Applying for the Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan

Eligibility requirements for the $500 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant

The $500 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant is available to a child:

• born in 2005 or later; and
• whose parent or guardian is a resident of Alberta at the time of application and who is ordinarily present in Alberta; and
• who is named as a beneficiary of an RESP account.

Eligibility requirements for the $100 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grants

The $100 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grants will be available starting January 1, 2007 to a child:

• named as a beneficiary of an RESP account
• who turns 8, 11, or 14 on or after January 1, 2005
• whose parent or guardian is a resident of Alberta at the time of application or who is ordinarily present in Alberta; and
• who is attending school; and
• for whom a deposit of at least $100 has been made to an RESP within the year immediately preceding the making of the application.

Applying for the $500 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant

Before a subscriber can apply for the grant on behalf of a child, the parent or guardian must:

• register the birth or adoption of their child;
• obtain a birth certificate; and
• obtain a social insurance number for the child.

During the application process for the $500 grant, the RESP promoter must be provided with:

• the name, birth date and gender of child;
• the name and address of the child's parent or guardian;
• evidence that the child is eligible (refer to eligibility requirements listed above);
• evidence that the parent or guardian is a resident of Alberta at time of application; and
• any other information required by the Minister of Alberta Advanced Education.

The application for the $500 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant must be completed within six years of the child's date of birth.

Applying for the $100 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grants

During each application process for the $100 grants, the RESP promoter must be provided with:

• the name, birth date and gender of child;
• the name and address of child's parent or guardian;
• evidence that the beneficiary is an eligible student;
• evidence that at least $100 has been deposited to a RESP on behalf of the child within one year of the particular application; and
• any other information required by the Minister of Alberta Advanced Education.

For the $100 Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grants available to children at eight, 11 and 14 years of age, the application must be completed within six years of the applicable birthday.

Required documentation

During the application process for both the $500 grant and the $100 grants, proof must be shown to the RESP Promoter that the parent or guardian is a resident of Alberta.

Some examples of documentation that would demonstrate that the parent or guardian makes their residence and is ordinarily present in Alberta would be:

• a driver's licence;
• an Alberta photo identification card;
• an Alberta Health Insurance Card;
• Bank statements, utility bills, or rental agreements that state the individual's address.

RESP Promoters should note the type of documentation seen on the grant application form.

How will funds be deposited into the RESP?

• The Alberta Government is working with the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) Program to administer the payment of grants.
• RESP promoters will request payment of the grants from the CESG Program.
• Once the CESG Program receives and processes the request, the Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant will be deposited into the RESP.
• If two or more requests are received for the same instalment, the grant will be paid on the first request submitted to and processed by the CESG Program.

Withdrawing the Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant

• The Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant is paid out as part of an Educational Assistance Payment (EAP) to the eligible beneficiary named on the RESP or to a sibling of that beneficiary.
• An EAP may only be paid to a beneficiary who is enrolled in a qualifying educational program at a designated post-secondary institution. The subscriber or the beneficiary may request an EAP.
• Should the grant not be withdrawn through an EAP, the funds must be repaid to the Government of Alberta.