Don't miss out on your child-care benefits

You could be missing out on your Universal Childcare Benefits, and the amount of unclaimed benefits in Canada is potentially in the millions.

The majority of families with children, approximately 3.8 million, are known and will automatically receive the boosted UCCB or be contacted by the Government to confirm their information.

However, an estimated 200,000 eligible Canadian families, including 69,000 in Ontario, are not currently captured by the Government's UCCB system and may miss out on receiving money that is owed to them unless they apply.

In 2015 alone, this represents potentially millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits.

Under the boosted UCCB, families will receive almost $2,000 per year for each child under six years of age and $720 per year for each child aged six through 17.

"Now that the Harper Government has balanced our budget, we are helping families balance theirs. That's why we want to ensure that every family with children receives the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit. If you've ?got kids under 18, you qualify,” said Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, in a press release.

“It doesn't matter how much you make or the type of child care you choose, apply now so you can receive the money that is owed to you."

The new benefit amounts will be retroactive to January 1, 2015 and be reflected in monthly payments to families in July 2015.

The boosted UCCB is expected to more than double the number of families that benefit from 1.6 million to more than 4 million.

If your family is not currently receiving the UCCB, has never received the UCCB, or has never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and you still have children under 18 in your care, visit www.canada.ca/taxsavings to find out how you can apply.