On Thursday, the bill bringing in the dental benefit for lower-income families — known as Bill C-31 — received Royal Assent and became law. The dental benefit, pushed alongside a benefit for low-income renters, was an initiative sparked by a deal between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The government has set a “target date” of December 1 to open the scheme for applications. Before that, see exactly what the “Canada Dental Benefit” includes and how it will work.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Currently, the benefit will be offered to children under the age of 12, with an annual family income of less than $90,000. According to the government, this benefit will provide payments of up to $650 per child per year, depending on family income. For example:
$650 per child will be provided if the family’s adjusted net income is below $70,000. $390 per child will be provided if the family’s adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999. and $260 per child will be provided if the family’s adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999.
The amount offered is the government’s “best gauge” of how much funding is needed to cover basic dental care — exams, cleanings, X-rays and fillings — without much left over, according to government officials who briefed reporters on the program in September . .
In the event that parents have excess funds, it is hoped that this will be used for other dental care needs, but there will be no requirement to repay any outstanding funding. The program will cover costs retroactively to October 1, 2022. The Liberals estimate that 500,000 Canadian children will be eligible to have part of their dental care covered by this program and pledge that receiving this benefit will not reduce any pre-existing means-tested federal benefits, such as the Canada Child Benefit.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
The first phase of dental care will provide eligible parents or guardians with “immediate, upfront tax-free payments to cover dental expenses.” However, to access the benefit, parents or guardians must apply through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and certify that:
Their child does not have access to private dental cover. They will have out-of-pocket dental costs that they will use the allowance for. and They understand that they will need to provide receipts to verify that out-of-pocket expenses were incurred, if required.
Applicants may apply to receive this financial support prior to their appointments, but must provide proof of eligibility, such as contact information for the dental provider, date of appointment, and information related to employer and spouse, or their partner regarding the coverage of their benefits.
The bill passed now creates a process for bureaucrats to review that information, and there could be penalties for those who file fraudulent claims. “Health Canada and the CRA are working closely on an application platform that will deliver payments in a timely manner. More details on how and when to apply for the Benefit will be shared in due course,” the government said in a statement when the plan was initially detailed.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN;
The bill that would put this assurance-based plan into effect along with a benefit for renters was one in a pair of pieces of legislation focused on affordability that the Liberals tabled on the first day of the fall session on September 20. Bill C-31 passed the House of Commons and was sent to the Senate on October 27, with the support of the NDP. Making a dental care plan happen was the key promise of the Liberal-NDP confidence and supply agreement. This initial step allowed the Liberals to deliver on their pledge to ensure eligible children under 12 get the dental care they need before the end of 2022. The Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois voted against the plan to introduce dental and rental benefits. “Families must decide whether to pay for dental care for their children or pay their bills. No one should have to deal with the pain or lifelong damage that dental care causes,” Singh said in a statement. . “Families will soon be able to apply to fix their children’s teeth. And this is just the first step, we will continue to fight to make sure all Canadians can access comprehensive dental care as part of the system of our health care.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
While only under-12s will have first access, the government says it remains committed to continuing to see this stopgap measure become a full national dental care plan. The Liberals have promised the program will be extended to under-18s, seniors and people living with disabilities in 2023. By 2025, it will be available to all Canadian families earning less than $90,000 a year, with no premiums for those earning less than $70,000 a year. In the 2022 federal budget, the federal government allocated $5.3 billion over five years and then $1.7 billion ongoing for Health Canada to oversee the implementation of the dental care plan.
