Here's when Canadians can expect benefit payments in February 2025

Canadians can look forward to several provincial and federal government benefit payment dates in February 2025.

With high grocery prices, housing costs and a generally soaring cost of living, money is tight for everyday Canadians.

Food bank usage has hit record highs, and heightening unemployment makes a challenging situation even more difficult for many individuals and families.

However, some benefits are available that can help alleviate the stress on your wallet a little.

Canadians are already taking advantage of the federal holiday tax break until February 15 — here's a list of things the tax break applies to. However, there are more opportunities to get money from the federal and provincial governments in February.

If you're eligible, ensure your direct deposit is enabled as you look forward to the following.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Canadian parents eligible to receive child tax payments can expect the money to arrive in their accounts on February 20.

Child tax payments increased by 4.7 per cent in the summer of 2024. This means the maximum benefit for children under six increased by $350, from $7,437 to $7,787. For children aged six to 17, it increased by $295, from $6,275 to $6,570.

Another much-needed federal child tax booster will come to all eligible Canadian parents in six months when the new benefit year begins in July 2025.

The CCB program underwent a dramatic rule change in January. The rest of child benefit payment dates for 2025 have also been announced.

B.C. Family Benefit and bonus

If you live in B.C., you might also receive the provincial Family Benefit on February 20, with a bonus.

The 25 per cent bonus on the Family Benefit kicked in in July 2024 and will apply until June 2025.

The benefit is paid monthly to about 340,000 families with children in the province via direct deposit or mailed cheques.

Eligible residents may receive a total annual amount of $2,188 for their first child, $1,375 for their second child, and $1,125 for each additional child until June 2025.

Payments will arrive in conjunction with the CCB, which drops on February 20.

Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)

The OTB is the combined tax-free payment of the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Northern Ontario Energy Credit and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit. It will go out on February 10.

You should be eligible for at least one of the three credits to receive money.

For the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, you could get a maximum of $1,248 if you are between 18 and 64 years old, $1,421 if you are 65 or older, $277 if you live on a reserve or in a public long-term care home, and $25 for the time you lived in a designated college, university or private school residence in 2023, according to the province's website.

The Northern Ontario Energy Credit allows singles to receive a maximum of $180 and families to receive a maximum of $277.

Finally, in the case of the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, you can receive up to $360 and may receive an additional credit of up to $360 for your spouse or common-law partner and each dependent child who is under 19 years of age on the first day of the payment month. The credit doesn't impact your GST/HST credit payments.

Alberta child and family benefit (ACFB)

Each year, Albertan lower- and middle-income families with kids receive four ACFB payments beginning in February. The first one for 2025 will arrive on February 27.

To be eligible for the ACFB, you must be a parent of one or more children under 18, be a resident of Alberta, file a tax return and meet the income criteria.

If you qualify for the federal child benefit and file your annual tax return, you are already considered for the ACFB, so you don't need to sign up for something specific.

The amount your family receives under the ACFB will depend on your family's income level and how many children under 18 you have.

"The ACFB includes a base component and a working component. The ACFB's base component is available to lower-income families with children, whether or not they earn any employment income," reads the official provincial website.

"Families are also eligible for the working component if their family employment income exceeds $2,760, with the amount received growing at a rate of 15 per cent for every additional dollar of income earned over this threshold until the maximum benefit is reached. As families work more they receive more benefits, encouraging them to join or remain in the workforce."

Maximum benefit amounts may change starting July 1, 2025, with the new benefit year.