There are a number of provincial and federal government programs designed to relieve the financial burden of raising children. Some of these are addressed to all families and others target families in particular income groups.
Canada Child Tax Benefit
This benefit is a monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. The National Child Benefit Supplement offsets the difference between the amount to which families may be entitled and the amount they actually receive.
Nursing
A special nursing benefit can be paid each month until your baby is one year old, if you breast-feed throughout this time.
Parental Wage Assistance (PWA)
This program was replaced by the Work Premium .
Pregnancy
If you are a last-resort financial assistance recipient, a special benefit can be paid each month of your pregnancy until you give birth.
Pregnant Minors
The Department can provide monthly financial assistance during the pregnancy if a person is lacking financial resources.
Purchase of infant formula
If you are a last-resort financial assistance recipient and are the parent of an infant under 9 months old, you can purchase regular (cow’s milk), soy-based or lactose-free infant formula.
Québec Parental Insurance Plan
The Québec Parental Insurance Plan provides for the payment of a financial benefit to any eligible worker who takes a maternity, paternity, adoption or parental leave during which the worker sustains an interruption of earnings.
School expenses
A special benefit exists to help low-income families cover their children’s back-to-school expenses.
For other programs and services for families, consult the Québec portal.
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