Canada Child Benefit (CCB): Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Being a parent comes with a lot of love – and a lot of expenses. From daycare and activities to clothing and healthcare, costs add up quickly for Canadian families. Fortunately, the government benefits provide financial assistance through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).

Read on to understand CCB eligibility, payment calculations, and application processes, which help families maximize their benefits while planning household budgets.

What is the Canada Child Benefit?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a monthly, tax-free payment from the federal government to help eligible Canadian families care for children under 18 years old.

Introduced in 2016, the CCB replaced the former Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB). It is now the main child benefit program administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), designed to provide greater assistance to lower-income families.

How much you get depends on your family income. The maximum amounts go to lower-income households, with payments incrementally reduced as family income increases. Once income exceeds set thresholds, only minimum benefits per child are provided.

Who Can Receive the Canada Child Benefit?

To receive the Canada Child Benefit, families must meet certain eligibility requirements. So you may qualify for CCB if you:

• Being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or temporary resident for 18+ months
• Filing an annual income tax return, even if no income was earned that year.
• Living with a child under 18 years old. Children may be natural, adopted, step or foster children.
• Being primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing. This means supervising the child’s daily activities, ensuring medical needs are met, and arranging child care.

In cases where two parents/caregivers live with the child, typically, the female parent should apply, as they are presumed to be primarily responsible.

However, this can be overridden if the parents determine that the male parent is truly the primary caregiver. To define primary responsibility, the CRA suggests looking at who is mainly responsible for the child’s daily care, health needs and child care arrangement.

If the answers indicate the male parent has primary responsibility, they should apply for the CCB instead.

For same-sex couples, the parents must decide between themselves which one will be the CCB applicant.

How Much Canada Child Benefit Can You Get?

According to the Government of Canada, for the benefit period from July 2025 to June 2026, families can receive up to:

• $7,997 annually (or $666.41 monthly) for each eligible child under the age of 6
• $6,748 annually (or $562.33 monthly) for each eligible child between the ages of 6 and 17

These amounts start to phase out at an adjusted family net income (AFNI) exceeding $37,487. Payments decrease incrementally as income rises to target benefits for lower and middle-income families.

For families with an AFNI over $37,487 up to $81,222, the CCB is reduced based on the number of children, according to the following phase-out rates:

For higher incomes exceeding $81,222, the CCB phase-out calculation changes to include both a fixed dollar amount deduction and a percentage reduction based on income over the threshold:

That said, the CCB provides maximum payment amounts up to an income threshold, then phases out the benefit incrementally through two income testing stages to target lower and middle-income families.

Source: Government of Canada – Canada child benefit: How much you can get

When Will I Get My Canada Child Benefit Payments?

CCB payments are issued monthly, typically around the 20th of each month. According to the Canada.ca, here are the Canada Child Benefit payment dates for 2025:

• January 20, 2025
• February 20, 2025
• March 20, 2025
• April 17, 2025
• May 20, 2025
• June 20, 2025
• July 18, 2025
• August 20, 2025
• September 19, 2025
• October 20, 2025
• November 20, 2025
• December 12, 2025

If the total CCB amount for the year is less than $240, it is combined into one payment issued in July.

The CRA publishes the payment schedule listing exact dates for the upcoming benefit year. You can also view your next CCB amount and payment date by logging into your CRA MyAccount online.

Receiving CCB deposits on a monthly basis provides eligible families with an effective budgeting strategy. They can plan their expenses knowing that this consistent assistance is available to help cover costs.

How to Apply for the Canada Child Benefit?

You can submit an application for CCB in four ways, each of which comes with a different processing time:

• At Childbirth – Simply check “yes” to consent for CCB registration when registering your child’s birth in the hospital. Provide your Social Insurance Number, and the agency will securely share your details with CRA.
• Online – Apply through CRA MyAccount. You’ll need to enter the child’s details and confirm your eligibility. Applying online results in the first payment in about 8 weeks.
• By mail – Print and complete Form RC66 Canada Child Benefits Application. Attach any required documents proving the child’s status and mail them to your CRA tax centre. Applying by mail takes approximately 11 weeks for the initial payment.
• In person – Visit a Service Canada location and speak with an agent who can assist you with the application.

Ideally, you should apply as soon as possible after your child is born or comes into your care. Submitting your application quickly means you will receive CCB sooner to start covering child-related costs.

How Do I Continue Receiving Uninterrupted CCB Payments?

To ensure your CCB deposits continue uninterrupted, you must file taxes every year, even if you have zero income. Both single parents and couples need to file annual returns.

The CRA uses your tax filings to verify income, family status, children’s ages and other details. Up-to-date information ensures they calculate your benefits accurately.

You should also notify CRA immediately if any of the following changes:

• Marital or relationship status
• Family makeup, custody arrangements
• New bank account details
• Change of home address
• A child turns 18 years old

Keeping the CRA informed about changes in your situation avoids delays, missed payments, or unnecessary account holds. You want to ensure your entitlement is calculated correctly at each July recalculation.

Tax Filing Tips to Get the Most from CCB

You can maximize your Canada Child Benefit by making sure to follow proper filing practices and claim eligible deductions. Here are seven top tips:

• File every year – Don’t skip filing because you have a low income. Not filing means zero CCB entitlement.
• File on time – Submit your return by the April deadline. Late filers get CCB calculated at $0 until assessments are updated.
• Report all income – Failing to report income from all required sources could lower your future benefits.
• Claim deductions – Reduce your net income by claiming deductions for RRSPs, childcare, medical expenses, etc. This may increase CCB payments.
• Split income – If one spouse earned significantly more, try claiming children’s arts tax credits or pensions to smooth out household income. This could maximize CCB entitlement.
• Open RESPs – While RESPs don’t directly affect CCB, building education savings for your kids can reduce future post-secondary costs.
• Update your marital status – CRA can’t pay you accurately as a single parent if you don’t update your marital status after a separation or divorce.

Filing complete, accurate returns and keeping the CRA informed ensures you receive the maximum CCB amount eligible based on your family circumstances.

Provincial and Territorial Child Benefits

Certain provincial and territorial governments have arranged for the CRA to deliver their child benefit payments along with the CCB in a combined monthly amount. This simplifies the process for families who qualify for both federal and regional child benefits.

Below are provincial/territorial child benefit programs that the CRA administer payment delivery:

• Alberta Child and Family Benefit
• BC Family Benefit
• New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit
• Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit
• Northwest Territories Child Benefit
• Nova Scotia Child Benefit
• Nunavut Child Benefit
• Ontario Child Benefit
• Prince Edward Island Child Benefit
• Yukon Child Benefit

Eligibility criteria, income thresholds, payment amounts and other requirements differ between the various regional child benefit programs. Thus, families must check with their provincial/territorial revenue department for full details.

Applying for the Canada Child Benefit through the CRA application process may automatically assess eligibility for certain supplementary regional child benefits. This allows seamless combined monthly payments.

Families who receive both federal and provincial/territorial child benefits administered by the CRA will get a single monthly deposit, adding up benefit amounts from all programs.

Families who have a child with a serious and long-term disability may also get the Child Disability Benefit (CDB). This is a tax-free monthly payment that helps cover extra care costs.

The bottom line

The Canada Child Benefit provides substantial financial relief to families raising children under 18 years old. The tax-free monthly payments help cover expenses from childcare to school supplies.

While CCB amounts phase out at higher incomes, most families should apply, as even moderate-income earners can receive thousands per year. Payments are determined based on your family income, number of kids, marital status and other factors.

Filing taxes annually and notifying the CRA of any changes ensures you continue receiving benefits without interruption. Overall, the CCB can make a real difference in helping families achieve a better quality of life.

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