Lower-families will benefit from a new benefit offered by the Alberta government but they must file a 2015 tax return in order to qualify.
Parents will receive the first installment of the Alberta Child Benefit in August, a time when many of them are feeling the pinch that comes with back-to-school costs.
The benefit offers a maximum of $1,100 for families with one child under 18, to a maximum of $2,750 for families with four or more children.
The new benefit will be paid four times a year — August, November, February and May.
It is open to all families who earn less than $41,220 per year in net income and families must have resided in Alberta for one month.
Those who have enrolled for the federal government's Canada Child Tax Benefit will be automatically enrolled in the new Alberta Child Benefit.
The government says that 235,000 children in 130,000 families will receive $195 million in benefits.
There are several free clinics in Red Deer offered to help eligible low-income taxpayers with their taxes. Go to cra-arc.gc.ca online for more information about where and when they are.
The Alberta government announced the new benefit in November. They recently reminded parents about the requirement to file tax returns.