The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a government benefit that gives eligible families a tax-free monthly payment to help with the cost of raising children under 18. Knowing when your CCB payments arrive — and how much you can expect — makes it easier to plan your budget around groceries, childcare, and other family expenses.
Key Points
1. The CCB is paid once a month, usually on the 20th..
2. For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year, the maximum is $7,997 per year ($666.41/month) for each child under 6, and $6,748 per year ($562.33/month) for each child aged 6 to 17.
3. Starting July 2026, CCB amounts rise by about 2.0% — up to roughly $8,157 per year for each child under 6.
4. Your payment is based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI). You get the full amount if your AFNI is $37,487 or less, then it’s gradually reduced as your income rises.
What Is The Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?
The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for families raising children under the age of 18. It’s designed to help with the everyday costs of parenting, and because it’s based on your income, lower- and middle-income families receive the most support.
The amount you get is recalculated every July based on the adjusted family net income (AFNI) you reported on your previous year’s tax return. That means filing your taxes on time each year — even if you have no income to report — is essential to keep your payments coming.
How The CCB Differs From The Old Child Benefits
The Canada Child Benefit launched on July 1, 2016, replacing a patchwork of older programs — the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS), and the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB). If you remember the old “Baby Bonus” or UCCB cheques, the CCB works quite differently:
| Feature | Old System (Before July 2016) | Canada Child Benefit (Since 2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable? | The UCCB was taxable — you reported it as income | Completely tax-free |
| Income-tested? | The UCCB was paid to all families regardless of income | Yes — based on your adjusted family net income |
| Number of programs | Several separate benefits (UCCB, CCTB, NCBS) | One combined monthly payment |
The result is a single, tax-free payment that gives the most support to low- and middle-income families, rather than a taxable amount paid equally to everyone.
Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates 2026
The CRA pays the CCB on the 20th of each month. When the 20th falls on a weekend or a federal statutory holiday, your payment is issued on the last business day before it.
For 2026, the CCB payment dates are as follows¹:
| Month | 2026 CCB Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
| February | Friday, February 20, 2026 |
| March | Friday, March 20, 2026 |
| April | Monday, April 20, 2026 |
| May | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
| June | Friday, June 19, 2026 |
| July | Monday, July 20, 2026 |
| August | Thursday, August 20, 2026 |
| September | Friday, September 18, 2026 |
| October | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| November | Friday, November 20, 2026 |
| December | Friday, December 11, 2026 |
Note: Payments Via Cheque
The dates above are when the CRA issues your payment — they’re accurate if you use direct deposit, which lands in your account on the payment date. If you receive your CCB by paper cheque in the mail, expect it to arrive several days later, depending on Canada Post delivery times. To get paid faster and on the exact date, set up direct deposit through your CRA My Account.
2026 CCB Payment Dates Calendar
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How Much Can You Get From The CCB?
CCB amounts are set for a 12-month benefit year that runs from July to June, and they’re indexed to inflation each July. The maximum you can receive depends on your child’s age and your adjusted family net income.
For the current and upcoming benefit years, the maximum CCB amounts are as follows²:
| Child’s Age | Maximum (July 2025 – June 2026) | Maximum (July 2026 – June 2027)† |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | $7,997/year ($666.41/month) | ≈$8,157/year (≈$679.75/month) |
| 6 to 17 | $6,748/year ($562.33/month) | ≈$6,883/year (≈$573.58/month) |
† The July 2026 to June 2027 figures reflect the 2.0% inflation indexation increase that takes effect July 1, 2026. Confirm the exact amounts against the CRA before publishing.²
The CCB Is Going Up In July 2026
Source: Canada Revenue Agency²
If your total annual CCB entitlement is less than $240, you won’t receive monthly payments. Instead, the CRA pays the full amount in a single lump sum in July¹.
- Add up your yearly total: Estimate your full July-to-June CCB for all of your children combined.
- Check it against the $240 cutoff: The CRA only issues monthly payments when your annual total is $240 or more (about $20+ a month).
- Consider your income: Higher-income families whose benefit is heavily reduced are the most likely to land under the $240 threshold.
If your yearly total is $240 or more: you’ll receive 12 monthly payments on the dates above.
If it’s under $240: you’ll get the entire amount in one lump-sum payment in July.
Do You Qualify For The CCB?
To receive the Canada Child Benefit, you must meet all of the following conditions⁵:
- You live with a child who is under 18 years of age.
- You are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of that child.
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You or your spouse/common-law partner are one of the following: a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person, a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months with a valid permit, or an Indigenous person who meets the definition of “Indian” under the Indian Act.
If you share custody of a child, you’ll generally receive 50% of the amount you would have gotten with full custody, since the benefit is split between both caregivers.
How Is Your CCB Payment Calculated?
Your CCB is calculated using three things: the number of children you have, their ages, and your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from the previous tax year. The CRA starts with the maximum amount for each child, then reduces it based on your income.
- If your AFNI is $37,487 or less, you receive the full maximum amount for each child.
- If your AFNI is above $37,487, your benefit is reduced using a set formula, which gets steeper once your income passes a second threshold of $81,222.
Because the calculation resets every July using your most recent tax return, your payments can go up or down from one benefit year to the next as your income changes.
How Your Income Affects Your CCB Payment
Once your adjusted family net income passes $37,487, the CRA reduces your benefit by a percentage of the income above that threshold. The reduction rate depends on how many children you have, and a higher set of rates kicks in above $81,222.
For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year, the reduction amounts are as follows³:
| Number Of Children | AFNI Between $37,487 And $81,222 | AFNI Over $81,222 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | 7% of income above $37,487 | $3,061 + 3.2% of income above $81,222 |
| 2 children | 13.5% of income above $37,487 | $5,904 + 5.7% of income above $81,222 |
| 3 children | 19% of income above $37,487 | $8,310 + 8% of income above $81,222 |
| 4 or more children | 23% of income above $37,487 | $10,059 + 9.5% of income above $81,222 |
Example: Say you have one child under 6 and your AFNI is $95,000. Your income is $13,778 over the $81,222 threshold, so your reduction is $3,061 + 3.2% of $13,778 = $3,061 + $440.90 = $3,501.90 for the year. Subtracting that from the $7,997 maximum leaves you with $4,495.10 for the year, or about $374.59 per month.
Keep in mind these thresholds rise to $38,237 and $82,847 for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, so the same income will result in a slightly smaller reduction going forward².
How Do You Apply For The CCB?
There are two main ways to apply for the Canada Child Benefit⁵.
Method 1: Birth Registration
When your child is born, you can apply for the CCB at the same time you register their birth with your province or territory. In most provinces you can do this online through your provincial Vital Statistics Agency, and you can consent to share your information with the CRA so your CCB application is processed automatically.
Method 2: Apply Through The CRA
If you didn’t apply at birth — or your child arrived through adoption or immigration — you can apply directly with the CRA:
- Online, through your CRA My Account.
- By mail, by completing Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) and sending it to your tax centre.
You may be asked for additional documents, such as proof of birth, depending on your child’s age and where they were born. Once you apply, the CRA generally takes about 8 weeks to process an online application and 11 weeks for a mailed one.
To start receiving payments, you and your spouse or common-law partner must file your tax returns. If you file by the April 30 deadline, your payments for the new benefit year will start in July.
New Rules On The Death Of A CCB Recipient
If a child who qualifies for the CCB passes away, eligibility for the benefit may continue for up to six months after the child’s death, as long as you remain otherwise eligible. To make sure your records are accurate, you should notify the CRA before the end of the month following the month of death.
Provincial And Territorial Child Benefits
Many provinces and territories offer their own child benefits, and in most cases the CRA pays them together with your federal CCB in a single monthly deposit. These include programs in British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
A few provinces handle things differently:
- Alberta combines its provincial support into the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB), paid separately from the CCB.
- Quebec runs its own Family Allowance program through Retraite Québec, along with supplements for handicapped children and for school supplies.
Eligibility and amounts are income-tested and vary by province, so check your province’s program for the details that apply to you.
Note: How The CCB Works In Quebec
If you live in Quebec, you still receive the federal Canada Child Benefit on the same dates and at the same amounts as the rest of Canada. On top of that, Quebec runs its own Family Allowance through Retraite Québec — a separate, tax-free payment with its own schedule and amounts, plus supplements for handicapped children and for school supplies. The two benefits don’t reduce each other, so eligible Quebec families receive both.
Provincial Child Benefit Programs In Canada
- The Newfoundland And Labrador Child Benefit
- The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)
- Nova Scotia Child Benefit (NSCB)
- Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) Payment Dates
Other Benefits You Can Receive For Your Child
The CCB isn’t the only support available to parents. Depending on your child’s situation, you may also qualify for:
- Child Disability Benefit (CDB). If your child qualifies for the disability tax credit, you can receive an extra tax-free amount on top of your CCB — up to $3,411 per year ($284.25 per month) for the July 2025 to June 2026 period, rising to about $3,480 per year in July 2026⁴.
- Provincial child benefits. As noted above, your province may add its own income-tested top-up to your monthly payment.
Note that the Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement (CCBYCS) — a temporary top-up paid during the pandemic — ended on December 31, 2021, and is no longer available.
How To Make The Most Of Your CCB
A few simple habits help you receive the full amount you’re entitled to — and get it on time.
5 Ways To Maximize Your Canada Child Benefit
File Your Taxes Every Year
You and your spouse or common-law partner must file, even with no income — the CRA can’t calculate or continue your benefit without your return.
Set Up Direct Deposit
Direct deposit lands on the exact payment date; paper cheques can take several extra days. Set it up in your CRA My Account.
Report Life Changes Right Away
Tell the CRA about changes to your marital status, custody arrangement, address, or banking so your payments stay accurate and uninterrupted.
Apply For The Disability Supplement
If your child qualifies for the disability tax credit, apply for the Child Disability Benefit to receive extra money on top of your CCB.
Check Your Provincial Top-Up
Most provinces add an income-tested child benefit to the same deposit. Confirm you’re getting everything your province offers.
Bottom Line
The Canada Child Benefit can be a meaningful source of monthly support for families, but how much you receive depends on your income and your children’s ages — and the amounts change every July. The single most important thing you can do to protect your payments is file your taxes on time each year, even if you had no income. With the July 2026 increase on the way, it’s also worth reviewing your CRA My Account to confirm your details are up to date.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB) FAQs
References
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2026). Payment dates — Canada child benefit (CCB). https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit/payment-dates.html
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2026). How much you can get — Canada child benefit (CCB). https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit/how-much.html
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2025). Canada child benefit (CCB) — calculation sheet for the July 2025 to June 2026 payments (2024 base year). https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit/canada-child-benefit-ccb-calculation-sheet-july-2025-june-2026-payments-2024-tax-year.html
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2025). Child disability benefit (CDB) guideline table — July 2025 to June 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/child-disability-benefit.html
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2026). Canada child benefit — Who can apply / How to apply. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit/who-apply.html
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