Get Support for Learners
Learn about one-time funding for parents to help offset costs during the 2020-2021 school year. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.
The deadline to apply is February 8, 2021.
About Support for Learners
You can get financial support to help with additional costs during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19.
Eligible parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of:
- $200 for each child up to age 12
- $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs
The Support for Learners program has been expanded to students ages 13 to grade 12, including students who are in secondary school that are over 18. Applications will open on January 11, 2021.
The deadline to apply is February 8, 2021.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you are a resident of Ontario and a parent or guardian to a child:
- up to age 12
- up to age 21 if they have special needs
A child with special needs is:
- any student reported to be receiving special education programs or services by their school board
- any child enrolled in licensed child care reported to be receiving special needs funding or support
- any child identified as having a special need
Students who are identified as being solely gifted are not considered to have special needs under this program.
It doesn’t matter if your child is enrolled in school or child care. All children are eligible based on their age.
You are eligible if your child:
- attends a publicly funded school
- attends a private school
- attends a First Nation operated or federally operated school
- attends school in-person or online
- is homeschooled
- is enrolled in child care
- is at home
If you received funding under programs that are now closed, like the Support for Parents or Support for Families, you can still apply.
How to apply
You must submit a separate application for each child. Only one application per child will be accepted.
Only one parent or guardian may apply for each child. The parent or guardian should have custody of the child. This could include a parent or guardian with shared custody. It is up to the child’s parents or guardians to determine who will apply. We are not involved in these decisions.
Information you will need
When applying, you will need the following information for each child:
- the name of your child’s school and school board (if applicable)
- your child’s date of birth
- a valid email address
- your banking information (bank name, branch number and account number)
Your child’s information should match the school’s record.
Payments will be sent to the account of the parent or guardian who is applying – not to a child’s account.
There could be a delay or deny your payment if the information you provide is incomplete or inaccurate.
Payment options
You can get your payment through:
- e-transfer
- direct deposit
The easiest way to receive your payment is through e-transfer.
Before beginning the application, make sure that you have your banking information ready. You will need your:
- bank name
- branch number
- account number
If you cannot provide banking information and need a cheque, you can make a special request in your application, but it will take us longer to send you your payment.
After you apply
It will take approximately two weeks to receive your payment.
You will receive an email confirmation and application reference number within one to three days after sending your application. Be sure to check your junk mail folder if you do not receive the confirmation email.
Please record each child’s application confirmation number for future reference.
Each application is verified, processed and paid separately. That means you may not receive payments at the same time for a family with more than one child.
Source: Support for Learners page
