Child and Family Benefit of Alberta
In this publication you will find the details If you are from Low and middle income families with children to qualify for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit to improve the quality of life for your children.
Requirements for Apply
To be considered for the ACFB, you must meet the following requirements:
• Have one or more children under the age of 18.
• You must be a resident of Alberta.
• Submit a tax return.
• Satisfy the income requirements.
Payments from the ACFB are not taxed
You can still get the ACFB if you get Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support, or the Alberta child care subsidy. Your eligibility for these programs will not be affected if you receive the ACFB.
For qualifying lower-income Albertans, free tax clinics are provided to prepare tax returns.
How to Apply for Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)?
When you file your yearly tax return and qualify for the Canada Child Benefit, you are automatically evaluated for the ACFB. There is no need to take any additional action.
ACFB Payments
On behalf of Alberta, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the ACFB program. The CRA will mail or direct deposit ACFB payments in four installments.
Payments are made in the following currencies:
• The month of August.
• The month of November.
• The month of February.
• The month of may.
Your payments may be combined and paid less often if you are eligible for sums less than $10 in any one quarter.
What you will receive
The amount your family receives from the ACFB is determined by your family’s income and the number of children under the age of 18.
- There are two parts to the ACFB: a basic component and a functional component.
- The ACFB’s basic component is provided to all low-income families with children, regardless of whether they work.
- If a family’s employment income surpasses $2,760, they are also eligible for the working component, with the amount received increasing by 15% for every dollar earned beyond that level until the maximum benefit is achieved.
- Families that work more receive greater benefits, which encourages them to enter or stay in the workforce.
- To find out how much you could be eligible to, use the child and family benefits calculator.
Please keep in mind that you’ll need your tax return to input particular amounts.
Amounts of maximum benefits
The maximum benefit amounts for a family receiving the ACFB are shown in the table below. Once a family’s net income surpasses $24,467 or $41,000, the benefits for the base and working components are lowered.
Changes in family situation
Your eligibility for the benefit may vary if your household’s situation changes:
• If you have another child, your household may be eligible for a larger benefit than you did.
• If your family moves out of Alberta, you may be required to repay part of the money you received during the months you were not residing there.
• If you and your family relocate to Alberta, you will be eligible in the month after your arrival.
As new household information is obtained, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reassesses eligibility on a regular basis.
• If your household is eligible for a higher benefit than what was initially paid out, the CRA will send you a check for the difference.
• If your household is eligible for a lower benefit or no benefit, the CRA will send you a notice stating that any sum received in excess of your claim must be returned.
Contact the CRA at 1-800-959-2809 for information on how to repay sums owed.
