We will not text you

The Government of Ontario will not contact you through text message about your Catch Up Payments. If you receive a text message regarding Catch Up Payments that includes a hyperlink, do not click the link. It’s a scam.

About Catch Up Payments

You can get financial support to help with the costs of your child’s tutoring, supplies or equipment during the 2022–23 school year. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time payment of:

  • $200 for each student between kindergarten and Grade 12, up to age 18
  • $250 for each student with special education needs between kindergarten and Grade 12, up to age 21

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.EST.

Eligibility

Who may apply

You are eligible to apply if you live in Ontario and are a:

  • parent or guardian to a student from kindergarten to Grade 12
  • secondary school student who is 18 years of age
  • parent or guardian to a student from kindergarten up to age 21 with special education needs

Eligible students

Students are eligible if they are:

  • enrolled in kindergarten to Grade 12 and are up to 18 years old
  • enrolled in kindergarten to Grade 12 are up to 21 years old and have special education needs

And

  • go to a publicly funded school
  • go to a private school
  • go to a First Nation operated or federally operated school
  • are homeschooled

Both in person and remote learning students are eligible.

Students of Adult and Continuing Education programs for individuals over 18 years of age are not eligible.

Definition of “special education needs”

For the purposes of this payment program, a student with special education needs is any student receiving special education programs or services by their school board, or any student with a special education need.

Apply

You can access the application form through a secure website.

Step 1: Create your profile

By creating a profile, you can check the status of your application. You can also update your information prior to submission and check the status of your application throughout the process.

Only one parent/guardian per student is eligible to apply and receive payment.

Get instructions if you need help setting up your profile.

Step 2: Provide information for each student for whom you are requesting Catch Up Payments

You must submit a separate application for each student. Only one application per student is accepted. You will need the following information for each student:

  • the name of their school and school board (if applicable)
  • their date of birth
  • a valid email address
  • depending on the method of payment selected, your banking information (bank name, branch or transit number and account number)

All information that you provide about a student should match their school’s record (if they attend a publicly funded school).

Each eligible student will be assigned a unique application number.

If we receive more than one application for a student, we will only process the first application.

Step 3: Choose your method of payment

You will be asked to select your preferred method of payment. You can choose:

  • e-transfer
  • direct deposit
  • cheque

E-transfer

The quickest way to receive your payment is through e-transfer.

Direct deposit

Before beginning the application, make sure that you have your banking information ready if you are selecting direct deposit as your payment method. You will need your:

  • bank name
  • branch or transit number
  • account number

Cheque

You can make a request in your application to receive payment by cheque if you:

  • cannot provide an email address to receive an e-transfer
  • cannot provide banking information for direct deposit

Choosing to receive payment by cheque means it will take us longer to send you your payment.

Step 4: Submit your application

You will need to complete an attestation form before you submit your application.

As soon as you successfully complete your application, you’ll get a confirmation number. Record and keep the confirmation number for each application you submit.

One parent or guardian can apply

Only 1 parent or guardian may apply for each student. The parent or guardian should have custody of the child. This could include a parent or guardian with shared custody. It is up to the child’s parents or guardians to determine who will apply. We are not involved in these decisions and will not accept duplicate applications.

After you apply

Within 1 to 5 business days, you’ll get an email confirming that your application was received. It will include your confirmation number. Check your junk mail folder if you do not receive the confirmation email.

It will take a few weeks for you to receive your payment. Some applications may take longer to verify and process.

If the information you provide is incomplete or inaccurate, your payment will be delayed or denied.

Get your payment

We will send payments by e-transfer, direct deposit or cheque based on what you chose when you applied.

One payment will be made per student to:

  • the parent or guardian who applied for their child
  • secondary students who are 18 years of age and applied on their own

Each application is verified and processed separately. This means if you applied for more than one child, you will receive separate payments.

Check the status of your application

When you create a profile, you will be able to:

  • check on the status of your application
  • make updates or changes to your information prior to submission
  • correct specific information in your submission if requested by the ministry

Contact us

For more information about Catch Up Payments, call us Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, excluding holidays.