Dental care is an essential aspect of health that most people ignore. Some people, however, cannot access these services due to a lack of enough finances to get inclusive health insurance, which incorporates dental services. This results in a group of people who go about their lives suffering from dental issues but can’t have them sorted. The Ministry of Health has unveiled a new program to help curb such differences. If you would like to be a part of the team that benefits from this dental care in Canada program, here are a few tips on how to get started on the Canada Dental Benefit.
Canada Dental Benefit Explained
Canada Dental Benefit is a government-run program that enables parents with young kids to access dental healthcare, funded by the Ministry of Health and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Applicants for this service must be Canadians or permanent citizens of the country.
You can reach CRA online via the contact form or call 1-800-715-8836 for more information.
Parents and guardians of these children must also be recipients of the Canada child benefit (CCB) payments. Foreigners seeking dental health for their young ones can apply for Canada Dental benefits, but they will have to pass the eligibility test first. Additionally, they should be living and working in Canada, and filing taxes there.
When to Apply for Canada Dental Benefit
You should apply for this service if you have a cumulative net salary of $90,000, making it challenging to pay for private dental services. Applications for Period 1, running from 1st October 2022 – 30th June 2023, are underway. Eligible persons are encouraged to apply to start receiving the benefits.
Requirements and Documentation Needed
This dental benefit program has a pretty tight eligibility criterion. The government insists that all interested persons must possess all the requirements before applying. You must have the following:
- An adjusted net income that’s less than $90,000
- The child must be 12 years as of 1st December
- The child must receive dental care Canada between 1st October 2022 – 30th June 2023
- Access to private dental healthcare
- Be a recipient of CCB payments for the child
- Filed taxes for the year 2021
- Name, address, and phone number
- Child’s dentist appointment
- Employers’ name, address, and contact details
- Your co-parent or partner’s name and contact information.
Terms And Conditions of the Program
As a mandatory condition, all parents are instructed to keep all receipts for the past six years for this service for validation of their eligibility, which happens from time to time. If your application requires validation, CRA will request you to send in the receipts before the close of 30 days after your prompt. Individuals who fail to comply will have to refund the money they received for dental care.
Where To Apply
Interested individuals can apply for this service online on CRA’s website. You must have a CRA account to apply for this service. Persons who do not have this online account can sign up for it in a few steps and commence the application for Canada Dental Benefit.
If you are not tech-savvy, you can call the bureau at 1-800-715-8836 and complete the procedure on the phone. You will have to undertake a different procedure to ascertain your identity before you can sign up.
How To Apply for Canada Dental Benefit
Regardless of the option you choose, the first step of this application is to ascertain you have all the necessary information at hand before you commence. If you’re doing it online, log into your CRA account and locate the relevant application form.
Provide the child’s Canada dental care provider, the expected dental appointment, your employer’s details, your name and contact information, and your address. Submit your request and wait for a response.
The Amount You’ll Get
Once you send your application, you will receive between $650 – $1300 per child for dental procedures during Period 1. A check will be sent within ten business days after the application. However, if you opt for a direct deposit, you will receive the money in your bank account within five days.
Nevertheless, you may receive less than $650 if you have a higher income or if you share custody of the child. You can use this calculator to determine what you’ll receive. The agency requires you to pay additional costs that may exceed the money you receive from them for your child’s dental care for each visit.
Can Your Application for the Dental Benefit Be Rejected?
Canada Revenue Agency may require you to send extra information to validate your application. This may take several weeks to process, but once it’s complete, the agency will contact you. If the additional details you offer are not convincing and the application is rejected, you can apply for the team to review the decision within 90 days.
You’ll be required to include the reason for the rejection, supporting documents, address, and contact information. After completing this review, you can either start receiving benefits or appeal to the federal court for judicial review (within 30 days), depending on the outcome.
Can You Lose Access to This Benefit?
Beneficiaries can lose access to this service for a couple of reasons. CRA can take away the right to keep receiving this benefit if they discover your child has access to private dental health care, you provided misleading information, or you received more than you should have. You will also have to repay the funds you received if you do not send the required validation documents within 30 days of being requested to d so by CRA.
Can It Be Combined with Other Government Programs?
Receiving Canada Dental Benefit shouldn’t deter you from benefiting from other government services. As a requirement, parents interested in applying for this program must be receiving CCB payments for their child. However, you can also access disability benefits, public pensions, and housing benefits.
Validity And Processing Time
This program is valid until the child crosses adulthood, which is 18 or 19 years, depending on each province. Processing the request takes up to two weeks, but if CRA requires more information to validate your eligibility, this may take up to three or more months, depending on the final decision made by the agents.
In Summary
Dental care is necessary for every Canadian, and the government aims to ensure no person goes unattended due to a lack of finances. Ensure you fulfill all requirements before applying to avoid a negative response or delays.
You can also determine how much you will receive using the online table or calculator provided on CRA’s website. Remember, you can only receive two payments per year, so plan your visits accordingly.
