Canada Student Grants for Part-Time Students With Dependents

What’s stopping you from studying the course that would help you grow in your career exponentially? Enter financial troubles and family responsibility. This is the story of every middle-class Canadian who has struggled to keep their head above the water this pandemic.

With bills to pay and a family to look after, most working professionals cannot afford to quit their job to pursue higher studies. People who wish to continue education, while juggling work and welfare of dependents, often choose to go back to school part-time. Acknowledging the struggles of higher education aspirants with familial responsibilities, the federal government is offering a Federal Student Grants program for Part-time Students with Dependents.

Also known as Canada Student Grants for Part-Time Students with Dependents, this grant supports students with dependents to take care of their family’s needs while enrolling in a part-time course. So, how does one qualify for this grant and who is deemed to be a dependent? Let’s check the eligibility criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Only students, who meet all the eligibility criteria listed below, can qualify to receive Federal Student Grants for Part-Time Students with Dependents: 

• You must be enrolled in a part-time course from a designated college or university.

• There should be a need to seek financial aid from the federal government. This criteria ensures that only students from middle and lower-income families are benefited from this grant.
• The money you received from Federal Student Grants for Part-Time Students was not enough to cover your financial needs.
• Children below the age of 12 and those over the age of 12 with permanent disability are considered to be dependents. At the start of the part-time program, the family member that you provide for should fall under one of the two aforementioned categories of dependents.
• The annual income of your family should not go past the upper limit of income threshold that is calculated according to the size of the family.
• You do not live in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Quebec. If you reside in these provinces, you are not eligible for Federal Student Grants as these provinces have their own financial aid program to help part-time students with dependents. 

Income Threshold for Eligibility

The income threshold ensures that the Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependents is awarded to only students from mid-income and low-income families who really need the financial assistance to pay for school. Based on your family size, and family’s annual income from the previous year, you may be eligible for maximum grant or fail to qualify for the grant altogether depending on income threshold.

Income for Maximum Grant = The amount your family’s annual income should be lesser than to receive the maximum grant amount.

Income Threshold = The amount your family’s annual income should be lesser than to qualify for the grant.

If you are a part-time student with one or two dependents, then:

For a family of two people:

• Income for Maximum Grant = $45,399.
• Income Threshold = $89,004.

For a family of three people:

• Income for Maximum Grant = $55,602.
• Income Threshold = $106,278.

For a family of four people:

• Income for Maximum Grant = $64,204.
• Income Threshold = $117,021.

For a family of five people:

• Income for Maximum Grant = $71,782.
• Income Threshold = $126,929.

For a family of six people:

• Income for Maximum Grant = $78,634.
• Income Threshold = $136,326.

For a family of seven people or more:

• Income for Maximum Grant = $84,933.
• Income Threshold = $144,457.

Refer to the numbers below if you have 3 or more dependents in your family.

For a family of four people:

Income for maximum grant = $64,204

Income threshold = $117,021

For a family of five people:

Income for maximum grant = $71,782

Income threshold = $126,929

For a family of six people:

Income for maximum grant = $78,634

Income threshold = $136,326

For a family of seven people or more:

Income for maximum grant = $84,933

Income threshold = $144,457

How to Apply

Just like all the other federal financial aid programs, you can apply for Federal Student Grants for Part-Time Students with Dependents by submitting a student aid application to the province of your residence. Based on your application, your eligibility and financial needs will be evaluated for multiple federal and provincial aid programs including this federal grant for part-time students caring for dependents. 

How Much Can You Get?

In the school year of 2022-23, a part-time student with dependents is eligible to receive a grant amount of up to $3,840 per year. This grant amount is awarded to a student in addition to the maximum sum of $3600 they may receive from the Canada Student Grants for Part-Time Students. Your school year will begin August 1st and end on July 31st.

However, please note that the grant amount you get will not be greater than the assessed financial need. For example, based on your family income and family size, you are assessed for a grant amount of $2000. Then you shall only receive a $2000 grant for part-time students with dependents. The rest of your financial needs would be split across other student financial aid programs like loans or scholarships.

Other Federal Financial Aid Options

Don’t fret if you are not eligible for Canada Student Grants for Part-Time Students with Dependents. You can get Federal Student Loans, Federal Student Scholarships or Federal Student Bursaries to pay for your part-time study program.

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