Financial help when you are raising someone else’s child.
Taking on a child changes household costs immediately. Start with the programs most closely tied to caregiving responsibility, then use community navigation for needs that remain.
Guided help: Return to the Money & practical-needs route.
Start with the benefits that change when a child moves into your home.
CCB, the PEI Child Benefit, disability-related programs and CPP children's benefits all use different rules. These guides separate the questions so you can work through them one at a time.
Canadian benefits for kinship caregivers
See the major federal and PEI benefit systems in one place.
Open Canadian benefits guideA child moved in. What do I tell CRA?
CCB, PEI Child Benefit, shared custody, kinship-program rules and proof of caregiving.
Open CRA caregiver guideDisability-related benefits
DTC, Child Disability Benefit, Canada Caregiver Credit, disability transfers and RDSP.
Open disability-benefits guideCPP children's benefits
Check when a parent is receiving CPP disability or has died.
Open CPP children's benefits guideInformation reviewed September 2026. Program rules can change, so use the linked official source for eligibility and current requirements.
Start with the Canada Child Benefit
If someone other than a parent becomes the child's primary caregiver, CRA says that person may need to apply for child benefits for the child. A grandparent or guardian who is now primarily responsible for the child's care should not assume the parent's existing benefit automatically transfers.
You can apply through CRA's online child-benefit service or by using Form RC66. CRA may ask for documents showing that the child lives with you and that you are primarily responsible for their care.
If Child Protection is involved, ask about GACP
For eligible PEI placements, the GACP program can provide monthly financial compensation. The permanent placement stream requires the caregiver to apply for or already receive the Canada Child Benefit for the child.
Other programs may matter depending on the child
Child Care Subsidy
PEI's Child Care Subsidy can cover all or part of eligible child care costs. Eligibility and rates depend on household circumstances, and PEI provides an online calculator.
AccessAbility Supports
If the child has a qualifying physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory or mental disability with substantial daily-living impact, AccessAbility Supports may help with disability-related needs.
School food and school supports
PEI operates a school food program and other school-based supports. Ask the school what is currently available, especially if the placement caused sudden financial strain.
Community and emergency needs
211 PEI can help identify food, housing, transportation, clothing, recreation and other local supports that do not fit neatly into one government program.
Supported Adoption Program
If a grandparent, relative or other caregiver adopted a child who was in the permanent care of the Director of Child Protection, PEI’s separate Supported Adoption Program may provide maintenance or special supports in qualifying cases. Since November 2024, some families can ask about a post-adoption support agreement even after the adoption has already been finalized.
Read: Supported Adoption and relative adoptionDo not assume your age or retirement status disqualifies you
Many kinship caregivers are older adults, but child-related benefits and supports are usually based on the child's circumstances, the caregiving arrangement and the specific program rules. Ask rather than assuming you are ineligible because you are retired, own your home or have income from another source.
Keep proof of the child's move into your home
Useful records can include court orders, child protection documents, school records showing the child's address, medical records, benefit correspondence and written confirmation from professionals involved with the placement. CRA or another program may request evidence.
Build a realistic household-cost list
When a child arrives, costs can be easy to underestimate. Track food, clothing, transportation, school costs, child care, medication, recreation, bedroom furniture, technology, counselling and travel to appointments. This is useful when discussing support with a worker or applying for child-specific assistance.
Official starting points
Keep going with the next question.
Basic household needs
Find PEI housing, food, child care and transportation starting points.
Read: Basic household needsWhen a parent dies
CPP children's benefits may matter after the death of a parent.
Read: When a parent diesPlan the next step.
Work and caregiver leave
See PEI job-protected leave and federal EI caregiving benefits.
Read: Work and caregiver leavePermanency and adoption
Understand how long-term legal arrangements can affect the family.
Read: Permanency and adoptionKeep planning around the whole child.
Disability & additional needs
DTC and CDB may matter when a child has a severe and prolonged impairment.
Read: Disability & additional needsRESPs & education savings
A grandparent or other adult can help build post-secondary savings.
Read: RESPs & education savingsSports & recreation funding
Look for help with registration, equipment, camps and activities.
Read: Sports & recreation fundingMore help for the next part of this situation.
Taxes for caregivers
CCB and tax claims do not all follow the same eligibility rules.
Read: Taxes for caregiversChild support & MEP
An existing support order is separate from CCB, GACP and other benefits.
Read: Child support & MEPWhen a child returns home
Benefits may change when the child's primary home changes.
Read: When a child returns homeMoney, benefits and household costs
These guides cover the main financial systems that can change when a child moves into a kinship caregiver's home.
Taxes for kinship caregivers
Read Taxes for kinship caregiversChild support & Maintenance Enforcement
Read Child support & Maintenance EnforcementRESPs & education savings
Read RESPs & education savingsSports & recreation funding
Read Sports & recreation fundingHousing, food, child care & transportation
Read Housing, food, child care & transportationWork, caregiver leave & EI
Read Work, caregiver leave & EIHousing for grandfamilies in PEI
Read Housing for grandfamilies in PEICanadian benefits for kinship caregivers
Read Canadian benefits for kinship caregiversA child moved in: CRA & CCB
Read A child moved in: CRA & CCBDisability-related benefits for a child
Read Disability-related benefits for a childCPP children's benefits
Read CPP children's benefitsYou do not have to know which system to call first.
Tell Building GRAND-Families what you are trying to sort out and we can help point you toward reliable information and services.
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