# Canada Learning Bond: Free $2,000 for Your Kid — No Contribution Required
*Last updated: March 31, 2026 | the905saver.com*
**The government will put up to $2,000 into your child's education savings — and you don't have to contribute a single dollar. About 40% of eligible families never claim this.**
If your family income is under roughly $57,375, you're likely eligible. Here's how it works.
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## What Is the Canada Learning Bond?
It's free money from the federal government deposited directly into your child's Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
- **$500** when you first open an eligible RESP
- **$100 per year** for each year your family qualifies (up to 15 years)
- **Maximum total: $2,000 per child**
You do NOT need to put any of your own money in. Zero. The government deposits it for you.
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## Who Qualifies?
Your child was born on or after January 1, 2004, AND:
**Your adjusted family net income must be below the threshold.** For the July 2025 – June 2026 benefit year:
- **1–3 children:** $57,375 or less
- **4+ children:** Higher (increases with each additional child)
Your child must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and be a Canadian resident.
**Even if your income is above the threshold NOW, your child might qualify for years when your income WAS lower.** The CLB is retroactive — you can claim it for past eligible years all at once.
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## How to Get It
1. **Get a SIN for your child** — if they don't have one, apply at Service Canada (free)
2. **Open an RESP** — walk into any bank (TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, etc.) or use an online provider (Wealthsimple, Questrade). Tell them you want to apply for the Canada Learning Bond. It costs $0 to open.
3. **Apply for the CLB** — the bank or RESP provider submits the application for you
4. **Wait** — the money is deposited into the RESP within a few weeks
That's it. You don't deposit anything. You don't invest anything. The government puts the money in.
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## What Can the Money Be Used For?
When your child enrolls in post-secondary education (college, university, trade school, apprenticeship), the money can be withdrawn to pay for:
- Tuition
- Books and supplies
- Living expenses while studying
If your child doesn't go to post-secondary school, the government portion is returned — but you lose nothing because you didn't put anything in.
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## 🆕 NEW: Auto-Enrollment Coming in 2028-29
Here's something brand new most people don't know about yet:
Starting in 2028-29, **the government will automatically open an RESP for eligible children born in 2024 or later** if their family hasn't opened one by the time the child turns 4.
That means:
- The government will deposit up to **$800 retroactively** ($500 for year one + $100 for the next three years)
- Then continue adding $100/year until the child turns 16
- Total potential: still **$2,000**
**BUT** — there's a catch: auto-enrolled RESPs have restrictions. Your family can't contribute to them or make educational payments from them until you take over the plan. So you're better off **opening an RESP yourself NOW** rather than waiting for auto-enrollment. You'll get the same money PLUS the ability to contribute your own savings and get the 20-40% CESG match on top.
**Don't wait for 2028. Walk into your bank this week.**
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## Why Don't People Claim This?
Three reasons:
1. **They don't know it exists** — the government doesn't exactly advertise it at the grocery store
2. **They think they need to contribute money to an RESP** — you don't. The CLB requires $0 from you.
3. **They don't have an RESP** — opening one takes 15 minutes at any bank branch
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## The Math That Should Make You Angry
If your child was born in 2018 and you've been eligible every year but never claimed:
- Year 1: $500
- Years 2-8: $100 × 7 = $700
- **Total you've left on the table: $1,200**
And that money would have been growing tax-free in an RESP this entire time.
Multiply that by 2 kids and you've missed $2,400 in free education money. Go to your bank this week.
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## 💡 BONUS: Stack It With the CESG
Even if you can only afford to contribute a small amount to your child's RESP, the government will match it through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG):
- **20% match** on the first $2,500 you contribute per year = **$500 free per year**
- **Extra 10-20%** if your family income is under ~$57,375 (same threshold as CLB)
- Lifetime max: **$7,200 per child** in CESG
So a family that qualifies for BOTH the CLB and enhanced CESG could receive:
- $2,000 CLB (no contribution needed)
- Up to $7,200 CESG (with contributions)
- **$9,200 in free government money per child**
Even if you can only contribute $25/month ($300/year), that's still $60/year in CESG matches. Free money is free money.
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## Can Adults Claim Retroactively?
**Yes.** If you were born in 2004 or later and were eligible for the CLB as a child but never received it, you can now claim it retroactively **until you turn 31** (this was recently expanded from age 21).
If you're 18-21 and your family was low-income when you were growing up, you could be sitting on up to $2,000 in unclaimed CLB. Open an RESP, apply for the CLB, and the retroactive payments will be deposited.
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## Quick FAQ
**Can I open an RESP at any bank?**
Yes. Most major banks and credit unions offer RESPs. Online providers like Wealthsimple also offer them with no fees.
**Do I need to contribute my own money?**
No. The Canada Learning Bond does not require any personal contribution. (But if you CAN contribute, the government also matches 20-40% through the CESG — that's even more free money.)
**My child is 15 — is it too late?**
The CLB is available until your child turns 21. But the annual $100 payments stop after age 15. You can still get retroactive amounts for eligible years.
**What if I opened an RESP but never applied for the CLB?**
Call your RESP provider and ask them to submit a CLB application. You can get retroactive payments for all eligible years.
**I'm a newcomer to Canada — can my child qualify?**
Yes, as long as your child has a SIN and is a Canadian resident. Many newcomer families qualify based on income in their first years in Canada. This is one of the first things you should do after getting your child's SIN.
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## 🎯 Your Action Items This Week
- [ ] **Don't have an RESP?** Walk into any bank branch and open one. It's free. Takes 15 minutes. Tell them you want to apply for the Canada Learning Bond.
- [ ] **Have an RESP but never applied for CLB?** Call your bank or RESP provider and ask them to submit a CLB application. You may be owed retroactive payments.
- [ ] **Know someone who thinks RESPs require their own money?** Forward this article. The CLB is literally free — $0 contribution required.
- [ ] **Your child is under 4 and you haven't opened an RESP?** Don't wait for auto-enrollment in 2028. Open one now to get the full benefit PLUS the ability to contribute and earn CESG matches.
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## The Bottom Line
$2,000 of free money per child. No contribution required. 15 minutes at the bank.
40% of eligible families don't claim it. Don't be one of them.
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