Canada Learning Bond
The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is a grant offered by the Government of Canada to help parents, friends, and family members save early for the post-secondary education of children in modest-income families.
Beyond the Canadian Education Savings Grant (CESG), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provides an additional incentive of up to $2,000 to help modest‑income families start saving early for their child's education after high school (post‑secondary education). The Canada Learning Bond (CLB)[1] money will be deposited directly into the child's Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
 | As of 2020, only 42% of eligible children have received this incentive[2] even though no RESP contributions are actually required to obtain it. |
Eligibility
The Canada Learning Bond is available to children:[3]
- born on or after January 1, 2004;
- who are residents of Canada;
- who have a valid Social Insurance Number; and
- who are from low-income families.
Children in care, for whom a Children's Special Allowance is payable, automatically qualify for the Canada Learning Bond.
What is modest-income
Beginning July 1, 2017, eligibility for the Canada Learning Bond is based on the number of qualified children and the adjusted net family income.[4] As of June 2025, the income eligibility amount is:[5]
Adjusted family income and eligibility for the CLB Number of children Adjusted income level 1 to 3 Less than or equal to $55,867 4 Less than $63,036 5 Less than $70,234
Historic information
For years prior to July 1, 2016, a child was eligible for the Canada Learning Bond if the primary caregiver was in receipt of the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) for the child.
From July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, a child was eligible for the Canada Learning Bond if the primary caregiver would have otherwise been in receipt of the NCBS for the child, had it continued to be paid for that period.
How much can I receive
For families with modest-income, the CLB will provide:
- an initial $500 to children born on or after January 1, 2004.
- Thereafter the CLB will also pay an additional $100 annually for up to 15 years for each year the family has modest-income.
To help cover the cost of opening an RESP for the child, ESDC will pay an extra $25 with the first $500 bond.
A child can get the Canada Learning Bond in an RESP even if you do not contribute any money to the plan.[6]
If the beneficiary does not pursue post‑secondary education, the CLB is returned to the Government of Canada.
Who should apply
The primary caregiver (the person who is responsible for the care and upbringing of the child) can apply for the Canada Learning Bond on behalf of the child. This is the person who is eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit in the child’s name. In many cases, the mother is considered the primary caregiver.[3]
If you don’t qualify for CLB, you can still apply and receive CLB in the future if your situation changes.
How to apply
Under the current rules, you must open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), through an RESP provider, before you can apply for the Canada Learning Bond on behalf of a child.[7]
Not all RESP providers offer the Canada Learning Bond, so make sure that your provider does.
Once your application is approved, the Government of Canada will directly deposit the Canada Learning Bond into the RESP every year that the child is eligible.
Auto-enrolment starting in 2028
Federal budget 2024 announced that starting in April 2028, the Government of Canada will automatically open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to receive the CLB for an eligible child (a child eligible to get the CLB) born in 2024 or later, with a valid Social Insurance Number, and that is not already named as a beneficiary of an RESP by age 4.[8]
The auto-enrolled RESPs will all be opened at the same provider (financial institution), which the government expects to select in 2026.[9] The money in those accounts will be invested in a single investment vehicle, probably a guaranteed one.[10] Further, parents won’t be able to make contributions or withdrawals from these accounts, unless they take them over.
In short, if you want to select the RESP provider yourself, decide how the money is invested, and make contributions/withdrawals, it is a better idea to proactively open a RESP account yourself, rather then wait for auto-enrolment to take effect.
References
- ^ Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Learning Bond (CLB), viewed July 28, 2017.
- ^ Employment and Social Development Canada, Program statistics, viewed November 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Learning Bond (CLB) - Eligibility, viewed July 28, 2017.
- ^ Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Learning Bond (CLB) eligibility criteria amendments, viewed July 28, 2017.
- ^ CLB amounts and eligibility criteria, viewed July 26, 2025.
- ^ Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Learning Bond – About the bond, viewed November 13, 2021.
- ^ Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Learning Bond - Apply, viewed July 28, 2017.
- ^ Government of Canada, How the Registered Education Savings Plan and related benefits work together, viewed July 25, 2025.
- ^ Investment Executive, Feds to pick one institution to provide autoenrolled RESPs, August 28, 2024, viewed July 25, 2025.
- ^ Investment Executive, Feds provide more detail on autoenrolled RESPs, August 22, 2024, viewed July 25, 2025.
External links
- Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Learning Bond
- Determing eligilibility for the CLB, [1]