January 8, 2013—It will now be easier for parents in Newfoundland and Labrador to apply for federal and provincial government benefits for their newborns. Dr. Kellie Leitch, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Service NL, today announced a new, integrated birth registration service which bundles the Social Insurance Number (SIN), Canada child benefits, Medical Care Plan (MCP) and Provincial Parental Benefits Program.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to improve services offered to Canadian families, we have partnered with Newfoundland and Labrador to make applying for Government of Canada services easier and more efficient. In one simple step, parents will be able to register their child’s birth and apply for their child’s SIN and Canada child benefits,” said Dr. Leitch.
“The birth of a child can be both joyful and stressful for parents, so we are pleased to be able to simplify a small part of that,” said Minister McGrath. “By integrating our application systems, we are reducing red tape and parents will have easier access to Government of Canada and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador programs.”
Through the new Bundled Birth Service, parents can complete one application for birth registration with the Vital Statistics Division of Service NL and consent to their child’s birth information being shared with other federal and provincial government departments to access multiple programs for their newborn.
The same application form will now allow parents to apply for the following benefits:
- SIN through Service Canada
- Canada child benefits through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Provincial Parental Benefits Program through the provincial Department of Finance
- MCP through the provincial Department of Health and Community Services
With their child’s SIN, parents can open a Registered Education Savings Plan and then apply for other Government of Canada benefits such as the Canada Education Savings Grant and the Canada Learning Bond.
Applying early for both Canada child benefits and the Provincial Parental Benefits Program ensures that parents receive the credit and benefit payments to which they are entitled, on time and in the right amount. Canada child benefits include the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the Universal Child Care Benefit, the GST/HST credit and the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit. The Provincial Parental Benefits Program includes the Progressive Family Growth Benefit and the Parental Support Benefit.
Finally, the option to apply to the provincial Medical Care Plan allows parents to more easily obtain their child’s MCP beneficiary card.
The new birth registration forms along with information packages have been distributed to hospitals in Newfoundland and Labrador and new parents can now benefit from this service.
More information on the integrated process for birth registration and other provincial benefits is available on the Service NL website at www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca or through regional Government Service Centres.
For general enquiries about Canada child benefits, visit the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/aba or call 1-800-387-1193.
For more information on the SIN, please visit servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O-Canada (1‑800‑622‑6232) or 1-800-926-9105 if you use a teletypewriter (TTY), or visit one of over 600 points of service across Canada.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Marian Ngo
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Service NL
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca
