The Ontario government is providing additional financial support for people up to and including those in Grade 12 whether they are currently in school or not, including people in secondary school aged 18 or over. Funding is also available to people up to and including age 21 with special needs.
The payment used to be made under the Support for Learners Program and it is now called the Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit. Parents and guardians, as well as secondary students aged 18 or over, will be eligible for a payment of:
- $400 for each person up to and including those in Grade 12
- $500 for each person up to and including age 21 with special needs
A person with special needs is:
- any person reported to be receiving special education programs or services by their school board
- any person enrolled in licensed child care reported to be receiving special needs funding or support
- any person identified as having a special need
Note that the government has indicated that people who are identified as gifted but who do not have any other special needs are not considered to have special needs under this program.
Payments will be automatic for people who received money through the previous Support for Learners program. However, former Support for Learners recipients who did not receive payments by April 23, 2021 will need to apply for the new Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit. Applications for the Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit will be open only from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.
More information can be found here.
If you are living with HIV and have legal questions, please contact HALCO. If you are not living with HIV, you can contact your local community legal clinic.