Connecting Families: $20 Internet for Low-Income Families

Key takeaways

Plan: $20 a month plus tax, up to 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload and 200 GB of data
Families qualify if they receive the maximum Canada Child Benefit (CCB); seniors if they receive at least 80% of the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement
Eligible households get a letter with an 8-digit code; you register at cf-fb.ca, not by calling a provider
Newcomers can only get the CCB after applying and filing taxes, so the letter cannot come before that
If you are under contract with a provider now, ISED says you may have to pay the rest of that contract

What is Connecting Families?

Connecting Families is run by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), a federal department. Internet providers join voluntarily and offer low-cost plans to eligible households. The program’s second phase started on April 1, 2022. It covers families and low-income seniors.

Plan	Price	Download / upload	Data
Plan 2	$20 a month plus tax	up to 50 Mbps / 10 Mbps	200 GB
Plan 1	$10 a month plus tax	up to 10 Mbps / 1 Mbps	100 GB

Source: ISED low-cost plans page, last modified July 20, 2026, checked November 5, 2026.

The program page also says eligible households can ask for a low-cost digital device, while supplies last. It does not list device prices; ask the provider.

Who is eligible?

ISED confirms eligibility every year, based on household income and benefits:

Families qualify if they receive the maximum Canada Child Benefit (CCB).
Seniors qualify if they receive at least 80% of the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

What does “maximum CCB” mean? The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays the full amount when your adjusted family net income is under a set limit. For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, that limit is $38,237, based on your 2025 tax returns. The maximum is $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17. Check your own amount with the CRA’s CCB calculator, or our Canada Child Benefit guide.

Why newcomers need to file taxes first

You get the invitation letter because the government already knows you receive the maximum CCB or GIS. A newcomer cannot get that letter in the first months, because:

You must apply for the CCB. You or your spouse must be a citizen, permanent resident or protected person. A temporary resident can also qualify after living in Canada for the previous 18 months, with a valid permit in the 19th month. See how to apply for the CCB (form RC66).
You must file tax returns. The CRA says you must file every year to keep getting the CCB, and your spouse or common-law partner must also file, even with no income. Benefits are recalculated each July. Start with your first tax return in Canada.
Eligibility is checked once a year. ISED does not say when letters are mailed. If you qualify only after your first tax year, your letter may come a year or more after you arrive.

In the meantime, use a large mobile plan or a low-cost provider. See cheapest home internet.

What does the invitation letter look like?

The letter comes from ISED in a Service Canada or Government of Canada envelope. A real letter shows:

the Government of Canada logo
your home address
a date (month and year)
an 8-digit code that is unique to you
the subject line “Connecting Families Initiative”

Take a photo of the letter and code. ISED’s main page says letters and codes cannot be reissued. Its invitation-letter page says to contact the program through cf-fb.ca if you lose it. Ask early if this happens to you. If you think you qualify but got no letter, ISED says it may be because you moved or the letter was thrown away by mistake.

Never give your code, SIN or bank details to someone who calls or texts you about “government internet”. You register yourself on the portal. Learn the common tricks in banking scams that target newcomers.

How do you sign up?

Go to the registration portal at cf-fb.ca. Do not call a provider to register.
Enter your 8-digit code, full name and the address printed on the letter, even if you have moved. You can update your address later.
Confirm your details and start enrolment.
Near the end, you see the participating providers that serve your area, if there are any.
Choose a provider and contact it to sign up for the low-cost plan.

No internet at home to register? ISED suggests using a public library or community centre. Computers for Success Canada runs a help line for the portal at 1-833-206-0599.

Which providers take part?

The ISED page lists these participating providers (checked November 5, 2026). Availability varies by region.

National and large regional: Bell (including Bell Aliant and Bell MTS), Rogers, TELUS, Vidéotron, Cogeco, SaskTel, Northwestel
Regional and local: Access Communications, Beanfield, CCAP, CSUR, Hay Communications, Mornington, Novus, Rally, Rural Net, Tbaytel, Westman Media Cooperative

Its FAQ says 19 providers take part, but the list we saw has 18 names. If your provider is not shown in the portal, it does not offer the plan at your address.

ISED’s pages do not explain whether you can change providers after you enrol. Ask the program through cf-fb.ca before you choose. If you are under contract or on a promotion with a provider now, ISED says you may have to pay the remaining value of that offer or contract.

Worked example: what a family saves

Grace and her husband are permanent residents in Ontario with two children, aged 4 and 8. Their 2025 adjusted family net income was $34,000, below the $38,237 limit. They receive the maximum CCB: $8,157 + $6,883 = $15,040 a year.

When their letter arrives, they compare the $20 plan with a regular plan. Rogers listed its Starter plan in Ontario at $75 a month on a 2-year term on November 5, 2026. The difference is $55 a month, or $660 a year before tax ($745.80 with 13% HST).

Example figures are illustrative. CCB amounts from the CRA for July 2026 to June 2027; plan price from the Rogers website on November 5, 2026.

If you are not eligible yet

Use free Wi-Fi at public libraries and settlement agencies. Find one in the newcomer support finder.
Compare low-cost plans by city in home internet by city.
Ask a provider whether it has its own low-income offer. These are separate from Connecting Families, and the rules differ.
Check other benefits you may get once you file: government benefits for newcomers.

Common questions

Can I apply for Connecting Families without a letter?

No. Only households that received a Government of Canada letter with an access code can register. Eligibility is confirmed once a year.

How much does Connecting Families internet cost?

Plan 2 is $20 a month plus tax for up to 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload and 200 GB of data. Plan 1 is $10 a month plus tax for up to 10 Mbps and 100 GB.

I am a new permanent resident with children. When can I get it?

Only after you receive the maximum Canada Child Benefit. That needs a CCB application and tax returns from you and your spouse. Eligibility is checked yearly, so the letter may take a year or more.

Can international students or work permit holders qualify?

Only if they receive the maximum CCB. A temporary resident can get the CCB after living in Canada for 18 months, if they hold a valid permit in the 19th month and meet the other rules.

Can I keep my current provider?

Only if it participates and offers the plan at your address. If you are under contract now, ISED says you may have to pay the remaining value of that contract. ISED’s pages do not explain changing providers after you enrol, so ask the program through cf-fb.ca.

Sources

Checked against these sources on November 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Connecting Families: $20 home internet for low-income families and seniors