The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) designed to support families with children under 18. Payment amounts depend on family income, number of children, and marital status. Applying early ensures you do not miss out on critical support.
What Is the Canada Child Benefit?
The CCB is a monthly tax-exempt payment that helps parents and caregivers cover the cost of raising children. Payments run from July to June each year and are based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from the previous tax year.
To qualify, you must:
- Live with a child under the age of 18.
- Be primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing.
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, temporary resident (in Canada for 18 months with a valid permit for the 19th), or registered under the Indian Act.
When to Apply
You should apply for the CCB as soon as any of the following occur:
- Your child is born.
- A child begins or returns to live with you.
- You start, end, or change a shared custody arrangement.
- You gain custody of a child.
- You or your spouse/common-law partner meet the eligibility requirements.
If a child started living with you more than 11 months ago, additional documents will be required.
How Much Can You Receive?
For the July 2025 – June 2026 payment period (based on 2024 income):
- Children under 6 years old: up to $7,997 annually ($666.42 per month).
- Children aged 6–17: up to $6,748 annually ($562.33 per month).
Your benefit decreases as your AFNI rises above $37,487. For example, with one child under 6 and an AFNI of $40,000, your benefit would be reduced to $7,821.09.
Families may also qualify for the Child Disability Benefit, which provides up to $3,411 annually ($284.25 per month) per child with a disability.
How to Apply for Canada Child Benefit
There are three main application methods:
- Birth Registration – In many provinces and territories, you can consent to share your child’s birth details with the CRA when registering the birth.
- Online (CRA My Account) – Log in, select “Apply for child benefits,” confirm your details, and submit your application. Additional documents can be uploaded through the “Submit documents” option.
- By Mail – Complete Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) and mail it to your tax centre with required documents.
Requirements For Canada Child Benefit Application
You may need to provide:
- Proof of birth for your child.
- Translations of any documents not in English or French.
- Documents if applying for a period that began more than 11 months ago.
- Proof of status if you or your spouse/common-law partner are newcomers or returning residents.
- Additional details if leaving an abusive or violent situation.
When Are Payments Received?
- Online applications: within 8 weeks.
- Mail applications: within 11 weeks.
- Annual benefits below $240 are paid in a lump sum each July.
- All other payments are issued monthly, usually between the 18th and 20th of each month.
How to Keep Receiving Payments
To maintain eligibility:
- File your tax return on time each year. Your spouse or common-law partner must also file, even if no income was earned.
- Update the CRA immediately about changes in marital status, custody, banking information, or address.
Failure to update details may delay or stop your payments.
Additional Provincial and Territorial Benefits
Many provinces and territories provide extra child and family benefits. Some are paid separately, while others are combined with your federal CCB payment. For example:
- British Columbia Family Benefit
- Ontario Child Benefit
- Alberta Child and Family Benefit
These are automatically assessed when you apply for the CCB.
FAQ: Canada Child Benefit
1. Who can apply for the CCB?
Parents or caregivers who live with a child under 18, are primarily responsible for the child, and meet Canadian residency and status requirements.
2. How long does it take to start receiving payments?
Typically 8 weeks for online applications and 11 weeks for mailed applications.
3. Do foster parents receive the CCB?
No. Foster parents receive the Children’s Special Allowances (CSA) instead, which is not the same as the CCB.
4. Can shared custody affect my CCB?
Yes. Each parent will generally receive 50% of the benefit based on custody time.
5. What happens if I don’t file my taxes?
Payments may stop. Both you and your spouse/common-law partner must file annual tax returns.
Official Sources
