The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is money from the Government of Canada to help pay for post-secondary education. It provides an initial payment of $500 in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and $100 for each subsequent benefit year of eligibility, up to the benefit year in which the beneficiary turns 15, to a maximum of $2,000. Contributions are not required to receive the CLB.
The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is money from the Government of Canada to help pay for post-secondary education. It provides an initial payment of $500 in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and $100 for each subsequent benefit year of eligibility, up to the benefit year in which the beneficiary turns 15, to a maximum of $2,000. Contributions are not required to receive the CLB.
Eligibility for the CLB is based on family income. In addition, recipients must:
be born on or after January 1, 2004;
be a resident of Canada;
have a valid Social Insurance Number; and
be named as a beneficiary to an RESP.
Children in care for whom the Children’s Special Allowance is paid also qualify for the CLB.
For children under the age of 18, their primary caregiver, or the spouse or common-law partner of the primary caregiver, can request the CLB on behalf of the child. The primary caregiver is the person who is eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit in the child’s name.
In addition, the child’s primary caregiver must have applied for the Canada Child Benefit for the child through the Canada Revenue Agency and must continue to file income tax returns, so that eligibility can be validated.
The CLB is retroactive. It can be requested on behalf of an eligible child, and the child can still receive the entire amount that they would have been eligible for had it been requested from birth.
Beginning in January 2022, individuals who were eligible for the CLB as children but did not receive it can apply for it themselves when they reach the age of 18. They will have until the day before they turn 21 to apply.
Jane Deeks
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough
Jane.deeks@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca