Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Alberta: Financial Help Available

The Money Depends on Your Care Arrangement

Alberta does not have a single "grandparent benefit." What you can claim depends entirely on whether your arrangement is informal, a formal kinship placement through Children and Family Services, or a court-ordered private guardianship. Each track opens different doors — and closes others.

An informal arrangement where a grandchild simply moves in gives you access to federal and provincial tax-delivered benefits. A formal kinship placement through CFS gives you daily per diems but blocks you from the Canada Child Benefit while the child is in government care. A Private Guardianship Order after government care gives you both the per diems (through SFP) and the federal benefits.

Federal Benefits: CCB and ACFB

The Canada Child Benefit pays up to $8,157 per year for a child under 6, or $6,883 for a child aged 6–17 (July 2026–June 2027 rates). It is non-taxable, exempt from Alberta Income Support calculations, excluded from AFNI, and does not reduce SFP basic maintenance. As an informal or private guardian caregiver, you claim it by filing CRA Form RC66 with evidence of primary care — a school enrollment letter or a note from the child's doctor can support your claim.

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit adds up to $1,529 per year for one child (base component) plus a working component if you have employment income. It arrives quarterly in February, May, August, and November. No separate application is needed — the CRA pays it automatically once your tax return and CCB status are processed.

Provincial Supports for Formal Arrangements

Grandparents in a formal kinship placement through CFS receive daily per diems ranging from $26.00 to $39.66 depending on the child's age, plus setup grants and supplementary allowances. Those who obtain a Private Guardianship Order for a child who was under a PGO or PGA may qualify for the Supports for Permanency program. Basic maintenance is subject to a $180,000 gross household income test for orders granted on or after September 1, 2025, except for existing recipients and families whose court applications were filed on or before February 28, 2025. Other supports include respite care, counselling, and emotional support funding.

Income Support and Emergency Help

If your pension income is low enough, you may qualify for Alberta Income Support — but the province tests your entire household income, including CPP, OAS, and GIS. There is no standalone "child-only" Income Support grant for informal caregivers in Alberta. For urgent needs, the Emergency Needs Allowance through Alberta Supports can cover food, utility arrears, or shelter costs: call the 24/7 line at 1-866-644-5135.

Getting the Full Picture

The financial landscape is complicated because three levels of government and at least four different agencies are involved. Our Alberta kinship financial help guide maps every payment to every arrangement type, includes the forms and evidence you need, and gives you a tracking log to keep everything organised.

See more Alberta guides →