Return to Canada with an infant, a PR husband- can I get child benefits?

[Bubba2017]

I have been living outside Canada for past few years; met a man (I am naturalized Canadian), got married, applied for family sponsorship for him and got it.

In the meantime we had a baby and I was made unemployed just before going on maternity leave. Now our son is 8 months old, and we will be landing in Canada in July 2017. Funds are getting a bit thin, as we have been living off savings for the past 8 months.

Will I qualify for child benefits when we land, or do I have to wait a certain number of months before being elligible? I am a declaired non-resident in Canada (no ties residential or financial in Canada). Is it a good idea to file my taxes for the past year 2016, even though I made little money (unemployed most of year) and was living outside Canada? Is there any temporary financial assistance I can apply for, until we get settled and sorted with income/jobs?

I have heard some horror stories about settling back to Canada being very difficult with a baby as there are residential restrictions for being eligible before applying for benefits... Please help; I am in good standing with CR; plan to settle in Ottawa.

 

[Leon]

I don't see why you can't take up your residency and get child benefits right away. New PR's can.

You would however have to self declare your overseas income for the past couple of years because you haven't been filing taxes in Canada.

 

[Bubba2017]

Thank you Leon.
How do you mean to self declare my income for the past few years - do you mean on the child benefit application form, or do you mean I should file my taxes for 2016? Is there any benefit to filing my taxes for 2016 while I am still a non resident in Canada?

 

[Leon]

Thank you Leon.
How do you mean to self declare my income for the past few years - do you mean on the child benefit application form, or do you mean I should file my taxes for 2016? Is there any benefit to filing my taxes for 2016 while I am still a non resident in Canada?

There is no need for you to file taxes for 2016 because you were not resident in 2016. I am not sure if it is beneficial at all. According to the form form CCTB, you would have to fill out a form called Schedule RC66SCH if you are coming to Canada as a returning resident or new PR. You can find this form here: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc66sch/README.html

 

[Buletruck]

When I returned to Canada, CRA wanted me to file taxes for the years I was absent, even though I was a non resident. When I called them, all I had to do was submit my tax documents from overseas for those years. Didn't need to file Canadian taxes for the previous years.