Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Child benefits

Definition

Payments received by parents or guardians with dependent children from various federal, provincial and territorial child benefit programs during the reference period.

For the 2021 Census, this includes the one-time payment of $300 per child issued to Canada Child Benefit recipients as of April 2020. This one-time federal child benefit payment was aimed at providing income support to families in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For the 2021 Census, the reference period for income data is the calendar year 2020, unless otherwise specified.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (100% data); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986 and 1981 (20% sample). For availability prior to 1981, refer to Appendix 2.1.

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over in private households

Question number(s)

Variable derived based on administrative tax and benefit records received from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Responses

Positive dollar value or nil

Remarks

See 'Remarks' under total income.

See also income sources and the detailed definitions for each of the components: federal child benefits and provincial and territorial child benefits.

For more information, please refer to Appendix 2.4 Components of income in 2020.

Excludes orphans' benefits and payments for foster children.

For additional information about COVID-19 benefits, data collection method, coverage, reference period, concepts, data quality and intercensal comparability of the income data, refer to the Income Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Note(s)