Nunavut families must apply for federal benefits: Aglukkaq

Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq has a moment with elder Olivia Pissuk during Nunavut Day celebrations in Rankin Inlet July 9. (PHOTO BY NOEL KALUDJAK)

Hundreds of Nunavut families could be missing out on a federal benefit simply because they haven’t applied for it.

Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq says an estimated 900 families are eligible to receive the enhanced new Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and she wants to ensure they have access, the MP said in a July 10 release.

The enhanced benefit means that families can receive up to $1,920 each year for each child under six years of age, and up to $720 for each child aged six through 17.

Almost four million Canadian families are currently registered to receive the UCCB, many others aren’t “captured” under the government’s system, which means they won’t receive the benefit unless they apply.

In 2015 alone, Aglukkaq’s office said that could represents potentially millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits.

“The enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit means more cash directly in the pockets of parents and I want to ensure that every family with children receives it,” Aglukkaq said. “All families in Nunavut with kids under 18 are eligible for this benefit.”

The federal government has said that changes to the UCCB are expected to more than double the number of families that benefit — to more than four million, up from 1.6 million.

Once secured, the new UCCB amounts would be retroactive to January 1, 2015 and be reflected in monthly payments to families in July 2015.

If you have children under 18 in your care, and your family is not currently receiving UCCB, or has never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit, visit www.canada.ca/taxsavings to find out how to sign up.

Canadian families with children can also benefit from the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit — for up to $1,000 worth of fitness-related activities — along with the Family Tax Cut, which is a non-refundable credit that allows the higher-income spouse to transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to the spouse in a lower income tax bracket.