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Frequently Asked Questions
You have important questions? You need additional information? You will find useful information with just a few clicks!
paid in scholarships and
in refunds of savings
You have important questions? You need additional information? You will find useful information with just a few clicks!
> Frequently Asked Questions – Customer Service
1. What is a unit?
A unit can be described as a part of the Universitas or REFLEX plan allowing the beneficiary to successively receive three scholarships according to the admissible study criteria.
Return
2. What is attrition?
This is the process whereby the total investment income benefits beneficiaries enrolled in post-secondary studies who meet the admissibility criteria for Universitas Foundation scholarships.
It is estimated that attrition can increase the RESP annual rate of return by 1.5% to 4%, depending on the type of group plan and the level of studies achieved.
Return
3. Who is the contract’s subscriber?
It is the person who opens the savings plan, designates a beneficiary and deposits amounts of money in the RESP under their name.
Return
4. Who is the beneficiary’s primary caregiver?
It is the person who receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit, also known as the monthly family allowances. Therefore, the subscriber is not necessarily the main caregiver.
Return
5. Why do I need to provide a SIN to open an RESP?
The plan cannot be registered until you have provided your social insurance number, as well as the beneficiary’s. This registration is carried out with the Canada Revenue Agency and marks the coming into force of your agreement. This is a requirement under the Income Tax Act (ITA).
Return
6. What procedure should I follow to obtain a SIN?
You can apply to your local Employment Centre or visit the Service Canada web site from the following link:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/index.shtml
You must provide the child’s birth certificate when applying for a SIN. Make sure you have this document in hand before undertaking this procedure. You can visit these sites to obtain more information on the birth certificate application:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/subjects/cards/birth_certificate.shtml
Return
7. How much time do I have to provide you with the SIN?
The social insurance number must be provided as soon as possible after signing the contract so that you may rapidly benefit from the Canada Education Savings Program and Refundable Tax Credit to support Education Savings, if the beneficiary is a Québec resident.
The Universitas Foundation allows you one year from the contract signature date to provide the beneficiary’s social insurance number. As a general rule, the period for obtaining the SIN varies from the day of your application if you go directly to the local Service Canada Centre with all the required documents, to three (3) weeks if you mail in your application.
You may be granted additional time in special situations. Please contact us if you cannot obtain the SIN within the prescribed period.
Return
8. Why are there charges when there is a cancellation without the SIN?
There is no charge when you request a cancellation within 60 days following the contract signature date. If a contract is cancelled because there is no SIN on the file one year after the contract is signed, membership fees will apply.
As mentioned in the scholarship agreement proposal, the subscriber agrees to provide the SIN within the prescribed period and accepts that there will be charges if a cancellation is made after the 60-day period from the signature date.
Return
9. Which form must I complete to be sure to fully benefit from the government incentives?
The appropriate form for your situation is generally completed in the presence of your representative during the agreement signing. However, is such is not the case, you must provide one of the following forms, depending on your situation, while making sure to properly complete each of the form’s sections and transmitting all necessary information on the beneficiary and primary caregiver (first name, family name, SIN):
- The 0071 form with the heading “Basic and additional CESG and CLB application”, which must be completed by the primary caregiver and the subscriber when the latter is not the beneficiary’s tutor and primary caregiver, or;
- The 0073 form with the heading “Basic and additional CESG and CLB application -Subscriber Only”, which must be completed by the subscriber when this individual is also the beneficiary’s tutor and primary caregiver.
Return
10. Am I eligible for the Additional Grant and/or the Canada Learning Bond?
An additional grant is applicable to the first $500 of annual contributions, namely:
- 10% for a beneficiary whose annual family income exceeds $39 065 but is equal to or lower than $78 130;
- 20% for a beneficiary whose annual family income is equal to or lower than $39 065.
The family income is indexed every year.
The Canada Learning Bond is paid into the RESP of a child born on or later than January 1, 2004. The amount is paid into a beneficiary’s RESP every year when the child’s family receives the National Child Benefit Supplement.
A $500 amount is paid for the first year, and $100 is paid for every subsequent year for which the child qualifies.
In these two (2) cases, the subscriber must provide the social insurance number of the child’s primary caregiver. The child’s primary caregiver is generally the person who receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit and, if applicable, the National Child Benefit Supplement.
Return
11. Does the Canada Education Savings Grant apply retroactively?
Contributions made to your RESP during the 36 months prior to your application entitle you to the CESG retroactively to the date of these contributions, if your situation meets the eligibility criteria.
Return
12. Can I subscribe for a non-resident child?
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, the beneficiary must be a Canadian resident when the plan is first opened. The beneficiary must also be a Canadian resident at the time contributions are paid into their RESP.
Return
13. Who can obtain information on a subscriber’s contract?
The subscriber is the only one who can request and obtain information regarding their contract, unless a third party has obtained a proxy from the subscriber. The same applies when you make a change of address and/or banking information.
Return
14. How do I make a change of address or banking information?
Change of address
The subscriber can contact our Customer Service at 1-877-710-RESP (7377), or forward the change of address through the mail to 3005, avenue Maricourt, Québec (Québec) G1W 4T8, or by fax at 418-651-8030
Change of bank
The subscriber is required to provide a specimen of the new bank account making sure to sign his or her request, and to specify the desired date for the 1st withdrawal from this new account. The request must be received at least five (5) working days before the date of the next withdrawal. A quick way to ensure that the changes are made within the required time is to send us your request by fax at 418-651-8030.
Return
15. Can I send documents by fax? What is the fax number?
Yes you can, except for the following documents:
- official transcript required for the first scholarship payment
- amendment modifying a clause in your contract The fax number is 418-651-8030.
Return
16. Does this contract involve mandatory deposits?
On signing the contract you agree to pay, according to the deposit method selected, a given amount for a given period. All deposits are compulsory. You should know that we offer the possibility, at any time, of changing the deposit method for one better suited to your situation. Please contact us for further details.
Return
17. What are the conditions for a change of subscriber?
The Act stipulates that a change of subscriber can take place in either of the following situations:
- death of the subscriber;
- divorce: a person has acquired a subscriber’s RESP rights under an order or judgment made by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction, or under a written agreement for division of marital property between this person and the RESP subscriber as part of the settlement of rights resulting from their marriage or common-law relationship;
Return
18. Can I change the beneficiary of my contract?
Universitas Plan
Yes, you can replace a beneficiary who is less than 16 years of age by another beneficiary who is also less than 16 years of age. In cases where the new beneficiary is older than the registered beneficiary, you can pay certain amounts to compensate for the age difference.
Reflex Plan
Yes, you can replace a beneficiary who is less than 21 years of age by another beneficiary of the same age or younger. Where the new beneficiary is older than the registered beneficiary, you will be required to pay certain amounts to compensate for the age difference.
In all cases, a change of beneficiary is only possible when the replaced beneficiary has not already qualified for a 1st scholarship, unless the change is due to the death of the designated beneficiary.
Moreover, if the new beneficiary is not a member of the former beneficiary’s family, the grants received in the RESP must be returned in full to the Canadian government.
You must provide the following information when submitting an application for a change of beneficiary. If the new beneficiary is not already a member, the birth certificate and social insurance number are required when submitting the application. If the beneficiary is already a member, only the subscriber’s signature is required to effect the change.
Return
19. Can I interrupt my deposits without having to make up for them?
The interruption of contributions does not eliminate the obligation to make up all the contributions to achieve the subscribed capital. If the Foundation allows a subscriber to suspend the withdrawals for a time according to the established criteria, various agreements can be proposed to him allowing for updating the contract after the interruption has ended.
If you wish to interrupt your withdrawals, directly contact our Customer Service at 1 877-710-RESP (7377).
Return
20. Can I reduce the amounts of my deposits?
Yes, as long as the plan still includes a minimum of a half unit. Membership fees are withheld according to the number of cancelled units. This membership fees can be credited to any new agreement or units added during the 48 months following cancellation.
Return
21. What documents must I submit to confirm my enrolment in a study program?
The following documents are accepted: the course schedule of the current or next semester, confirmation of payment of tuition fees for the next semester of studies.
Return
22. What is a scholarship?
A scholarship is an amount of money awarded to a qualified beneficiary. It is considered taxable income once received by the beneficiary. The amount of scholarships is proportional to that of the number of units subscribed for by the subscriber.
Return
23. What are the amounts of the scholarships?
The scholarship amounts are determined in September each year. The actual value of the 1st scholarship for the period of September 1, 2009 to August 30, 2010 is $1,023 per unit. The 2nd scholarship’s value is $1,102 per unit and that of the 3rd scholarship is $1,215 per unit.
Return
24. What admissibility criteria allow beneficiaries to receive scholarships?
Beneficiaries can apply for a scholarship as soon as they become eligible and meet the admissibility criteria.
The admissibility criteria are as follows:
The post-secondary university level studies or technical CEGEP program of a beneficiary enrolled full time in a distance course are also admissible.
If the beneficiary is enrolled in a study program outside Canada, the Foundation considers the above equivalencies when distributing the scholarships.
Return
25. What documents do I need to provide to obtain my scholarships?
The following documents are required for analysis of the file: the official transcript and proof of enrolment in a study program.
Return
26. If my child is enrolled in a program to obtain a College Studies Attestation or an Occupational Training, will he or she be entitled to the scholarships?
Your child will be entitled to scholarships in those two (2) cases if they are enrolled in the REFLEX plan or Individual plan, provided they meet the plan’s admissibility criteria.
Return
27. What happens to my capital and to the scholarships if my child does not enrol in a study program?
The capital is guaranteed and can be refunded to the subscriber on the date of full refund mentioned in your contract.
A beneficiary may request their first scholarship no later than December 31st of the year in which they reach the age of 24 years. In the case of the second and third scholarships, the application can be submitted until such time as the plan has not reached the end date of the plan corresponding to the last day of the 35th year following the year the RESP came into force.
Return
- 1. What is a unit?
- 2. What is attrition?
- 3. Who is the contract’s subscriber?
- 4. Who is the beneficiary’s primary caregiver?
- 5. Why do I need to provide a SIN to open an RESP?
- 6. What procedure should I follow to obtain a SIN?
- 7. How much time do I have to provide you with the SIN?
- 8. Why are there charges when there is a cancellation without SIN?
- 9. Which form must I complete to fully benefit from the government incentives?
- 10. Am I eligible for the Additional Grant and/or the Canada Learning Bond?
- 11. Does the Canada Education Savings Grant apply retroactively?
- 12. Can I subscribe for a non-resident child?
- 13. Who can obtain information on a subscriber’s contract?
- 14. How do I make a change of address or banking information?
- 15. Can I send documents by fax? What is the fax number?
- 16. Does this contract involve mandatory deposits?
- 17. What are the conditions for a change of subscriber?
- 18. Can I change the beneficiary of my contract?
- 19. Can I interrupt my deposits without having to make up for them?
- 20. Can I reduce the amounts of my deposits?
- 21. What documents must I submit to confirm my enrolment in a study program?
- 22. What is a scholarship?
- 23. What are the amounts of the scholarships?
- 24. What admissibility criteria allow beneficiaries to receive scholarships?
- 25. What documents do I need to provide to obtain my scholarships?
- 26. If my child is enrolled in a program to obtain College Studies Attestation or an Occupational Training, will he or she be entitled to the scholarships?
- 27. What happens to my capital and to the scholarships if my child does not enroll in a study program?
1. What is a unit?
A unit can be described as a part of the Universitas or REFLEX plan allowing the beneficiary to successively receive three scholarships according to the admissible study criteria.
Return
2. What is attrition?
This is the process whereby the total investment income benefits beneficiaries enrolled in post-secondary studies who meet the admissibility criteria for Universitas Foundation scholarships.
It is estimated that attrition can increase the RESP annual rate of return by 1.5% to 4%, depending on the type of group plan and the level of studies achieved.
Return
3. Who is the contract’s subscriber?
It is the person who opens the savings plan, designates a beneficiary and deposits amounts of money in the RESP under their name.
Return
4. Who is the beneficiary’s primary caregiver?
It is the person who receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit, also known as the monthly family allowances. Therefore, the subscriber is not necessarily the main caregiver.
Return
5. Why do I need to provide a SIN to open an RESP?
The plan cannot be registered until you have provided your social insurance number, as well as the beneficiary’s. This registration is carried out with the Canada Revenue Agency and marks the coming into force of your agreement. This is a requirement under the Income Tax Act (ITA).
Return
6. What procedure should I follow to obtain a SIN?
You can apply to your local Employment Centre or visit the Service Canada web site from the following link:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/index.shtml
You must provide the child’s birth certificate when applying for a SIN. Make sure you have this document in hand before undertaking this procedure. You can visit these sites to obtain more information on the birth certificate application:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/subjects/cards/birth_certificate.shtml
Return
7. How much time do I have to provide you with the SIN?
The social insurance number must be provided as soon as possible after signing the contract so that you may rapidly benefit from the Canada Education Savings Program and Refundable Tax Credit to support Education Savings, if the beneficiary is a Québec resident.
The Universitas Foundation allows you one year from the contract signature date to provide the beneficiary’s social insurance number. As a general rule, the period for obtaining the SIN varies from the day of your application if you go directly to the local Service Canada Centre with all the required documents, to three (3) weeks if you mail in your application.
You may be granted additional time in special situations. Please contact us if you cannot obtain the SIN within the prescribed period.
Return
8. Why are there charges when there is a cancellation without the SIN?
There is no charge when you request a cancellation within 60 days following the contract signature date. If a contract is cancelled because there is no SIN on the file one year after the contract is signed, membership fees will apply.
As mentioned in the scholarship agreement proposal, the subscriber agrees to provide the SIN within the prescribed period and accepts that there will be charges if a cancellation is made after the 60-day period from the signature date.
Return
9. Which form must I complete to be sure to fully benefit from the government incentives?
The appropriate form for your situation is generally completed in the presence of your representative during the agreement signing. However, is such is not the case, you must provide one of the following forms, depending on your situation, while making sure to properly complete each of the form’s sections and transmitting all necessary information on the beneficiary and primary caregiver (first name, family name, SIN):
- The 0071 form with the heading “Basic and additional CESG and CLB application”, which must be completed by the primary caregiver and the subscriber when the latter is not the beneficiary’s tutor and primary caregiver, or;
- The 0073 form with the heading “Basic and additional CESG and CLB application -Subscriber Only”, which must be completed by the subscriber when this individual is also the beneficiary’s tutor and primary caregiver.
Return
10. Am I eligible for the Additional Grant and/or the Canada Learning Bond?
An additional grant is applicable to the first $500 of annual contributions, namely:
- 10% for a beneficiary whose annual family income exceeds $39 065 but is equal to or lower than $78 130;
- 20% for a beneficiary whose annual family income is equal to or lower than $39 065.
The family income is indexed every year.
The Canada Learning Bond is paid into the RESP of a child born on or later than January 1, 2004. The amount is paid into a beneficiary’s RESP every year when the child’s family receives the National Child Benefit Supplement.
A $500 amount is paid for the first year, and $100 is paid for every subsequent year for which the child qualifies.
In these two (2) cases, the subscriber must provide the social insurance number of the child’s primary caregiver. The child’s primary caregiver is generally the person who receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit and, if applicable, the National Child Benefit Supplement.
Return
11. Does the Canada Education Savings Grant apply retroactively?
Contributions made to your RESP during the 36 months prior to your application entitle you to the CESG retroactively to the date of these contributions, if your situation meets the eligibility criteria.
Return
12. Can I subscribe for a non-resident child?
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, the beneficiary must be a Canadian resident when the plan is first opened. The beneficiary must also be a Canadian resident at the time contributions are paid into their RESP.
Return
13. Who can obtain information on a subscriber’s contract?
The subscriber is the only one who can request and obtain information regarding their contract, unless a third party has obtained a proxy from the subscriber. The same applies when you make a change of address and/or banking information.
Return
14. How do I make a change of address or banking information?
Change of address
The subscriber can contact our Customer Service at 1-877-710-RESP (7377), or forward the change of address through the mail to 3005, avenue Maricourt, Québec (Québec) G1W 4T8, or by fax at 418-651-8030
Change of bank
The subscriber is required to provide a specimen of the new bank account making sure to sign his or her request, and to specify the desired date for the 1st withdrawal from this new account. The request must be received at least five (5) working days before the date of the next withdrawal. A quick way to ensure that the changes are made within the required time is to send us your request by fax at 418-651-8030.
Return
15. Can I send documents by fax? What is the fax number?
Yes you can, except for the following documents:
- official transcript required for the first scholarship payment
- amendment modifying a clause in your contract The fax number is 418-651-8030.
Return
16. Does this contract involve mandatory deposits?
On signing the contract you agree to pay, according to the deposit method selected, a given amount for a given period. All deposits are compulsory. You should know that we offer the possibility, at any time, of changing the deposit method for one better suited to your situation. Please contact us for further details.
Return
17. What are the conditions for a change of subscriber?
The Act stipulates that a change of subscriber can take place in either of the following situations:
- death of the subscriber;
- divorce: a person has acquired a subscriber’s RESP rights under an order or judgment made by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction, or under a written agreement for division of marital property between this person and the RESP subscriber as part of the settlement of rights resulting from their marriage or common-law relationship;
Return
18. Can I change the beneficiary of my contract?
Universitas Plan
Yes, you can replace a beneficiary who is less than 16 years of age by another beneficiary who is also less than 16 years of age. In cases where the new beneficiary is older than the registered beneficiary, you can pay certain amounts to compensate for the age difference.
Reflex Plan
Yes, you can replace a beneficiary who is less than 21 years of age by another beneficiary of the same age or younger. Where the new beneficiary is older than the registered beneficiary, you will be required to pay certain amounts to compensate for the age difference.
In all cases, a change of beneficiary is only possible when the replaced beneficiary has not already qualified for a 1st scholarship, unless the change is due to the death of the designated beneficiary.
Moreover, if the new beneficiary is not a member of the former beneficiary’s family, the grants received in the RESP must be returned in full to the Canadian government.
You must provide the following information when submitting an application for a change of beneficiary. If the new beneficiary is not already a member, the birth certificate and social insurance number are required when submitting the application. If the beneficiary is already a member, only the subscriber’s signature is required to effect the change.
Return
19. Can I interrupt my deposits without having to make up for them?
The interruption of contributions does not eliminate the obligation to make up all the contributions to achieve the subscribed capital. If the Foundation allows a subscriber to suspend the withdrawals for a time according to the established criteria, various agreements can be proposed to him allowing for updating the contract after the interruption has ended.
If you wish to interrupt your withdrawals, directly contact our Customer Service at 1 877-710-RESP (7377).
Return
20. Can I reduce the amounts of my deposits?
Yes, as long as the plan still includes a minimum of a half unit. Membership fees are withheld according to the number of cancelled units. This membership fees can be credited to any new agreement or units added during the 48 months following cancellation.
Return
21. What documents must I submit to confirm my enrolment in a study program?
The following documents are accepted: the course schedule of the current or next semester, confirmation of payment of tuition fees for the next semester of studies.
Return
22. What is a scholarship?
A scholarship is an amount of money awarded to a qualified beneficiary. It is considered taxable income once received by the beneficiary. The amount of scholarships is proportional to that of the number of units subscribed for by the subscriber.
Return
23. What are the amounts of the scholarships?
The scholarship amounts are determined in September each year. The actual value of the 1st scholarship for the period of September 1, 2009 to August 30, 2010 is $1,023 per unit. The 2nd scholarship’s value is $1,102 per unit and that of the 3rd scholarship is $1,215 per unit.
Return
24. What admissibility criteria allow beneficiaries to receive scholarships?
Beneficiaries can apply for a scholarship as soon as they become eligible and meet the admissibility criteria.
The admissibility criteria are as follows:
UNIVERSITAS PLAN
| Québec | 1st scholarship | 2nd scholarship | 3nd scholarship |
| College, technical program (DCS) | 18 courses | 30 courses | 12 university credits |
| University | 12 credits | 36 credits | 60 credits |
| Other provinces and territory or abroad | 1st scholarship | 2nd scholarship | 3nd scholarship |
| Community College | 18 courses | 30 courses | 24 university credits |
| University | 24 credits | 48 credits | 72 credits |
REFLEX PLAN
| Québec | 1st scholarship | 2nd scholarship | 3nd scholarship |
| Vocational studies (DVS) | 900 hours | 1 800 hours | to a general or technical, college program (after 24 courses) or to a university (after 12 university credits) |
| Attestation of college studies (ACS) | upon registration, after course withdrawal deadline | 14 courses | 12 university credits |
| College (pre-university) program (DCS) | upon registration, after course withdrawal deadline | 14 courses | to a general or technical, college program (after 24 courses) or to a university (after 12 university credits) |
| College, technical program (DCS) | upon registration, after course withdrawal deadline | 14 courses | 24 courses |
| University | already granted | already granted | 12 university credits |
| Other provinces and territory, or abroad | 1st scholarship | 2nd scholarship | 3nd scholarship |
| Community College | upon registration, after course withdrawal deadline | 14 courses | 24 courses or after 24 university credits |
| Private College, technical program | upon registration, after course withdrawal deadline | 14 courses | 24 university credits |
| University | upon registration, after course withdrawal deadline | 24 university credits | 48 university credits |
The post-secondary university level studies or technical CEGEP program of a beneficiary enrolled full time in a distance course are also admissible.
If the beneficiary is enrolled in a study program outside Canada, the Foundation considers the above equivalencies when distributing the scholarships.
Return
25. What documents do I need to provide to obtain my scholarships?
The following documents are required for analysis of the file: the official transcript and proof of enrolment in a study program.
Return
26. If my child is enrolled in a program to obtain a College Studies Attestation or an Occupational Training, will he or she be entitled to the scholarships?
Your child will be entitled to scholarships in those two (2) cases if they are enrolled in the REFLEX plan or Individual plan, provided they meet the plan’s admissibility criteria.
Return
27. What happens to my capital and to the scholarships if my child does not enrol in a study program?
The capital is guaranteed and can be refunded to the subscriber on the date of full refund mentioned in your contract.
A beneficiary may request their first scholarship no later than December 31st of the year in which they reach the age of 24 years. In the case of the second and third scholarships, the application can be submitted until such time as the plan has not reached the end date of the plan corresponding to the last day of the 35th year following the year the RESP came into force.
Return
