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Canada Learning Bond (RESP)

Home Living Here Living with Low-IncomeCanada Learning Bond (RESP)

Learn how to get the Canada Learning Bond

Get up to $2,000 for education after high school from the Government of Canada.

The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is money from the Government of Canada for education after high school. This money is deposited into a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and no deposit of your own money is ever required to get the CLB.

Parents can apply for the Canada Learning Bond for their children, public caregivers can apply for children in care, and young adults who turned 18 in 2022 (or later) can apply for themselves (adult beneficiaries).

Who can get a Canada Learning Bond?

The CLB is available for children and youth from modest income families who were born in 2004 or later. Qualifying income information is available from the Government of Canada.

Attend a Canada Learning Bond sign-up event!

The Region of Durham Social Services Department is organizing Canada Learning Bond sign-up events. Open a free RESP and access the Canada Learning Bond for your child!

Please bring Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) AND valid proof of identification for both you and your child.

Representatives from Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be present at all events. Join us to learn about tax-related credits and benefits and other CRA services.

The Service Canada representative can issue SINs on-site if you bring two documents:

A valid primary identity document, such as your Birth Certificate, Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, Certificate of Indian Status, Permanent Resident Card, and/or Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
A valid secondary identity document, such as a passport or provincial or territorial identification.

Visit Social Insurance Number – Apply - Canada.ca to learn about what to bring to get your SIN.

Canada Learning Bond Event Details

Location	Date	Time
Beaverton Town Hall 397 Simcoe Street, Beaverton	Thursday, November 16, 2023	12 to 5 p.m.
Lakeview Harbourside Community Room 1529 Ritson Road South, Oshawa	Monday, November 20, 2023	1 to 6 p.m.
Clarington Public Libraries - Bowmanville Branch 163 Church Street, Bowmanville	Wednesday, November 22, 2023	1 to 6 p.m.

For more information about these events, email LivingwithLowIncome@Durham.ca.

What do I need to get a Canada Learning Bond?

The child/youth must be a resident of Canada, have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) and be named in an Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). A parent or caregiver opening an RESP will also need a SIN and birth verification for themselves.

You can watch our short videos on how to get a SIN and how to get a Birth Certificate below.

There is a section of frequently asked questions for adult beneficiaries below.

How do I sign up?

Open an RESP with a bank, credit union or RESP provider of your choice and ask for a no fee, no deposit RESP and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB).

You can also go to MySmartFuture.org to start your application online.

Then what happens?

It will take a couple of months to process, but once the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) application is approved, the government will deposit $500 into the RESP and then $100 every year your child is eligible, up to $2,000 or until your child turns 15 years old.

The CLB is retroactive, so once the application is approved, your child will automatically get money for any years they were eligible, even for years before the RESP was opened. Previous year eligibility is determined by tax filing (find more information about supports to file income taxes).

There is no cost to apply for the CLB and every eligible child will receive at least $500 into to their RESP.

You can watch a short video about the Canada Learning Bond below.

Canada Learning Bonds for Children in Care – Toolkit for Primary Public Caregivers / Trousse d'outils pour les responsables publics

Did you turn 18 in 2022 (or since then)? You can apply for the CLB yourself. Learn more below

Our team can help! See our videos and resource links below

Note: Income thresholds referred to in the videos below refers to 2020 information. The family income eligibility threshold typically increases every year, and we make efforts to keep the printed information on this page updated. You can access current income threshold information from the Government of Canada.

Video: Getting the Canada Learning Bond for your child	Video: Getting a Birth Certificate for the Canada Learning Bond

Please note: smartsaver.org is now MySmartFuture.org Find Canada Learning Bond information from the Government of Canada	Learn about applying for an Ontario Birth Certificate online, by mail, by fax, or in person. For children born in Canada, but outside of Ontario, please scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions section on this page.
Video: Getting a Social Insurance Number for the Canada Learning Bond

Learn about applying for a SIN online, by mail, or in person. Learn about the primary identification requirements to get a Social Insurance Number for Canadian citizens, permanent and temporary residents. If you have specific questions about getting a Social Insurance Number that are not answered in the resources above, you can contact Service Canada directly through the eServiceCanada portal.

Get information about free tax filing for low income residents in Durham.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about identification

Q: Can I get an RESP and/or the identification I need virtually?

A: Yes. Many financial institutions and RESP providers are offering options for families to open RESPs virtually. For more information about this, you can contact the financial institution or RESP provider you want to work with directly, or use the MySmartFuture.org portal. There are also ways to access both a SIN and a Birth Certificate virtually so you can safely get the ID you need. The videos above offer additional information and you can reach out to us directly with questions or to get additional support to safely start saving for your child’s education today.

Q: Do I need both a birth certificate and a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for parent and child(ren) to get a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)?

A: You need birth verification and a SIN for both parent and child(ren) to get a RESP. If you or your child do not have a SIN, a birth certificate is considered a primary source identification document and can be used to get the SIN when the application is made to Service Canada.

If you have a SIN and a document that verifies your and/or your child’s birthdate, that will likely be acceptable to the RESP provider, but you can always double check with the provider before your appointment (virtual or in person) to complete your RESP paperwork.

There are videos on this page that outline the process and supports available for getting both a SIN and a Birth Certificate if you would like more information. If you have any questions, please reach out to us.

Q: How do I get the ID I need for my child to get the Canada Learning Bond (CLB)?

A: There are videos on this page that outline the various ways that you can get the ID you need for the CLB. Take a look at those and, if you have questions, contact us and we can help.

Q: My child was born in another province; how do I get a birth certificate?

A: You will need to contact the Vital Statistics Department of the province where your child was born and request a birth certificate.

If your child was born in Canada but not in Ontario, you must contact the Vital Statistics Office in the province or territory where your child was born.

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Northwest Territories

If you have any questions or need some additional support, please reach out to us at the contact information on this page.

Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) Information

Q: Can my child have more than one RESP in their name?

A: There is no limit to the number of RESPs that a child can have opened in their name. Anyone can open a RESP for a child: parent, grandparent, other family, friends, etc.

However, only the primary caregiver (typically the person receiving the Canada Child Benefit) for the child can apply for the Canada Learning Bond (CLB). Income eligibility for the CLB is determined by the family income of the child’s primary caregiver, no matter who may have opened the RESP. The CLB will only be deposited into one RESP per child.

Q: My child already has a RESP but I got a letter from the Government, what does that mean?

A: If your child already has a RESP opened in their name but you received the CLB letter from the federal government, this suggests that the CLB has not been added to that RESP for any children named in the letter. Contact your RESP provider and request the CLB be added to the RESP. This may require the primary caregiver signing an additional form but doesn’t require opening a new RESP. On the off-chance that the RESP provider you are working with doesn’t offer the CLB (there are a few RESP providers who don’t), you can open another RESP for your child with a RESP provider who does offer the CLB – for example the bank or financial institution or another RESP provider of your choice – you can ask about the CLB before opening.

Q: I think that we have a RESP but I’m not sure who we opened it with, how can I find out?

A: Questions about the status of RESPs can be directed to the Federal Government RESP/Canada Education Savings Program toll free number 1-888-276-3624.

Q: What if my child isn’t sure what they want to do when they are done high school? Will we lose this money? What if they don’t go to post-secondary at all?

A: RESPs can stay open for 36 years, which is lots of time for kids to decide on their educational future. If the RESP is closed, all funds deposited by the Government will be returned to the Government. Any personal contributions are returned to the plan owner with interest. These are good conversations to have with the RESP provider you choose when you open your RESP.

Q: If I open an RESP to access the CLB, will I also qualify for other matching funds from the Government of Canada?

A: Personal deposits into an RESP qualify for the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). The CESG is another way the Government of Canada provides money for your child's education after high school. When any personal deposits are made into an RESP, the Government adds a percentage of that deposit to help your child's savings grow faster.

Everyone can get Canada Education Savings Grants, but how much the Government adds depends on your family's net income after taxes. The lifetime maximum CESG a child can receive is $7200.

Any government funds deposited into an RESP must be returned to the government if the RESP is closed and the beneficiary does not attend education after high school.

Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

Q: My son is 13, since the CLB only pays until he turns 15, is it even worth it for me to apply?

A: If you apply now and your child qualifies for the CLB, they will have potential eligibility for up to the full $2,000 of the bond. That is because the CLB is automatically retroactive. This means that once eligibility has been determined, $500 is deposited into the RESP, and then your child will qualify for $100 more per year for every year between when they were born and when they turn 15 (if your family income qualified in those years). This includes any years before the RESP was opened. The maximum amount any child can receive from the CLB is $2,000, but even children who apply when they are 13 or 14 can potentially get the full $2,000 based on their family income over the years between their birth and age 15. Family income levels are determined by tax filing data.

Q: I have three children and only received two letters from the Government, and the dollar values are different on each letter. Why is that?

A: Only children born 2004 and later can get the CLB, so if one of your children was born prior to that year, that may be why no letter was received for them. But if you didn’t get a letter for a child who should qualify, just go ahead and open the RESP and apply for the CLB for all your children. The government will do the matching in the background and any eligible child will get the CLB deposited into the RESP.

In terms of the amount each child is eligible for, that may be different if one is older than the other. Once a child qualifies for the CLB, the first deposit is $500. The CLB is automatically retroactive; this means that once eligible, your child will qualify for $100 more per year for every year between when they were born and when they turn 15 (if your family income qualified in those years). This includes any years before the RESP was opened. The maximum amount any child can received from the CLB is $2,000. Family income is determined using tax filing data.

Q: How long will it take for the money to get into my RESP?

A: Once an application is made, it can take up to three months to get the bond deposited.

Q: I applied for the CLB before, but I don’t think that I got it. How can I find out?

A: Questions about eligibility for previous applications can be directed to the Federal Government RESP/Canada Education Savings Program toll free number 1-888-276-3624.

Status in Canada

Q: I have a temporary Social Insurance Number, can I open a RESP and get the CLB for my children?

A: Yes, as long as both parent and child(ren) have a social insurance number (SIN). This includes temporary SIN numbers that begin with "9". If a parent's temporary SIN is not renewed, the parent can withdraw their own contributions from the RESP, but any Government deposits will be returned to the Government. To be eligible to receive the Canada Learning Bond, a family’s income must qualify. If you would like more information about how to get a SIN, please see the video and other information on this page.

Child Custody

Q: I have custody of my grandchild, I get Temporary Care Allowance and the CCB. Can I open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and get the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) for my grandchild?

A: You do not need to have custody of a child to open a RESP for them, anyone can open a RESP for a child.

For the CLB, if you have custody of a child, getting the CLB should not be a problem if the child was born in 2004 or later and, as the primary caregiver, your family income qualifies.

You and the child will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). If the child doesn’t have one, or you don’t know what it is, you will to need to provide Service Canada with court documents indicating you have custody of the child and the child’s birth certificate to request either a new SIN or a reconfirmation of an existing SIN – both processes are the same. If a birth certificate or replacement is required to get the SIN, the application process is similar and will require court documents indicating you have custody. Please refer to the information on this page about accessing both SIN and Birth Certificates for families in your circumstances and, if you have any other questions, please reach out to us at the contact information this page.

MySmartFuture.org (formerly SmartSaver.org)

Q: What is MySmartFuture.org?

A: MySmartFuture.org (formerly SmartSaver.org) is a not-for-profit online tool that works to connect eligible families and Adult Beneficiaries with the Canada Learning Bond. You can use their online portal to connect with the RESP provider of your choice. You will be asked to create an account, provide basic contact information, and select the provider you would like to work with. Some RESP providers can offer you the option of completing the RESP and CLB application virtually, either online, over the phone or through the mail. The portal lets you know which institutions provide which services, so you can choose.

There is no cost to use any of the tools at MySmartFuture.org.

Tax Filing

Q: What does tax filing have to do with the CLB?

A: Tax filing information is used by the Government to determine if your family income is eligible for the CLB. A child is eligible for the CLB if they were born in 2004 or later AND their family income qualifies. If you haven’t filed taxes, there is no way for the Government to determine your child’s financial eligibility.

Get information about free tax filing for low income residents in Durham at durham.ca/fileyourtaxes.

Frequently Asked Questions for Adult Beneficiaries

Were you born in 2004 (or later) and are now turning 18? You can apply for the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) for yourself.

Q: What does that mean?

A: 2022 was the first year that anyone eligible for the CLB turned 18, and as an adult, you can apply for the CLB yourself.

All other eligibility requirements for the CLB are the same: you need an RESP for the money to be deposited into, you must be born in or after 2004, your family income must meet the income threshold for the eligible years, you need a social insurance number and verification of your birth date. You do not need to add any of your own money to the RESP to get the CLB.

You can apply for the CLB until the day before your 21st birthday.

Q: The CLB only pays until the beneficiary turns 15, so how does this work for me to apply after I turn 18?

A: You must have been born in 2004 or later. Then, your eligibility for the CLB is determined by the income circumstances in your family in the years between your birth and age 15.

The CLB is retroactive, that means that if you had any eligibility in the qualifying years – birth to age 15, you can apply now to receive that money. If you qualified for any years in that time, you would qualify for $500 for the first year, and $100/year for any other qualifying years – up to a maximum of $2000.

If you were born in 2004 or later, you can apply for the CLB until the day before your 21^st birthday.

Q: I don’t know if my family income qualified – how can I figure that out?

A: You don’t need to. When you apply, the Federal Government will determine any eligibility through income tax records filed by your primary caregiver(s). You do not need to provide any other information with your application.

Q: I don’t know how to open a RESP, where can I get help?

A: You can open an RESP with a bank, credit union or RESP provider of your choice and ask for a no fee, no deposit RESP and the CLB.

MySmartFuture.org provides information about opening an RESP for yourself, the CLB, and a portal to start the application online.

To get the RESP you will need a SIN and verification of your birth date.

If you need help to get the ID, there is information on this page, and you can reach out to us at the contact information on the page. We are happy to help.

Q: I have a RESP that was opened for me when I was younger, but I don’t know if I ever got the CLB. Is it too late to apply?

A: No, once you are 18, you can apply for the CLB yourself. You and whomever opened the RESP (the subscriber) can request that your RESP provider have any CLB funds you may be eligible for deposited into your existing RESP.

Or you can open a new RESP for yourself and designate the CLB to be paid into that account.

Q: How long will all this take – is it even worth it?

A: You would have to work 129 hours at minimum wage to earn $2000.

Opening the RESP involves making an appointment with a bank or an RESP promoter of your choice – in person or online - working with them to fill out some forms, then waiting for the application to be processed and any funds you are eligible for to be deposited into the RESP.

The application process may take up to three months. Then the funds you are eligible for will be deposited into the RESP. Your RESP promoter can advise you on the process of withdrawing funds from an RESP.

If you have any additional questions about the Canada Learning Bond, and how to access or qualify, or to schedule an appointment to complete the online birth certificate application with one of our staff, please reach out to us at the contact information below.

We are happy to help you access the Canada Learning Bond and start saving for your child’s education today.

Contact us for more information:

Email: LivingwithLowIncome@durham.ca

Call toll-free: 1-888-721-0622