Rising living costs in what is already Canada's second-most-expensive province can make it challenging for Ontario parents to stay afloat. 

However, the provincial government's monthly Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) is just one of many ways low- and medium-income parents can cash in on some much-needed dough to keep the bills paid.

Here's everything you need to know about the OCB.

What is the OCB?

The OCB, which is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the province, offers a monthly subsidy to low-income to moderate-income families with the aim of helping them raise children. 

Families qualify regardless of their working status, and can receive payouts that total up to $1,680 per child per year.

How to apply for the benefit

Cheques won't just start showing up, and access to these payments requires a bit of know-how. Parents looking to cash in on the program must first apply for the Canada Child Benefit, which is followed by an automatic assessment for eligibility. 

How much money are parents eligible to receive? 

Eligible parents will receive up to $140 per month for each child under the age of 18. Families with an adjusted family net income above $25,646 may only receive a partial benefit.

Parents can use the Canada Revenue Agency benefit calculator to determine how much they can expect to receive.

When do I get my cheques?

Parents receive their OCB payments combined with the Canada Child Benefit in single monthly payments, which are issued on the 20th of each month.

Eligible parents who have registered for the OCB should have already received their first payments of 2025. Parents who have not yet enrolled still have a few weeks left to get in on the upcoming round of February payments.