Ontario parents to receive another $200 payout to offset pandemic costs

Ontario families with young children will receive a $200 payout from the government to help with education costs.

Families will receive $250 if their child or youth is aged 0 to 21 with special needs, according to the Government of Ontario.

The payments were included in Ontario’s 2020 budget revealed earlier this month on November 6, which said the government will spend a total of $380 million on the second round of payments, on top of the $378 million given for the first batch of payments.

Starting on November 30, parents or guardians residing in Ontario can complete the online application through the Support for Learners web page.

The province says the applications will remain open until January 15, 2021.

According to the province, the new Support for Learners program “will provide direct one-time payments to help offset additional learning costs, whether their children attend school in person, online or a mix of both. Funds can assist with additional education expenses during COVID-19, such as workbooks, school supplies, technology and developmental resources. The funding also assists with additional childcare costs, whether the child is in child care or at home.”

Premier Doug Ford said that parents have been the unsung heroes in the fight against COVID-19, “whether it’s screening their child before school or assisting them with remote learning.”

“Parents have been there for us, and our government will continue to be there for them. That’s why we’re providing additional payments to help families with some of the costs of learning and childcare as we battle the second wave of COVID-19,” said Ford.

The money will be available through cheques and direct deposits, and it will take approximately two weeks to receive your payment, states the province’s website.

Back in April, the government provided the first one-time payment to help families offset pandemic costs.