The Canada Dental Benefit
Updated February 1, 2024
The interim Canada Dental Benefit is intended to help lower dental costs for eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year. Parents and guardians may be eligible if they pay for dental care for a child under 12 years old who does not have access to a private dental insurance plan.
Here is what we know so far about the proposed Canada Dental Benefit program:
- Am I eligible for the Canada Dental Benefit program?
- When will the Canada Dental Benefit Program start?
- How Do I Access The Canada Dental Benefit Program?
- What kind of dental treatment would be covered under the Canada Dental Benefit program?
- Who Can Provide Dental Care For My Child?
- What publicly funded dental care programs currently exist for residents of Ontario?
For more information about about the Canada Dental Benefit, contact us at Atlas Dental for more information. We provide new patient exams, general dental services for children and adults of all ages.
Am I Eligible For The Canada Dental Benefit Program?
For now, the Canada Dental Benefit is available as a direct, up-front tax-free payment from the federal government through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website to eligible parents or guardians to cover dental expenses for their children under 12-years-old.
If an eligible child’s dental costs are fully paid for by another government program with no direct cost to you, those services do not qualify for this benefit. Check your child’s eligibility for other programs before you apply.
Depending on your adjusted family net income, a tax-free payment of $260, $390, or $650 is available for each eligible child. You can apply for a maximum of 2 payments per child.
- $650 would be provided for each eligible child if the family’s adjusted net income is under $70,000.
- $390 would be provided for each eligible child if the family’s adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999.
- $260 would be provided for each eligible child if the family’s adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999.
Applications are open until June 30, 2024 for:
- dental care received between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024
- one additional payment if you meet the criteria
Benefit payments are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
On March 28, 2023, the government has announced that it will replace this current, temporary program with a revised government-administered insurance program called the Canadian Dental Care Plan by the end of 2023. People who are under 18 years of age, seniors, and people with disabilities who meet the income criteria and do not have insurance will be eligible.
When Will The Canada Dental Benefit Program Start?
As of December 1 2022, children under 12 would become eligible for the program, and the program would cover expenses retroactive to October 1, 2022.
How Do I Access The Canada Dental Benefit Program?
To access the Benefit, parents or guardians of eligible children would need to apply through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Parents will need to provide the following information:
- Each eligible child’s dental care provider’s name, address and telephone number
- Date or expected date of your child’s dental appointment
- Your employer’s name, address, and telephone number (if applicable)
- Your spouse or common-law partner’s employer’s name, address, and telephone number (if applicable)
In addition, parents would need to attest that:
- Their child does not have access to private dental care coverage;
- They will have out of pocket dental care expenses for which they will use the Benefit;
- They understand they will need to provide documentation to verify out of pocket expenses occurred (e.g. show receipts) should they get audited. Parents are advised to keep dental care receipts for a period of 6 years.
Health Canada and the CRA are collaborating closely on an application platform that would deliver payments in a timely fashion. Further details on how and when to apply for the Benefit will be communicated in due course.
The Canada Dental Benefit would not reduce other federal income-tested benefits such as the Canada Workers Benefit, the Canada Child Benefit, and the Goods and Services Tax Credit.
What Kind Of Dental Treatment Would Be Covered Under The Canada Dental Benefit Program?
There are no restrictions on the type of dental care your child can receive when accepting the Canada Dental Benefit. This includes, but is not limited to:
Who Can Provide Dental Care For My Child?
- General Dentist
- Denturist
- Dental Hygienist
Contact us at Atlas Dental for general dentistry services for your child.
What Publicly Funded Dental Care Programs Currently Exist For Residents of Ontario?
Traditionally, healthcare delivery has been the jurisdiction of the provinces. With the exception of dental care for indigenous peoples and the Canadian armed forces, the Federal government has no role in the direct delivery of dental care to Canadians. Instead, the federal government uses its spending power (Canada Health Transfer payments) under the Canada Health Act to influence each province’s medicare policies.
In Ontario, there are several publicly funded dental care programs:
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): Free dental program for Ontarians with disabilities
- Ontario Works (OW): Free dental program for Ontarians who temporarily cannot find work or cannot work
- Health Smiles Ontario (HSO): Free dental program that includes regular check-ups, preventive care, and treatment for children and youth 17 and under
- Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP): Free dental services to low-income seniors aged 65 and over.
- Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP): Free emergency dental care for certain newcomers to Canada, including refugees and refugee claimants, protected persons, victims of human trafficking and detainees.
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