At Embark, we want every family to know about the grants they may qualify for, as we apply for them on your behalf to get you every dollar you’re entitled to. The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) could add up to $2,000 to your child’s education savings at no cost to you. This is a government grant that goes straight into a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). You don’t need to put any money in yourself to receive it.
Key Takeaways
- The CLB gives eligible children up to $2,000 for post-secondary education.
- You don’t need to make any RESP contributions to receive it.
- To qualify, you must receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and meet household income limits.
- Your child needs a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and an open RESP.
- Retroactive payments are available if you missed earlier years.
- Youth aged 18–20 can apply for themselves.
What Is the Canada Learning Bond?
The CLB is a federal grant created to help lower-income families start saving for their child’s education after high school. The money comes from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and is deposited directly into your child’s RESP.
Whether your child plans to attend college, university, trade school, or another approved program, the CLB can help cover some of the costs. Unlike some other grants, you don’t need to contribute a single dollar to qualify.
Who Is Eligible?
Not every family will qualify, but the requirements are simple. To be eligible, your child must meet all of these conditions:
- Your child must have been born in 2004 or later.
- They must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
- You, the primary caregiver, must receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).
- Your household income must fall below a certain level.
- You must open an RESP with an approved provider.
For the 2025–2026 benefit year, the income cutoff is $57,375 for families with 1 to 3 children. Larger families may qualify at higher thresholds. These amounts are indexed and updated each year.
How Much Can Your Child Receive?
The CLB pays out up to $2,000 per child over time. It comes in two stages:
- $500 in the first year your child qualifies.
- $100 for each year after that, until they turn 15.
If your child qualifies from birth and stays eligible each year, they could receive the full $2,000. If they qualify later — say, at age 10 — they’d receive $500 the first year, then $100 each year until they turn 15, for a total of $1,000. Learn more about RESP age limits and contribution timing.
How to Apply for the CLB
Getting started takes just a few steps:
- Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for your child. You can apply at a Service Canada office or online.
- Choose an approved RESP provider — like a bank, credit union, or an education savings company like Embark.
- Open an RESP in your child’s name. You don’t need to make a deposit to qualify for the CLB.
- Apply for the CLB through your RESP provider. Once approved, the money is deposited directly into the account.
Embark automatically applies for the government grants your child may be eligible for when you open an RESP — no extra steps needed.
What If You Missed Earlier Years? Catch-Up Payments
If your child was eligible for the CLB in past years but never received it, you can still claim those payments. Retroactive amounts are paid as a lump sum for all eligible years, up to the lifetime maximum.
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 20 can also apply for the CLB on their own — they have until the day before their 21st birthday to do so. Their family’s income must have met the requirements during the years they were eligible as a child.
How the CLB Can Be Used
Once your child is enrolled in a qualifying post-secondary program, CLB funds are paid out as an Educational Assistance Payment (EAP). Here’s what you should know:
- EAPs are taxed in your child’s name, not yours.
- Since most students have little or no income while in school, they often pay little to no tax on these payments.
- The money can be used for tuition, textbooks, housing, transit passes, and even tools or equipment for trade programs.
Pairing the CLB With Other Education Grants
The CLB is just one of many grants available when you open an RESP. One of the key benefits of an RESP is that multiple grants can stack together to grow your child’s savings, even if your personal contributions are small.
Other federal grants include:
- The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), which matches 20% of your contributions — up to $500 a year and a lifetime total of $7,200.
- The Additional CESG, which adds an extra 10–20% on the first $500 contributed each year for lower and middle-income families.
Provincial grants are also available in some provinces, including the BC Training and Education Savings Grant and the Quebec Education Savings Incentive (QESI).
For example, a child who receives the CLB, the CESG, and a provincial grant could have thousands of dollars added to their RESP over time — even if the family only makes small regular contributions.
Start Today — Your Child’s Education Can’t Wait
The Canada Learning Bond is one of the simplest ways to give your child a head start. You don’t need to contribute a dollar to qualify — just open an RESP and apply.
The earlier you start, the more time the money has to grow. With Embark, opening an RESP takes about 8 minutes, and we handle the grant applications for you.
Open an RESP today and make sure your child doesn’t miss out on the government grants they may be eligible for.
