The new Canada Dental Benefit provides financial assistance to eligible Canadian families for dental care. This article presents a detailed guide on Canada’s Dental Benefits program, including eligibility requirements, benefit amounts, application procedures, and commonly asked questions.
What is the Canada Dental Benefit?
The Canada Dental Benefit is an interim federal program that provides financial assistance to eligible Canadian families to help pay for their children’s dental care.
As part of the 2022 Federal Budget, the CDB will offer tax-free payments directly to eligible families to cover a portion of their children’s dental treatment expenses. The CDB will be an interim benefit until a more comprehensive national dental care program is developed.
The CDB has two benefit periods:
Period 1: from October 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Period 2: from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
Eligible families can receive up to $650 per child for dental care during each benefit period. A maximum of two payments can be provided per eligible child over the course of the program.
The Canada Revenue Agency administers the Canada Dental Benefit. Eligible families can apply through Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Can adults apply for Canada dental benefits?
Currently, the Canadian dental benefit is only available for children under 12. It does not provide any dental coverage for adults at this time.
However, the federal government has announced plans to expand the Canada dental benefit program starting in 2023 to cover additional age groups, including seniors and disabled persons.
Canada Dental Benefits for Seniors 2023
As part of the proposed expansion of the Canada dental benefit program, the government has indicated that seniors will be included beginning in 2023. This means adults aged 65+ will gain new dental coverage under the national dental program.
Full details regarding the exact coverage and eligibility criteria for seniors under the expanded Canada dental benefits have yet to be released. However, coverage for routine preventative care and significant procedures can be expected, with income-based requirements similar to the existing children’s program.
Expanding coverage to include dental benefits for Canadian seniors will significantly improve this demographic’s affordability and access to dental care. Out-of-pocket costs continue to be a barrier for many retired individuals. The new public benefits for seniors in 2023 will help fill gaps in coverage and reduce financial barriers to obtaining necessary dental treatment.
Canada Child Dental Benefit
The current Canada dental benefit program launched in 2022 explicitly targets dental coverage for children under 12 years old from lower-income families. This Canada child dental benefit provides up to $650 per child annually to help pay for their dental treatment costs.
To qualify for the Canada Child dental benefit, the child must meet specific criteria, including age, no access to private insurance, adjusted family income under $90,000, and the parent/guardian receiving Canada Child Benefit payments.
This new Canada child dental benefit aims to improve dental coverage for children and reduce the number of cavities and untreated decay. It provides financial assistance for parents struggling to afford expensive pediatric dental bills. Expanding public dental benefits for children remains a priority for the federal government.
Who will be covered when the Canada Dental Benefit expands in 2023?
In 2023, the Canada dental benefit program will be expanded to cover additional groups beyond children under 12. Based on the government’s announcement, the major new groups gaining coverage appear to be:
Children under age 18 (previously only under 12 were covered)
Seniors aged 65+
Disabled persons (criteria TBD)
The expanded program is expected to include an income test similar to the existing children’s coverage. So, middle-class families with income below $90,000/year will likely see new dental benefits in 2023.
Full details are still to be announced regarding eligibility and rollout timelines for the significant expansion of Canada’s national dental program starting next year. However, the goal is broader coverage across age categories for low and middle-income Canadians.
Canada Dental Benefit Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Canada Dental Benefit, families need to fulfill the following requirements:
Age of the Child
The child must meet age requirements as of the specified dates to qualify for that particular CDB period:
For Period 1, covering dental treatment from October 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the child must have been born on or after January 1, 2012. This means the child needs to be under 12 years old as of December 1, 2022.
For Period 2, covering July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, the child must have been born on or after July 2, 2011. Therefore, the child must be under 12 as of July 1, 2023, to meet this requirement.
Dental Care Received in Canada
The Canada Dental Benefit provides coverage for dental treatment received within Canada. To be eligible, the child must have visited a licensed dental care provider within Canada and received care during the specified benefit period being applied for.
Both routine preventative treatments and significant dental work qualify as long as they are performed within the date ranges of the applicable Canada Dental Benefit period. Even if the specific appointment falls outside the period, as long as a bill is incurred for dental work performed during the benefit period, it meets this eligibility requirement.
No Access to Private Dental Insurance
The child must not have access to or be enrolled in a private dental insurance plan. This includes coverage through a parent or guardian’s employee benefit plan, an individual private plan, or any other form of private dental insurance.
The only exception is if the child only has access to a minimal private accident-only dental plan that covers hardly any routine or significant dental care. Coverage under a comprehensive private dental plan would make the child ineligible for CDB payments.
Dental Costs Not Covered by Other Government Programs
The child’s dental treatments and services during the benefit period must not be 100% paid for under another government program. The family must incur some out-of-pocket costs to allow the Canada Dental Benefit coverage to apply.
If all dental costs are fully covered under provincial health plans or other government programs for children, the child will not qualify for CDB since there are no expenses left for the CDB to cover.
Family Income Under $90,000
The adjusted family net income of the parent or guardian applying for the Canada Dental Benefit must be less than $90,000 in the correct tax year to meet eligibility:
For Period 1, adjusted family net income for the 2021 tax year must be under $90,000
For Period 2, adjusted family net income for the 2022 tax year must be under $90,000
This income is confirmed by the Canada Revenue Agency when they process the Canada Dental Benefit application.
Receiving Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Dental Benefit applicant must be receiving either full or partial Canada Child Benefit payments from the Canada Revenue Agency for that child as of the specified date:
As of December 1, 2022, for Period 1
As of July 1, 2023, for Period 2
They can apply for shared child custody situations as long as the parent or guardian receives at least partial Canada Child Benefit amounts for the child.
Canadian Residency and Taxes Filed
If applicable, the applicant and their spouse or common-law partner must meet Canadian residency requirements. They must have also filed their taxes for the correct year:
For Period 1 – 2021 tax year filed
For Period 2 – 2022 tax year filed
Maximum Payments Not Yet Received
Finally, the applicant must not have already received the maximum of 2 Canada Dental Benefit payments total for that child across both coverage periods. The number of CDB payments received per child will be verified by the Canada Revenue Agency during application processing.
In summary, a child must meet all the above Canada Dental Benefit eligibility rules for the CDB application to be approved and payments issued to the parent or guardian. If any criteria are not satisfied, the Canada Revenue Agency will reject the application during processing.
How much is the Canada Dental Benefit?
The Canada Dental Benefit payment amount provided depends on the adjusted family net income:
Adjusted Family Net Income | Benefit Amount per Child |
Less than $70,000 | $650 |
$70,000 – $79,999 | $390 |
$80,000 – $89,999 | $260 |
$90,000 or more | Not eligible |
Each eligible parent/guardian can receive up to 50% of the applicable benefit amount for shared custody situations.
A maximum of two payments can be provided per eligible child over the course of the CDB program – one per benefit period.
How to Apply for Canada Dental Benefit
To apply for Canada Dental Benefit, parents or guardians should apply to the Canada Revenue Agency’s online Canada Revenue Agency platform. This is the fastest and most efficient method to submit an application and receive Canada Dental Benefit payments.
Before starting an online application, have the following information ready:
Full name of the child’s dental care provider, along with their complete address and phone number
The date of the child’s dental appointment that falls within the CDB coverage period
The full legal name, address, and phone number of your current employer (and your spouse’s employer, if applicable)
Your direct deposit banking information to receive the CDB payment electronically
It is highly recommended to set up direct deposit with the Canada Revenue Agency before applying if you have not already done so. This enables fast electronic deposits of the CDB amount directly into your bank account.
You must electronically sign an attestation confirming your eligibility for the Canada Dental Benefits program during the application process. Applications are typically processed within 5-10 business days if submitted online.
You must retain all dental receipts and documents for the treatments performed on your child for 6 years. Canada Revenue Agency may request these receipts to verify eligibility if your application is selected for further validation.
If you cannot apply online, alternatively apply over the phone by contacting the Canada Revenue Agency’s individual tax enquiries line at 1-800-959-8281. Phone applications take longer to process.
Critical Canada Dental Benefit application deadlines:
Period 1 (October 2022 – June 2023) closed June 30, 2023
Period 2 (July 2023 – June 2024) is open until June 30, 2024
Submit your application promptly within the current benefit period to receive the Canada Dental Benefit payments for that time frame.
When to Expect Canada Dental Benefit Payments
If eligible, Canada Dental Benefit payments will be issued as follows:
Direct deposit: 5-10 business days
By cheque: 10-12 business days
Payments are tax-free and do not need to be reported as income.
Any dental expenses claimed as the amount of Canada Dental Benefit payment received must reduce medical expenses.
Repaying Canada Dental Benefit Amounts
Applicants who receive Canada Dental Benefit payments but later determine they were ineligible will need to repay the amounts received. This includes situations such as:
- The child did not end up receiving dental care during the benefit period
- The child had access to private dental insurance
- Another government program covered the child’s dental expenses
- The family did not meet the eligibility criteria
To repay, individuals need to determine the amount received for each ineligible child and make a repayment to the Canada Revenue Agency. Options include:
- Online banking
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Mailing a cheque
- In-person at a Canada Revenue Agency office
Voluntary repayments can allow individuals to re-apply for future benefit periods. Providing false or misleading information to obtain Canada Dental Benefit payments can result in penalties.
Transition to Expanded Dental Care Coverage
The Canada Dental Benefit is an interim program until a more comprehensive national dental care program is implemented.
As part of the 2022 Federal Budget, the government announced plans to expand dental coverage to families with under $90,000 annual income, starting with children under 12 in 2023. Full implementation is expected by 2025.
The proposed Canada Dental Care Plan would include:
Dental coverage for children under 12 within families earning less than $90,000/year
Expansion to children under 18, seniors, and disabled persons starting in 2023
Full implementation by 2025 to provide dental coverage to families earning less than $90,000/year
No details have been released yet on how the expanded Canada Dental Care Plan would be administered or how it would relate to the interim Canada Dental Benefit program. However, the government has indicated this is a priority and more details are expected in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions about Canada Dental Benefit
1. Who administers the Canada Dental Benefit?
The Canada Revenue Agency administers the Canada Dental Benefit. Families apply through Canada Revenue Agency, and payments are issued directly by Canada Revenue Agency.
2. How often can I apply for the Canada Dental Benefit?
Families can receive up to 2 payments total for each eligible child over the course of the program – 1 payment per benefit period. The two benefit periods are October 2022 to June 2023 and July 2023 to June 2024.
3. What dental expenses are covered under CDB?
The Canada Dental Benefit provides up to $650 per child regardless of dental costs. Families do not have to submit dental receipts or expenses. However, the child must have received or will receive dental treatment within the benefit period.
4. What if my child didn’t go for their dental appointment?
If your child misses their dental appointment or does not receive dental care during the benefit period, you must repay any Canada Dental Benefit amounts received. Parents would have to return the payment amount voluntarily.
5. Can I apply for the Canada Dental Benefit if I already have private dental insurance?
No, your child must not have access to private dental insurance, such as through a parent’s workplace benefit plan. Exceptions may apply for very minimal.