Jeremy’s Guide to the Canada Dental Benefit (Part I)
This article is intended for parents and guardians who are looking to learn more about the recently introduced Canada Dental Benefit (CDB). There is a lot of information in this article which can become overwhelming. If you are struggling to apply for the benefit, or need help understanding its terms, please contact us. We believe in providing universal dental care for children, and we are happy to support you in your application process. Want to know more? Click here to read Part II.
“This program is for parents and guardians of children who are under 12 years old and do not have access to a private dental insurance plan.”
We are still trying to navigate the terms of the new Federal Dental Benefit that recently became law. There is no doubt that this is a step in the right direction. We are hoping that 500,000 children under the age of 12 will take advantage of this program. It appears the Federal Government is trying to find a way to provide basic dental care to people, at the age when they need it the most. And their overall intention is even better: to develop a long-term, Canada-wide dental care program.
At the same time, we are creatures of habit. Whenever something new comes along, we tend to be sceptical. Our brains go, So what’s the catch? I’m not sure if there is really a catch in here; it is basically a grant, after all. There are a couple documents you’ll need to have ready in order to be able to apply. Without further ado, let’s dive into it!
Who is Eligible for the Canada Dental Benefit?
The Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) is a program to help lower dental costs for eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year. This program is for parents and guardians of children who:
are under 12 years old and
do not have access to a private dental insurance plan.
The benefit provides:
$650 for each child in families earning less than $70,000 per year
$390 for each child in families earning from $70,000 to $79,999 per year
$260 for each child in families earning from $80,000 to $89,999 per year
$ Benefit By Income
When Can I Apply?
The Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) is meant to be a temporary solution as the Federal Government moves toward a more permanent solution, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which they hope to extend to all eligible Canadians. The federal government is still figuring out how they’re going to run the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), how it will be taken care of, who will be responsible for it, what services will be covered, and how it will integrate with the existing Ontario government’s dental care programs.
Since Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) is temporary, it will only be available for 2 periods. The first period:
starts on December 1, 2022 (as in, you can apply for the benefit starting on this date), and
covers dental care received between October 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 (so, if you’ve already taken your kid to the dentist in this time, you might already be able to apply)
In other words, applications open on December 1, 2022. And if you’ve already taken your kid to the dentist after October 1, 2022, you are already eligible to apply. Otherwise, you’ve got until June 30, 2023 to get your child in, and then apply for the benefit.
The second period will open for applications on July 1, 2023. It will cover dental care your child receives between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
What Do I Need So I Can Apply?
Alright, so if you are ready to apply, there are a couple things you are going to need beforehand. Remember when your brain went, So what’s the catch? Well, this is it (sort of, I guess). You are going to need to fill out some paperwork. (And also, well, take your child to the dentist. I get it, I’ve got kids too, and they’re not a great financial investment. But every little bit helps, right?)
If you want a handy questionnaire, the Federal Government has already built one for you, and you can click here to use it. You will need to confirm that:
Your child doesn’t have private insurance
You will use the Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) to pay for those expenses
You can provide receipts that you have paid at the time of service (if requested)
You will also need to provide the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with:
The name of your child’s provider (this will be on the receipt)
The date of the appointment (also on the receipt)
Information on your employer and your spouse/partner’s employer (if necessary)
Should I Wait Until the Canada Dental Benefit or Canadian Dental Care Plan is Launched to Go to the Dentist?
Please don’t delay treatment. It’s significantly easier to catch and deal with problems now, rather than later. Also, the Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) has already started, so it’s basically use it or lose it.