The Ontario government has announced that parents of secondary school students will be able to apply for a one-time $200 payment per child to help offset education costs during the second wave of the pandemic.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Tuesday, saying that parents of secondary students can apply for the payment between Jan. 11 to Feb. 8.

Secondary school parents who want to apply for the payment will be able to on the government's Support for Learner's website starting in January.

The payment will be available to parents of students aged 13 through until Grade 12.The government said the money will be deposited directly into parents' bank accounts approximately two weeks after their application is approved.

Parents of elementary school students were able to apply for a $200 payment earlier this year and are also able to apply for a second one now.

The deadline for parents of elementary school students to apply for the second $200 payment has been extended until Feb. 8, the government said. Parents of elementary school students were able to apply for a $200 payment earlier this year and are also able to apply for a second one now.

Credit Canada

As a non-profit agency, our mission is to put people first, and we have stood by that rule as we have grown from one small office in Toronto into a national organization. Today, our debt consolidation and financial education programs benefit individuals, families, and communities everywhere.

Get 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 deadline to apply is January 15, 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

We do not consider students who are identified as being solely gifted 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. We will only accept one application per child.

Only a parent or guardian who has custody of the child can apply. It is up to the child’s parents or guardians to determine who will apply. We will not accept more than one application per child.

Apply now