Amount and payment of child assistance
The amount of the child assistance payment varies from one family to another. The calculation takes into account:
- the number of dependent children under the age of 18 who live with you
- the number of children in shared custody
- the family income (the combined total of both spouses' income)
- the family situation (single-parent or two-parent)
Main characteristics of child assistance payments1 - 2012
| (in dollars) |
| Characteristic |
Amount |
| Maximum assistance |
|
| 1st child |
2 263 $ |
| 2nd child |
1 131 $ |
| 3rd child |
1 131 $ |
| 4th and subsequent children |
1 696 $ |
| Single-parent family |
+ 793 $ |
| Minimum assistance in all cases |
|
| 1st child |
635 $ |
| 2nd child |
586 $ |
| Single-parent family |
+ 317 $ |
|
Monthly amount for a handicapped child
|
179 $ |
|
|
|
1. The amount of the child assistance payment is indexed in January of each year.
2. Total family income as of which the maximum payable is reduced.
|
You can use CalculAide or consult our tables to find out the payments that could be made.
Payment
The Régie pays the child assistance payment on the 1st working day of each quarter, that is, four times a year:
- in July for July, August and September
- in October for October, November and December
- in January for January, February and March
- in April for April, May and June
Payments can be received monthly but an application must be made. In this case, payments are made on the first working day of each month.
You can sign up for direct deposit online. It is a reliable, safe and environmentally-friendly way to receive child assistance payments.
See:
If money is owed to the Régie
A change in family situation can affect the amounts to which a person is entitled. If an overpayment is received, it will have to be repaid.
The amount withheld from payments in order to repay a debt will be calculated according to the following rules:
- 50% of the payment if the annual family income is less than or equal to 35 000 $. Note that the Régie can withhold more than 50% of the payment if the amounts that remain to be paid are not sufficient to repay the debt. In certain cases, the Régie can withhold more than 50% of the payment even if the family income is less than or equal to 35 000 $.
- 100% of the payment if the family's annual income is more than 35 000 $.