Alberta Child and Family Benefit: Eligibility and Payment Dates in 2025

Introduced in July 2020, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit consolidated the previous Alberta Child Benefit and Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit into one streamlined program. 

This article will cover everything you need to know about the ACFB for 2025, including eligibility criteria, payment amounts, deadlines, application details, and more. 

With inflation impacting household budgets, understanding these government benefits can help Alberta families access much-needed financial support.

What is the Alberta Child and Family Benefit?

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is a support program that provides financial aid to families in Alberta with children under 18 who have low to moderate incomes. The program is managed by the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of the provincial government.

The overarching goal of the ACFB is to provide Alberta families with a better quality of life for their children and support their well-being.

By issuing tax-free quarterly payments, the ACFB aims to make life more affordable for households and enable them to access health resources, childcare, housing, food, and other necessities.

Who Qualifies for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit?

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit is available to families that meet the following four eligibility criteria:

• You must be an Alberta resident: You must live in Alberta with your children and have an Alberta home address.
• You must have at least one dependent child under the age of 18: Your child must live with you and be financially dependent on you.
• You must meet the income eligibility requirements: Your adjusted family net income must be below the income thresholds (see next section for details).
• You must file an annual income tax return: The CRA will determine your eligibility and benefit amount based on your tax return.

Unlike some other child benefit programs, you do not need to apply separately for the ACFB. The CRA automatically assesses your eligibility whenever you file your taxes and apply for the Canada Child Benefit.

As long as you are receiving the Canada Child Benefit, you will be automatically enrolled in the ACFB program if you satisfy the eligibility criteria above as an Alberta resident.

How Much is the Alberta Child and Family Benefit?

The amount your family will receive from the Alberta Child and Family Benefit depends on two main factors:

• Your adjusted family net income
• The number of children under 18 in your household

The ACFB payment consists of two components:

• Base component: Available to all low-income families with children
• Working component: Additional amount for families with an employment income over $2,760

Let’s look at each component’s maximum amounts for the July 2024 to June 2025 ACFB benefit year:

Number of Children	Base Component (Maximum)	Working Component (Maximum)	Total Maximum Amount
1	$1,469	$752	$2,221
2	$2,204	$1,437	$3,641
3	$2,939	$1,847	$4,786
4 or more	$3,674	$1,982	$5,656

Source: Alberta Child and Family Benefit – Alberta.ca

These amounts are reduced once your adjusted family net income exceeds the thresholds of $27,024 (base) and $45,285 (working).

You can use the Government of Canada’s Child and Family Benefits Calculator to calculate your potential ACFB amount based on your family income and number of children.

How to Apply for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit

The application process for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit is simple in the sense that there is no new application. You will be assessed automatically as long as you file your annual tax return and are eligible for the federal Canada Child Benefit.

Here are the four steps to receive the ACFB:

• File your income tax return each year
• Ensure you apply for the Canada Child Benefit
• If you meet the eligibility criteria as an Alberta resident, you’ll be automatically enrolled in the ACFB program
• The CRA will calculate your ACFB amount based on your tax return details

If you have recently moved to Alberta, you will become eligible for the ACFB payments in the first full month after establishing Alberta residency. The CRA will assess your eligibility for the remainder of the benefit year.

What are the ACFB payment dates for 2025?

Alberta Child and Family Benefit provides support to eligible families. Each Alberta Child and Family Benefit payment is delivered in quarterly installments.

The ACFB will be paid for 2025 on the dates shown below:

• February 27, 2025
• May 27, 2025
• August 27, 2025
• November 27, 2025

They are payments that are issued by direct deposit or by cheque by the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of the Alberta Government.

If the amount you are eligible for is less than $10 per quarter, your payments may be consolidated and issued less frequently (e.g. semi-annually rather than quarterly). So, make sure you mark your calendar for the ACFB payment dates.

What If Your Alberta Child Benefit Payment Is Delayed?

If you have not received your expected ACFB deposit within five business days of the scheduled payment date, contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-387-1193 to investigate the delay.

When you call, have your social insurance number and prior ACFB payment details available. The CRA agent can then look into the status of your missing deposit and reissue the payment as needed.

Four common reasons for ACFB payment delays include:

• Change in bank account details not updated with CRA
• Mail disruption or lost cheque
• Eligibility reassessment resulting in pending adjustment
• Error in payment processing

Provide the CRA agent with as much information as possible about your particular situation so they can resolve the delay swiftly. You can also log in to MyAccount on the CRA website to double-check your payment status and details.

Taking initiative ensures you receive your full ACFB entitlement, even if there are temporary delays or administrative errors.

What If Your Family Status Changes?

You must promptly inform the CRA if your family’s financial or household situation changes, as it may impact your eligibility or monthly ACFB payment.

The above four situations are to be reported to CRA within 30 days, after any of the following have happened:

• Change in marital status
• Change in income
• Change in number of children
• Moving in or out of Alberta

Based on your reported change, the CRA will reassess your eligibility and adjust your ongoing ACFB amount accordingly.

If your income has increased such that your ACFB amount decreases, you will have to repay any overpaid amounts that you received in previous months. It is crucial to report income changes to avoid repayment issues later on.

Conversely, if you become eligible for a higher ACFB payment due to changes in income or dependents, the CRA will automatically adjust your benefit going forward.

How Does the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) Compare to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?

Although the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) shares some features with the federal Canada Child Benefit (CCB), they are distinct programs with important differences. 

The table below outlines the seven key differences between the two:

Aspect	Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)	Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
Program Level	Provincial (Alberta only)	Federal (nationwide)
Eligibility Requirement	Must first qualify for the CCB	Direct application required
Payment Frequency	Quarterly	Monthly
Application Process	No separate application; automatic via tax return	Requires formal application
Residency Requirement	Must reside in Alberta	Available to all eligible Canadians
Maximum Benefit (2025)	Lower than CCB	Higher benefit amounts
Income Reduction Thresholds	Different from CCB	Different from ACFB

The ACFB is designed to complement the federal CCB by offering additional financial support to low- and middle-income families living in Alberta. To maximize your benefits, ensure that you apply for the Canada Child Benefit and keep your tax filings up to date to be automatically assessed for ACFB eligibility.

How Does ACFB Interact with Other Child Benefit Programs?

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit stacks on top of other federal and provincial child benefit programs.

Receiving the ACFB does not affect eligibility for other provincial benefits such as:

• Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
• Alberta Income Support
• Alberta child care subsidy

You can and will receive the ACFB in addition to the federal Canada Child Benefit (CCB). The ACFB supplement tops up the CCB amount for Alberta families.

Therefore, Alberta parents receive higher total child benefit payments compared to other provinces due to receiving both federal and provincial child benefits.

The bottom line

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) program plays a crucial role in supporting low and moderate-income families with children in Alberta. The ACFB provides them with extra cash every few months, which can make it easier to cover expenses such as food, housing, and childcare.

With the cost of living going up, it’s more important than ever for families to know if they qualify for the ACFB and how to get it. If you live in Alberta and have children under 18, be sure to check out this program to see if it can help your family.

FAQs about Alberta Child and Family Benefit

Article Sources

• Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) Eligibility and Payment Dates – springfinancial.ca
• Canada Child Benefit and Family Benefit Programs – taxtips.ca