dependent child

A dependent child is a child who depends on their parent or parents because they’re either:

• under the age of 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship, or
• 22 or older and financially dependent on their parents since before they were 22 because they have a physical or mental condition that stops them from supporting themselves.

The rules about who is a dependent child were different before August 1, 2014, and between that date and October 23, 2017. For some people, previous rules will apply.

A dependent child can be biological, which means born to their parents, or adopted.