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The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) provides direct financial assistance to lower and middle-income families with children under 18.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the ACFB, you must:
- be a parent of one or more children under 18
- be a resident of Alberta
- file a tax return
- meet the income criteria
ACFB payments are not taxable. If you receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support or the Alberta child care subsidy, you are still eligible to receive the ACFB. Receiving the ACFB will not affect your eligibility for these programs.
Payments
The ACFB program is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Alberta’s behalf. ACFB payments will be mailed or direct deposited by the CRA in 4 instalments. Payments are made in:
- August
- November
- February
- May
If you are eligible for amounts below $10 in any given quarter, then your payments could be consolidated and paid less frequently.
What you get
The amount your family receives under the ACFB will depend on your family’s income level and how many children under 18 you have.
The ACFB includes a base component and a working component. The ACFB’s base component is available to lower-income families with children, whether or not they earn any employment income.
Families are also eligible for the working component if their family employment income exceeds $2,760, with the amount received growing at a rate of 15% for every additional dollar of income earned over this threshold, until the maximum benefit is reached. As families work more they receive more benefits, encouraging them to join or remain in the workforce.
Use the child and family benefits calculator to find out how much you may be entitled to. Please note, you will need your income tax return to enter specific amounts.
Maximum benefit amounts
The table below displays the maximum benefit amounts for a family receiving the ACFB. Benefit amounts for the base component and working component are reduced once family net income exceeds $24,467 or $41,000.
Table 1. ACFB maximum benefit amounts
| Number of children | Base component (max.) | Working component (max.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $1,330 | $681 |
| 2 children | $1,995 | $1,301 |
| 3 children | $2,660 | $1,672 |
| 4 or more children | $3,325 | $1,795 |
Changes in household status
If your household’s status changes, your eligibility for the benefit may change. For example:
- if you have another child, your household may qualify for a greater benefit than you received
- if your family leaves Alberta, you may have to return some of the money received for the months you were not living in the province
- if your family moves to Alberta, you will become eligible in the month after you become a resident
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reassesses eligibility on a regular basis, as updated household information is received.
- If your household qualifies for a greater benefit than what was originally paid out, the CRA will issue an additional payment for the difference.
- If your household qualifies for a smaller benefit, or no benefit, you will receive a letter from the CRA indicating that any amount received over your entitlement will have to be returned.
Original Source: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-child-and-family-benefit.aspx