When you register your newborn's birth, you can also apply for Canada Child Benefits. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency (VSA) are partnering to offer a new quick, easy, and secure way to apply for all child benefits programs.

To apply for Canada Child Benefits, the mother needs to check the consent box located in the Release of Information section on the reverse of the birth registration form, sign and provide her Social Insurance Number.

If a mother gives her consent to apply for federal and provincial/territorial family benefits on the birth registration form, the following information will be sent to the CRA after the child's birth has been registered with the Province of British Columbia:

• mother's name, date of birth, place of birth, SIN, and mailing address;
• child's name, date and place of birth, and gender; and
• child's birth registration number.

After the CRA receives the information, the child will be registered for the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and any related provincial/territorial programs, and the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit and any related provincial programs. The child will also be enrolled for the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB).

It is important to note that once a mother applied on the birth registration form, she must not re-apply for Canada Child Benefits using another method such as the CRA’s RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application. Re-applying may result in a delay in processing the first application or issuing payments.

For more information, and for enquiries about the Canada Child Benefits payments, visit the CRA web site at http://www.cra.gc.ca/benefits or call 1-800-387-1193.

Personal information requested for Canada Child Benefits is collected under section 4 of the Privacy Act and is used to register children for the CCTB and any related provincial programs, and the UCCB.