Families in Alberta with children under 18 can expect to receive the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) in addition to their regular Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments.
The ACFB payments are disbursed quarterly by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in February, May, August, and November, and the next ACFB payment date for 2024 is February 27, 2024.
In this comprehensive blog post, we will provide a detailed description of the ACFB, including who is eligible to receive the benefits, how to apply, how much you could receive, and the ACFB payment dates for 2024.
Key Takeaways
- The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is paid out to low-income families in Alberta with children under 18 years.
- The next ACFB date for 2024 is February 27, 2024.
- To be eligible for ACFB, you must be a parent of one or more children under 18, reside in Alberta and meet the income requirements.
- How much ACFB payments you could receive depends on your family’s net income and the number of children you have.
- Jump to ACFB Eligibility
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ACFB Payment Dates 2024
The Alberta Child and Family Benefits are paid quarterly in four instalments by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) on behalf of the government of Alberta.
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit dates for 2024 are:
- February 27, 2024
- May 27, 2024
- August 27, 2024
- November 27, 2024
You can get the money deposited into your bank account if you set up direct deposits through your CRA MyAccount. This will ensure you’ll receive your benefits on the ACFB payment dates.
You can also choose to receive your ACFB payments by cheque via mail. If you don’t receive your ACFB payments on the scheduled ACFB dates, you should wait for five working days before contacting CRA. Sometimes, your payment may appear in your bank account as Canada FED.
Also, remember that if your ACFB payment is below $10 (in a quarter of a year), it may be paid in one lump sum.
Alberta Child and Family Benefit Amount
The amount you get for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit depends on your family’s net income and the number of children below 18 years of age.
For July 2023 to June 2024, you can expect to receive the following ACFB amounts if your adjusted family net income is less than $25,935:
- $1,410 ($117.50 per month) for the first child
- $705 ($58.75 per month) for the second child
- $705 ($58.75 per month) for the third child
- $705 ($58.75 per month) for the fourth child
However, ACFB has two components: the base component and the working component. The base component is available to every low-income family with children in Alberta, whether or not they earn any employment income.
As for the working component, Alberta families are eligible if their family employment income exceeds $2,760, with the amount received growing at a rate of 15% for every additional dollar of income earned over this threshold until they exceed the maximum threshold.
Families with a working income of more than $2,760 may be entitled to receive the following ACFB amounts if their adjusted family net income is less than $43,460:
- $722 ($60.16 per month) for the first child
- $657 ($54.75 per month) for the second child
- $393 ($32.75 per month) for the third child
- $130 ($10.83 per month) for the fourth child
What is the Maximum ACFB Amounts?
Number of children | Base Component (Annual Max.) | Working component (Annual Max.) |
One child | $1,410 | $722 |
Two children | $2,193 | $1,379 |
Three children | $2,820 | $1,772 |
Four children or more | $3,525 | $1,902 |
What is ACFB?
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is a tax-free amount paid to lower and middle-income families in Alberta that have children under 18 years of age aimed to alleviate the cost of raising their children.
The ACFB program is administered by the CRA on behalf of the government of Alberta. It was introduced in 2020 to replace two existing programs: Alberta Child Benefit (ACB) and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit (AFETC).
The program supports families and raises children’s living standards, especially children from financially limited families.
The Alberta government said that the new consolidated program, ACFB, will provide more benefits to low-income Albertans and streamline the administration of the benefits program.
With the ACFB, the average low-income Albertan family can get up to 15% more benefits than the ACB and the AFETC. However, the benefits will decrease for some families.
RELATED: What is Canada PRO Deposit on My Bank Statement? (July 2024)
ACFB Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to receive ACFB, you must:
- Be a parent of children aged 18 or below
- Be a resident of Alberta
- Meet the Alberta child and family benefit income criteria
- File your income tax return
Remember that getting benefits from other benefit programs in Alberta does not negatively affect your eligibility for an ACFB.
This means you can continue to receive benefits from programs like Income Support, Alberta Child Care Subsidy, and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH).
How to Apply for ACFB
There is no separate application for the Alberta Child And Family Benefit. When you apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), you are automatically considered for the ACFB.
However, to remain eligible for the ACFB year in and year out, you must file your income tax returns (irrespective of whether you earned income from employment or not).
On a side note, if you are interested in the free tax software you can use to file taxes, check out our detailed article on the topic.
ACFB Notice for 2024
In 2023, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) was increased by 6% due to the Inflation Relief Act that was put into place to help make life more affordable for those who live in Alberta.
As part of the Alberta Affordability Payment Plan, families with children under 18 and a household income below $180,000 will receive an additional $100 per child for 6 months, spanning from January to June 2023.
This means each eligible child will receive a total of $600 during this period. However, there has not been any recent increase in 2024.
How Family Changes Affect ACFB Benefits
Regularly, the CRA reassesses eligibility and how much the ACFB can pay. Other benefit programs undergo similar processes; not just the ACFB.
It is crucial to inform the CRA of relevant changes in your family situation, like childbirth and moving to another province in Canada, as quickly as possible.
Information about yourself can be updated on the CRA website. An assessment can qualify you for more benefit payments (which is a favourable situation).
Remember that a reassessment might eliminate your Alberta Child and Family Benefit entirely (or reduce them considerably). If this scenario ever applies to you, the CRA will let you know how and why their actions have been taken.
Final Thoughts on the Alberta Child and Family Benefit
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit serves as a vital lifeline for families across the province, offering crucial financial support to ensure the well-being of children and alleviate financial burdens.
By providing accessible assistance tailored to individual circumstances, this benefit program contributes to the broader goal of fostering healthy, thriving communities.
Whether it’s aiding with childcare costs or supplementing household income, the ACFB program stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to supporting families and nurturing a brighter future for all.
Explore the eligibility criteria and application process to harness the benefits that can make a real difference in the lives of Alberta’s families.
FAQs on the Alberta Child and Family Benefit
Does ACFB Affect Other Government Benefits?
Your extra government benefits (like the CCB) will not be negatively affected if you are eligible for an ACFB. The ACFB payments you receive every quarterly are not documented as income and will not be factored in when calculating the amount you can receive or your worthiness for other federal or Alberta benefits.
Is ACFB Paid Monthly?
No, it is not. ACFB beneficiaries get their benefits in February, May, August, and November (in other words, quarterly). However, your CCB payments are received every month.
Can ACFB Payments Be Taxed?
ACFB is a non-taxable benefit (just like the CCB). You won’t have to include them in your income tax returns when you file your taxes.
How Often Do You Get Alberta Child and Family Benefits?
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit are received in payments four times per annum in February, May, August, and November. Families who are eligible get their payment from the CRA via the payment method already set up by them.
How Much Is the Child Benefit in Alberta?
The Alberta Child Benefit (which is now part of the Alberta Child and Family Benefit) pays a max amount of $5,120 to low/middle-income families in Alberta.
Who Is Eligible for the Alberta Child Benefit?
Applicants must have one or more kids aged 18 or under, be residents of the province of Alberta, file tax returns, and fit the income criteria set by the government.
Where Can I Get an Alberta Child and Family Benefits Calculator?
You may utilise the CRA Child and Family Benefits calculator to know precisely how much you can get from the ACFB. However, specific details about your residency status and family will be submitted to them before you can use it.
Will I Continue to Receive CCB If I’m Eligible for ACFB?
The ACFB does not get in the way of the CCB program. You can continue to get CCB if your eligibility is still intact. Also, receiving both CCB and ACFB does not affect the amounts you can receive.
I Didn’t Receive My ACFB payment; what Can I Do?
This could be because your eligibility is no longer valid or changes to your employment/family situation tipped a balance. There are cases where income changes drastically affect the payment amounts of recipients or stop payments altogether.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements and your payments fail to arrive, you can contact the CRA.
