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Climate Action Dividend
Questions & Answers for MCFD Social Workers
General Information
Q:
What is the Climate Action Dividend?
The Climate Action Dividend provides a non-taxable one-time payment to make
it easier for British Columbians to choose a lower carbon lifestyle.
Q:
Who is eligible to receive the Climate Action Dividend?
All British Columbians resident in BC at December 31, 2007, are eligible to
receive the dividend.
British Columbia will make a payment of $100 to each individual who, on
December 31, 2007, is:
i.
a resident in British Columbia; and
ii.
18 years of age or older.
British Columbia will also make a payment of $100 to the individual in respect
of each eligible child of that individual if, on December 31, 2007 the child is
under 18 years of age, and if on January 1, 2008:
i.
the child resides with the individual; and
ii.
the individual is the parent responsible for the care and upbringing of
that child.
Q:
How will the payments be made?
British Columbians who have filed an income tax return for 2006 or 2007 will
automatically receive a cheque sent to their mailing address. This will
encompass the vast majority of British Columbians.
Parents or primary caregivers will automatically receive $100 payments for
each dependent (under age 18 as of December 31, 2007) if they have filed a
2006 or 2007 income tax return AND the dependents are registered for the
Canada Child Tax Benefit with the Canada Revenue Agency.
If the parent or primary caregiver has not filed an income tax return and/or the
child is not registered for the Canada Child Tax Benefit then eligible parents or
primary caregivers
can apply for the Child Tax Benefit and receive payment automatically from
the toll free number at 1-800-387-1193 for more information)
or
call Ministry of Small Business and Revenue Climate Action Hotline at 1-
877-387-3332 for an alternate application process or visit the website at:
Information about Children in Care or on a Youth Agreement
Q:
Will children in the care of MCFD or under a Youth Agreement receive
Climate Action Dividend payments?
Yes. Payments may be made to caregivers or to a youth depending upon the
circumstances.
Q
How will MCFD assist in providing the dividend to children and youth in care
or youth under a Youth Agreement?
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If the child or youth:
was in care on January 1, 2008, and under 18 years of age at December
31, 2007,
continues to be in care, and
is in a foster home or with a contracted service provider
then MCFD will pay the $100 dividend to the current caregivers. Caregivers
will receive a letter advising them of this from Minister Tom Christensen in mid
July, 2008, and are encouraged to use the money for child specific items such
as running shoes, roller blades or a bike helmet etc. Cheques will be issued to
these caregivers by September 2008 and sent directly to the caregiver from
Provincial Office.
If the child or youth:
was in care or under a Youth Agreement on January 1, 2008 , and under
18 years of age at December 31, 2007,
continues to be in care or under a Youth Agreement and
is not in a foster home or contracted resource OR
is a youth on Independent Living
then a cheque will be produced at Provincial Office, made payable in the
youth’s name and mailed to the DO for delivery by the youth’s social
worker. Cheques will be sent to District Offices by September 2008.
If the cheque remains unclaimed/undelivered after December 31, 2008
then it is to be returned to:
MCFD Client Relations Branch
PO Box 9724 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC
V8W 9S2
Q:
What about youth in care or under Youth Agreements who were already 18
on December 31, 2007?
Those 18 and 19 years of age – will automatically receive payments in their
own name (like most British Columbians) if they filed an income tax return for
2006 or 2007. The cheque will be sent to the address the youth left on file with
the Canada Revenue Agency. Cheques for this group can be expected in June
2008 when the bulk of the dividend cheques are delivered.
If they have NOT filed an income tax return, they have 2 options:
o
File a 2007 Income Tax Return and they will receive the payment
automatically OR
o
Make an application for the dividend through the Ministry of Small
Business and Revenue. For more information visit the website at:
or call the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue’s Climate Action
Hotline at 1-877-387-3332.
Q:
As a social worker what is my role and responsibility?
Social workers are asked to assist in distributing cheques for those youth on
their caseloads that are on Independent Living or a Youth Agreement – those
who are not currently with a foster parent or contracted resource – the cheques
will be produced at Provincial Office and delivered to the district offices by
September 2008.
Social workers should have a general knowledge of the Climate Action
Dividend but are not expected to produce cheques, assist in filling out
applications, or answer anything other than general questions.
If a question or issue arises then social workers should refer people to either:
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MCFD Client Relations Branch Toll Free number : 1-877-387-7027 – if
the subject matter is a child or youth that was in care, under a Youth
Agreement, or in a Youth Custody Centre
Ministry of Small Business and Revenue Climate Action Hotline at
1-877-387-3332 – all other inquires
Q:
A child was in care but is now back with the parent. Are they eligible to
receive a payment for the child?
Possibly, if the following applies:
their child was in care on January 1, 2008,
the child was under 18 years of age at December 31, 2007,
no one else has received a payment for the child prior to the child leaving
care, and
they are the primary caregiver of the child.
Q:
How does a parent, who is eligible to receive a payment for their child who
was in care, apply for the payment?
They should follow these steps:
1. Print off the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue application form which
2. Fill out the form.
3. Cross off the words "on January 1, 2008’’ under the Description of
Qualified Dependant, and replace them with "currently"
4. Mark the top left hand corner of the application form with the letters
"MCFD".
5. Mail the completed application to:
BC Climate Action Dividend
PO Box 9444 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC
V8W 9W8
For assistance with this, parents should call the MCFD client Relations Branch
Toll Free number at: 1-877-387-7027.
Q:
Will children and youth in the care of a Delegated Aboriginal Agency receive
the dividend?
Yes. The Delegated Aboriginal Agencies will ensure that the caregivers for
their eligible children and youth in care or under Youth Agreements receive the
dividend.
Q:
What do I tell a foster parent that tells me they did not receive a climate
action dividend for a child or youth and believe they should have?
Advise the foster parent to call MCFD Client Relations Branch toll free number
at 1-877-387-7027.
