Canada Dental Care Plan for Kinship Caregivers: CDCP Eligibility and How to Apply

The Dental Benefit Changed — Here's What Replaced It

The temporary Canada Dental Benefit — which paid direct cash refunds of up to $650 per year for children under 12 — is closed. The current Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) works differently. Instead of cash, it covers dental treatment directly through a network of participating providers managed by Sun Life Financial.

For grandparents and kinship caregivers, the CDCP means dental visits for a child in your care can be covered with no out-of-pocket cost, depending on your household income.

Who Qualifies

A child under 18 qualifies for the CDCP if:

• They reside in Canada
• They don't have access to private dental insurance (through your employer plan, your spouse's plan, or any other private coverage)
• Your household Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) is under $90,000

The AFNI threshold is generous. Most grandparent-led households on pension income fall well below it.

Co-Payment Tiers

The CDCP doesn't charge premiums, but it does have co-payment tiers based on income:

• AFNI under $70,000: 100% coverage at CDCP fee rates — no co-pay
• AFNI $70,000 to $79,999: 60% coverage — you pay 40%
• AFNI $80,000 to $89,999: 40% coverage — you pay 60%

For a retired grandparent with AFNI under $70,000, dental visits for the child are fully covered at participating providers.

How to Apply

The relative caregiver receiving the Canada Child Benefit for the child applies on their behalf. You can apply online through the Health Canada / Sun Life portal or by calling the CDCP application line.

Once approved, Sun Life issues a CDCP member card for the child. You present this card at any participating dental clinic, and the provider bills Sun Life directly for covered services.

What's Covered

The CDCP covers standard dental services at its established fee schedule:

• Cleanings and examinations
• X-rays
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Some preventive treatments (fluoride, sealants)

Coverage details and fee schedules are set by the CDCP program — not by your individual provider. If a dentist charges above the CDCP fee schedule, you may owe the difference, so confirm with the clinic before the appointment.

Not every dentist participates in the CDCP. Check Sun Life's provider directory or call the clinic ahead of time to confirm they accept CDCP.

Timing With Your CCB Application

The CDCP uses your AFNI for income verification, which means your tax returns must be filed. If you're the relative receiving the CCB, apply for the child through My Service Canada Account or Canada.ca. If you can't use either online route, call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.

Our kinship caregiver guide covers the CDCP alongside the CCB, Child Disability Benefit, and Canada Learning Bond — the full package of federal support available when you're raising a relative's child.

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