Applying

The child must be named as the beneficiary of a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

Once you have an RESP in place, your RESP provider will help you complete the ACES Plan application form and will submit it electronically on the child’s behalf. 

Application forms mailed to the Government of Alberta cannot be processed and will be returned.

Please visit your RESP provider, or click on Where to Apply.

Applications for the ACES Plan grants must be submitted directly through an eligible RESP provider. Application forms mailed to the Government of Alberta cannot be processed and will be returned.

Yes. If a preferred RESP provider is not offering the grant, there are two options:

1. Children may be named as beneficiaries in more than one RESP. You may choose to open an RESP at an authorized RESP provider, and designate that RESP for receiving the ACES Plan grant.
2. A six-year window is provided following the child’s applicable birthday within which an application must be made. You may choose to wait to see if your preferred RESP Promoter comes on board within that time frame.

Application forms mailed to the Government of Alberta cannot be processed and will be returned.

Due to the large volume of ACES Plan grant applications processed on a monthly basis, applications must be submitted directly through eligible RESP providers using a protected electronic system.

This system allows grant applications to be processed quickly, efficiently, and also securely, ensuring that your personal information is always treated with the utmost privacy. It also allows for subsequent tracking of federal and provincial RESP grants for accountability purposes.

Applicants have 6 years to apply for the grants. This means:

• Applications for the $500 grants must be made before the child’s 6th birthday
• Applications for the $100 grants must be made before the child’s 14th, 17th and 20th birthdays (as applicable)

The rules set out by the Canada Revenue Agency state that anyone can open an RESP for a child: parents, guardians, grandparents, other relatives or friends. In some cases the child may even subscribe to their own RESP, although the RESP provider may have other policies that apply.

Setting up an RESP is not difficult.

1. Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for the child
2. Choose an RESP provider that best suits your needs

It is very important to choose the right type of RESP you want to open. For more information and for good questions to ask when choosing an RESP provider, visit How to open an RESP on the CanLearn website.

Also note, while most RESP providers are set up to offer the ACES Plan grants, some are not. The Government of Alberta maintains an up-to-date list of RESP providers where you can apply.

It depends. Some RESP providers charge service fees or you may need to make a minimum deposit. 

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required to set up an RESP. Albertans have two choices in how they apply for a SIN, each with different costs:

• When you register your newborn’s birth, you can choose to apply for your child’s SIN at the same time at no additional cost, or
• If you did not apply for your child’s SIN during registration, a birth certificate will be required before you do so. Your registry agent may charge a fee when you apply for a birth certificate.

Yes. Parents receiving income support may be eligible for assistance in meeting the ACES Plan requirements.

For more information, speak with your Income Support worker. If you require their telephone number, please contact the Income Support Contact Centre toll-free at 1-866-644-5135 or 780-644-5135 in the Edmonton Area.

To be eligible to receive ACES Plan grants, an RESP must either:

• have only one child as the beneficiary, or
• be a family plan, where all beneficiaries are siblings.

The RESP must also be set up with an RESP provider whose systems are compatible with the federal/provincial government systems of tracking and accountability. The Government of Alberta maintains an up-to-date list of eligible RESP providers where you can apply.