Canada Child Benefit guide: dates, amounts and who qualifies

How the Canada Child Benefit works

The Canada Child Benefit is a monthly, tax-free payment that the CRA sends to the parent or caregiver who is primarily responsible for a child under 18. It is not a loan and it does not have to be spent on anything in particular. The CRA calculates it from the family's tax returns, so there is no separate income form to send each year.

Each benefit year runs from July to the following June. The amount you get from July 2026 to June 2027 is based on your 2025 adjusted family net income, which is line 23600 of your return plus line 23600 of your spouse's or common-law partner's return, with a few adjustments for UCCB and RDSP income. When the new benefit year starts in July, your monthly amount is recalculated.

Three things set the payment: how many children you have, how old each child is, and your family income. A family with income under $38,237 gets the full amount. Above that, the benefit is reduced gradually, which is why a family earning $150,000 with several young children can still receive a monthly payment.

CCB payments in 2026: every date

The CRA pays the CCB once a month, normally on the 20th. When the 20th falls on a weekend, the payment moves to the last business day before it. December is the exception: the CRA pays it earlier in the month before the holidays.

The official 2027 CCB dates have not been published yet. For the monthly pattern, the early December payment and a labelled projection for 2027, see our CCB payment dates page. If a deposit does not show up, the CRA asks you to wait 5 working days before contacting it; our page on a CCB payment not received lists what to check first.

Canada Child Benefit amount for July 2026 to June 2027

The maximum rose in July 2026 because the CCB is indexed to inflation each July. Compared with the previous benefit year, the cap went up by $160 per child under 6 and $135 per child aged 6 to 17, according to the Government of Canada's July 2026 announcement.

The maximum is paid when adjusted family net income is $38,237 or less. Between $38,237 and $82,847, the reduction is 7% of income over the first threshold for one child, 13.5% for two, 19% for three and 23% for four or more. Above $82,847 a smaller percentage applies on top of a fixed amount. Our CCB amount per child page works through four family examples, and the CCB calculator lets you run your own numbers.

Who can get the CCB?

To qualify you must meet every one of these conditions at the same time. Missing any one of them means no payment for that month, even if the others are met.

• You live with a child under 18.
• You are primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing, such as supervising daily activities, arranging child care and making sure medical needs are met.
• You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
• You or your spouse or common-law partner is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, someone registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month.
• The child is not a foster child for whom a Children's Special Allowance is already paid.

When both parents live in the same home, the CRA presumes the female parent is primarily responsible, so she is normally the one who applies. The CCB eligibility guide covers the exceptions, and families who are new to Canada can read the separate page on CCB for work permit holders for the 18-month rule.

How to apply for CCB payments

Apply as soon as a child is born, starts living with you, or you become eligible. Waiting does not raise the amount, and requests for more than 11 months back need extra documents.

1. At birth: tick the benefits box on the provincial or territorial birth registration form at the hospital or birthing centre (not available in Nunavut). This sends your application to the CRA automatically.
2. Online: sign in to your CRA account, open Benefits and credits, and add the child. This is the faster route for adopted children, children moving in with you, and custody changes.
3. By mail: complete Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and send it to your tax centre. Newcomers and some temporary residents also attach Schedule RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information.
4. Every year after that: you and your spouse or partner each file a tax return, even with no income, so the CRA can recalculate the benefit in July.

Provincial child benefits paid with the CCB

Several provinces and territories run their own child benefit and have the CRA add it to the federal payment. You do not apply separately; the CRA uses the same CCB application and the same income figure.

Alberta is different: the Alberta Child and Family Benefit is paid four times a year (February, May, August and November) rather than on the CCB date. See the Ontario Child Benefit page for Ontario detail.

Changes that affect your CCB payments

Most payment surprises come from a change the CRA did not know about, or one it learned about late. Report these through your CRA account as soon as they happen.

Marital status

Moving in with a partner, marrying, separating or being widowed changes which incomes are combined. A new partner's income can lower the payment, and a separation can raise it. Tell the CRA by the end of the month after the change.

Custody and living arrangements

If a child lives with each parent between 40% and 60% of the time, both parents apply and each gets half of what they would receive with full custody. Less than 40% of the time with you means you are not eligible for that child.

Moving, leaving Canada or a child turning 18

Update your address and province, because provincial add-ons follow the province you live in. Payments for a child end around the child's 18th birthday; our page on when CCB stops gives the timing. Leaving Canada can end eligibility if you stop being a resident for tax purposes.

Not filing a return

If either spouse misses the annual return, the July recalculation cannot happen and payments usually stop until the return is assessed.