reduce taxable income for low-income earners. It’s made up of two parts: a basic amount and a disability supplement. Those eligible for the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit can receive a portion of their benefit in advance.

  • How much support? It’s calculated based on your marital status, province/territory, income, eligible dependants and whether you qualify for the DTC
    • Maximum basic amount: $2,616 for famlies
    • Maximum disability supplement amount: $784 for families
  • How to apply?
    • Follow instructions here when you file your taxes
    • ACWB will be sent automatically if you are eligible (up to 50% of your CWB in advanced payments)

  • Tips: File your tax return on time to receive benefits.

Canada Training Credit (CTC)

The Canada Training Credit is a refundable tax credit to help reduce costs of eligible training fees, such as tuition and other fees for courses you took in the year.

  • Who’s eligible? To be eligible for the CTC, you must meet all 6 of the following criteria:
  • How much support? 
    • You can claim whichever amount is less below:
      • Your CTCL for the tax year
      • 50% of the eligible tuition and fees paid to an eligible educational institution or for occupational, trade or professional exams
    • Your CTCL amount is shown on your latest notice of assessment. It may increase by $250 every year if CRA reviews your income tax and benefit return and deems you to qualify, up to a lifetime maximum of $5,000 

  • How to apply? Follow instructions here to claim your CTC on line 45350 on your income tax and benefit return.

  • Tips:

Employment Insurance (EI)

Employment Insurance provides regular benefits if you lose your job through no fault of your own (eg. lay-offs, shortage of work) and are available for work, but can’t find a job.

  • Who’s eligible? 
    • Service Canada checks the following to determine whether you’re eligible for EI benefits:
      • You were employed in insurable employment
      • You lost your job through no fault of your own
      • You have been without work and pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the  last 52 weeks
      • You have worked the minimum number of insured hours in your region (check your area here to determine how many hours you need)
      • You are ready, willing and capable of working each day
      • You are actively looking for work (keep a written record of which employers you contacted and when)
      • You submit bi-weekly EI reports on time to prove your eligibility
      • EI benefits and eligibility may be different for those in other work situations such as farmers, fishers, teachers, Canadian Force members, self-employed people, etc.
  • How much support
    • You can receive up to 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a yearly maximum of $63,200 (which is maximum $668 per week)
    • You can receive EI from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks, depending on your region and the amount of insurable hours you’ve worked
    • Low income families with a net income of $25,921 or less may qualify for the EI family supplement, which can increase your benefit rate up to 80% of their average insurable earnings
    • Check here for how weekly EI payments are calculated.
    • Utilize the EI Benefits Estimator to determine which type of EI benefit may be right for you, and an estimate of your potential weekly benefit
    • If you work while receiving EI benefits, you can keep 50 cents of your benefits for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings
  • After you apply:
    • It takes about 28 days to reach a decision for your application. Sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to check:
      • The status of your application and messages
      • Whether your records of employment (ROEs) were submitted by your employers
      • Whether your banking and contact information are up-to-date
      • Whether you are missing any required documents 
      • Submit your bi-weekly reports to receive payments
  • Tips:
    • Always apply for EI benefits as soon as you stop working, even if you haven’t received your record of employment (ROE) to avoid losing benefits
    • Always file EI reports on-time, or you may risk losing benefit payments
    • EI benefits are taxable – federal and provincial taxes will be deducted from your payment
    • You may not be eligible for benefits if you travel outside of Canada for leisure purposes

5. Health and dental benefits

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a benefit to help cover a portion of the costs for various dental care treatments.

  • Who’s eligible? You must meet the following requirements:
    • No access to dental insurance (except for government social program coverage)
    • You’ve filed tax returns in Canada for the previous tax year
    • Your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000
    • You’re a Canadian resident

  • The plan is currently open to applications for below individuals who meet the above requirements:
    • Children under age 18
    • Seniors aged 65+ 
    • Adults with a valid federal Disability Tax Credit certificate for 2023
  • How much support? The CDCP will cover a portion of the cost of treatment for eligible oral health care services, which is calculated based on income

  • How to apply? Follow instructions to apply online here

  • Tips: 
    • Submit only one application that includes all children under 18
    • Only one parent should apply on behalf of the children
    • Do not reapply if you are already enrolled in the CDCP, unless your dental insurance has changed

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