Is UCCB counted towards income for PGP?

[simi.pete]

Hello,

I won the 2017 lottery for sponsoring my parents for a Canadian PR. Out of last three year income, my 2015 and 2016 income are well beyond the sponsor income requirements, however 2014 is marginally less than the required family income. My question is whether UCCB (Universal Child Care Bnefit) earned by my spouse can be added as part of family income for meeting the sponsorship income requirements? My spouse was unemployed in 2014 but she received UCCB. If I have her as a co-signer and add UCCB to the family income, I meet the 2014 income requirements. Please note that I’m asking about UCCB and not CCTB (Child Care Tax Benefit) I did some research and got inconsistent results, some say UCCB is counted towards family income but CCTB is not counted while others say neither are counted. Can you please provide some insights?

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

We can appreciate that you would be interested in this type of information.

You can find some detailed information in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Operational Bulletin 561 – December 31, 2013 (Modified).

It states,

The calculation of the sponsor’s total income will include the income of the co-signer, if applicable, and will be based on the amount recorded on the NOA or other document issued by the CRA (Option C print out) to the sponsor and to the co-signer, if applicable, less any amounts earned from the following sources:

• i. any provincial allowance received by the sponsor for a program of instruction or training;- ii. any social assistance received by the sponsor from a province;- iii. any financial assistance received by the sponsor from the Government of Canada under a resettlement assistance program;- iv. any amounts paid to the sponsor under the Employment Insurance Act, other than special benefits;- v. any monthly guaranteed income supplement paid to the sponsor under the Old Age Security Act; and- vi. any Canada child tax benefit paid to the sponsor under the Income Tax Act.

According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Call Centre, if the income source is not listed in the Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents (IMM 5516) form, then it is not to be included.

You may want to contact the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Call Centre directly to confirm the information we have provided and received regarding this issue.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org

[simi.pete]

I was specifically interested in knowing whether UCCB counts towards total income or not. Neither the IRCC website nor the call center agents seem to have an answer. Do you have any other means to confirm?

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello,

Thank you for your update.

Unfortunately, all we have is what we have provided above.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org