Transition Child Benefit in Ontario: The Payment That Bridges the Gap for Kinship Caregivers

The Benefit Nobody Tells You About

When a grandparent or relative files CRA Form RC66 to claim the Canada Child Benefit and Ontario Child Benefit for a child who has just moved into their home, the CRA's processing time can stretch to several months. During that waiting period, the caregiver is paying for the child's food, clothing, and school supplies out of pocket — often on a fixed pension income.

The Transition Child Benefit exists to fill that gap. It pays up to $230 per month per child through your local Ontario Works office while the CRA processes your CCB/OCB application or while your OCB is delayed or reduced. But many kinship caregivers never hear about it, because caseworkers do not always volunteer the information.

Who Qualifies for the TCB

The Transition Child Benefit is available to caregivers who meet all three conditions:

1. You receive Ontario Works or ODSP in your own right — the TCB is delivered through the OW/ODSP system, so you need to be in the system as an adult recipient (not just receiving TCA for the child)
2. The child lives with you and is included in your benefit unit
3. The Ontario Child Benefit has not yet started or is currently reduced — either because your RC66 is still being processed, the CRA has not yet recognised you as the primary caregiver, or your OCB has been temporarily reduced due to a tax return delay

If you are receiving only TCA (Temporary Care Assistance on behalf of the child) and are not personally on OW or ODSP, the TCB may not apply to your situation. The TCB is designed as a bridge payment within the adult social assistance system.

How Much and How Long

The TCB pays up to $230 per month per child under eighteen. It is available when OCB is delayed or reduced, and the amount is capped at $230 per month per child. Ask the OW caseworker to confirm the amount and end date for your benefit unit.

The TCB is set out in Ontario Regulation 134/98, section 49, and operationalised through OW Directive 7.6. It is not discretionary — if you meet the criteria, your caseworker is required to include it in your benefit calculation.

How to Get It

The TCB should be calculated automatically when your caseworker adds the child to your OW or ODSP benefit unit and notes that the OCB has not yet commenced. In practice, "should" and "does" are not always the same. Steps to ensure you receive it:

1. Tell your caseworker that you have filed Form RC66 but the CCB/OCB has not started yet
2. Ask specifically about the Transition Child Benefit under Directive 7.6
3. Provide your RC66 confirmation or CRA processing acknowledgement as evidence of the pending application
4. Confirm that the child has been added to your benefit unit

If your caseworker is unfamiliar with the TCB, the reference is OW Directive 7.6 and O. Reg. 134/98 section 49.

What Happens When the OCB Starts

Once the CRA begins paying the Ontario Child Benefit, the TCB may adjust or stop because it is provided when OCB is delayed or reduced. Confirm the change with your OW caseworker when OCB payments begin.

The transition is handled by your OW caseworker based on CRA payment notifications. There is nothing additional you need to file — but keep your caseworker informed when OCB payments begin so the TCB adjustment happens on time.

Our Ontario Kinship Financial Help guide includes a timeline tracker covering the full sequence from RC66 filing through CCB/OCB commencement, with the TCB bridging period mapped out so you can follow every payment from application to arrival.

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