Canada Child Benefit 2026: Amounts, Payment Dates and Who Qualifies
The Canada Child Benefit pays up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17 from July 2026 to June 2027. What you actually get depends on your family income from your 2025 tax returns.
- Amounts checked October 23, 2026
- By H Paul
- 10 min read
On this page
- The short answer
- Who can get the Canada Child Benefit
- How the CRA works out your payment
- Worked example: two children, $72,000 of family income
- CCB amounts by family income
- How to apply
- The one habit that keeps the money coming
- CCB payment dates
- If a payment is late, missing or wrong
- Changes you must report
- How the CCB works with other benefits
- Common mistakes that cost families money
- Frequently asked questions
This guide covers who qualifies, how the CRA works out your amount, the payment dates and what to do when a payment is missing or looks wrong.
The short answer
For July 2026 to June 2027, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) pays up to $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) per child under 6 and up to $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) per child aged 6 to 17. You get the full amount if your 2025 adjusted family net income was $38,237 or less, and less above that. The CCB is tax-free, paid monthly by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and only keeps coming if you and your spouse or partner file a tax return every year.
About 3.6 million families get the CCB, according to a Government of Canada release from July 17, 2026. The maximums went up by $160 per child under 6 and $135 per child aged 6 to 17 compared with the year before, because the benefit is indexed to inflation every July.
Who can get the Canada Child Benefit
The CRA lists four main conditions. You need to meet all of them.
- You live with a child under 18.
- You are primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing.
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes. Generally, that means you normally live here and have ties such as a home, a spouse or dependants in Canada.
- You or your spouse or common-law partner has qualifying status. That is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person, or someone registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act. A temporary resident can also qualify after living in Canada for the previous 18 months, if they hold a valid permit in the 19th month.
A person with only a Refugee Protection Claimant Document is not eligible. You also cannot get the CCB for a foster child in any month the Children’s Special Allowance is paid for that child.
Two parents in the same home
Only one CCB payment goes to each household. When a child lives with both parents, the law presumes the female parent is primarily responsible, so she is the one who should apply. If the other parent is the main caregiver, that parent can apply with a signed letter from her. For same-sex parents, one parent applies for all the children in the home.
Shared custody
Custody is measured by how much time the child lives with you.
| Time the child lives with you | How the CRA sees it | Should you apply? |
|---|---|---|
| More than 60% | Full custody | Yes |
| 40% to 60% | Shared custody | Yes, both parents apply |
| Less than 40% | Not an eligible individual | No |
Source: CRA, Who can apply, modified October 22, 2026. Tell the CRA right away when a shared custody arrangement starts, ends or changes.
How the CRA works out your payment
The CRA starts with the maximum for each child, then subtracts a reduction based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI). AFNI is your net income plus your spouse’s or partner’s, minus any registered disability savings plan (RDSP) or universal child care benefit income you received, plus any of those amounts you repaid. For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, the CRA uses your 2025 returns.
The reduction has two steps. Between $38,237 and $82,847 of AFNI, a percentage of the income above $38,237 comes off. Above $82,847, a fixed amount comes off plus a smaller percentage of the income above $82,847.
| Number of children | Rate on AFNI from $38,237 to $82,847 | Reduction above $82,847 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7% | $3,123 plus 3.2% of the excess |
| 2 | 13.5% | $6,022 plus 5.7% of the excess |
| 3 | 19% | $8,476 plus 8% of the excess |
| 4 or more | 23% | $10,260 plus 9.5% of the excess |
Source: CRA, How much you can get, modified October 22, 2026. Each fixed amount equals the first-step rate on the full $44,610 band, rounded to the dollar.
The rate depends on how many children you have, not their ages. Age only changes the starting maximum.
Worked example: two children, $72,000 of family income
Take a hypothetical couple with one child aged 4 and one aged 8. Their combined 2025 net income, with no RDSP or similar adjustments, is $72,000.
- Add up the maximums. $8,157 for the child under 6 plus $6,883 for the child aged 8 gives $15,040 a year.
- Find the income over the first threshold. $72,000 minus $38,237 is $33,763. Their income is under $82,847, so only the first step applies.
- Apply the two-child rate. 13.5% of $33,763 is $4,558.
- Subtract. $15,040 minus $4,558 is $10,482 a year, or about $873.50 a month.
Hypothetical example. Calculated in Python from the CRA formula. The same script reproduces all eight official examples on the CRA’s How much you can get page to the cent.
Watch the birthday. When the 4 year old turns 6, that child’s maximum drops to $6,883. The CRA does not say on its CCB pages which month the change starts, so check your payment notice in your CRA account.
CCB amounts by family income
This table runs the same formula for common family sizes. Amounts are yearly for July 2026 to June 2027, rounded to the nearest dollar. Divide by 12 for a rough monthly figure.
| AFNI (2025) | 1 child under 6 | 1 child aged 6 to 17 | One under 6, one 6 to 17 | 3 children aged 6 to 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38,237 or less | $8,157 | $6,883 | $15,040 | $20,649 |
| $50,000 | $7,334 | $6,060 | $13,452 | $18,414 |
| $60,000 | $6,634 | $5,360 | $12,102 | $16,514 |
| $75,000 | $5,584 | $4,310 | $10,077 | $13,664 |
| $90,000 | $4,805 | $3,531 | $8,610 | $11,601 |
| $100,000 | $4,485 | $3,211 | $8,040 | $10,801 |
| $125,000 | $3,685 | $2,411 | $6,615 | $8,801 |
| $150,000 | $2,885 | $1,611 | $5,190 | $6,801 |
| $200,000 | $1,285 | $11 | $2,340 | $2,801 |
Gizly estimates from the CRA formula. They leave out the Child Disability Benefit and provincial programs. Your notice from the CRA shows your exact amount.
Two things stand out. The benefit shrinks gradually as income rises instead of stopping at a cut-off. And at high incomes, families with younger children keep a meaningful payment: one child under 6 still brings about $1,285 a year at $200,000.
How to apply
Apply as soon as you meet the conditions. Common triggers are a birth, a child moving in with you or coming back after a stay elsewhere, getting custody, or a shared custody arrangement starting or changing. There are three ways to apply.
- When you register a birth. Your province or territory passes the information to the CRA, so you do not need to send proof of birth. Online birth registration with a CCB application is available in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. It is not available in Nunavut.
- In your CRA account. Sign in, open Benefits and credits, and add the child under Child information.
- By mail. Use Form RC66 if the other options do not work, and send it to your tax centre.
Newcomers and returning residents also complete Schedule RC66SCH. If you are applying for a period that started more than 11 months ago, the CRA asks for more proof, including proof of living in Canada and of being the child’s main caregiver. You can follow your application with the progress tracker in your CRA account.
The one habit that keeps the money coming
File your tax return by April 30 every year, and make sure your spouse or partner does too, even with little or no income.
- No return, no paymentsThe CRA says payments stop if you do not file.
- Late is fixableOnce a late return is assessed, missed amounts are paid on the next payment date.
- One return, several benefitsThe same return also sets the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
CCB payment dates
The CCB is paid around the 20th of each month. The last two payments of 2026 are on November 20 and December 11. Earlier 2026 payments went out on January 20, February 20, March 20, April 20, May 20, June 19, July 20, August 20, September 18 and October 20. The CRA had not posted 2027 dates when we checked on October 23, 2026.
If your total CCB for the year is less than $240, you do not get monthly payments. The CRA pays it in one lump sum with the July payment instead. If you are new to Canada and still setting up a bank account for direct deposit, our guide to bank accounts for newcomers compares the options.
If a payment is late, missing or wrong
- Wait 5 business days. The CRA asks you to wait 5 business days after the payment date before contacting it.
- Check your CRA account. You can see your payments, account balance and statement of account there, and update your details.
- Look for the usual causes. A return not filed by you or your partner, an old address, or a change in marital status or custody the CRA has not processed.
- Call the CRA. The benefits line is 1-800-387-1193, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time. From Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, call 1-866-426-1527.
If you were paid too much, you have to pay it back. You can set up a payment arrangement by calling 1-888-863-8662. Have your social insurance number, details about the children in your care and your latest notice of assessment ready.
Changes you must report
- Marital status. Report it by the end of the month after the change. The CRA adjusts your CCB from the month after. Do not report a separation until you have been apart for more than 90 days in a row.
- Custody. Tell the CRA right away when a child is no longer in your care or a shared custody arrangement starts.
- Address and residency. Tell the CRA when you move, and contact it if your or your partner’s residency status changes.
- Death of a child. Tell the CRA as soon as possible. If the child died on or after January 1, 2026, you may keep getting payments for 6 more months, or until the date the child would have turned 18 if that comes sooner.
How the CCB works with other benefits
If your child is approved for the disability tax credit, the CRA adds the Child Disability Benefit to your CCB automatically. For July 2026 to June 2027 it is up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month) per child. It shrinks once AFNI passes $82,847, by 3.2% of the excess for one eligible child or 5.7% for two or more.
Your CCB payment may also include related provincial and territorial child benefit programs. See the full list of Canadian benefits for other programs families often qualify for.
Common mistakes that cost families money
- Skipping a tax return in a low-income year. That is exactly when the CCB pays the most.
- A partner who does not file. The CRA needs both returns to work out family income.
- Not applying when shared custody starts. Both parents should apply when the child lives with each of you 40% to 60% of the time.
- Waiting too long to apply. Once a claim reaches back more than 11 months, you need more documents.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Canada Child Benefit for 2026 to 2027?
For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) for each child under 6 and $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) for each child aged 6 to 17. Families with 2025 adjusted family net income of $38,237 or less get the full amount.
When is the next CCB payment?
The remaining 2026 CCB payment dates are November 20 and December 11. The CRA had not posted 2027 dates when we checked on October 23, 2026.
At what income does the Canada Child Benefit stop?
There is no single cut-off. The benefit starts to shrink when adjusted family net income passes $38,237 and shrinks more slowly above $82,847. Families with young children can still get a payment at incomes well above $150,000.
Do I have to file taxes to get the CCB?
Yes. You and your spouse or common-law partner must each file a tax return every year, even with little or no income. The CRA says payments stop if you do not file.
Can both parents get the CCB in shared custody?
Yes. If the child lives with each parent 40% to 60% of the time, the CRA considers it shared custody and both parents should apply. Tell the CRA when the arrangement starts or changes.
Is the Canada Child Benefit taxable?
No. The CRA describes the CCB as a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families with children under 18.
- Sources, checked October 23, 2026: CRA: CCB, how much you can get (modified 2026-10-22); CRA: CCB, who can apply (modified 2026-10-22); CRA: CCB, how to apply (modified 2026-10-22); CRA: CCB payment dates (modified 2026-10-22); CRA: CCB, keep getting your payments (modified 2026-08-25); CRA: CCB, get support for an issue (modified 2025-11-20); CRA: T4114, Canada Child Benefit booklet (modified 2026-07-02); CRA: Child Disability Benefit (modified 2026-06-15); Government of Canada news release on 2026 to 2027 CCB increases (published 2026-07-17).
- Method: The worked example and income table were calculated in Python from the CRA’s published thresholds and rates, with reductions cut to the cent as the CRA does. The same code reproduces all eight official CRA examples exactly. Table amounts are rounded to the dollar.
Important: This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your CRA notice shows your actual amount. Gizly is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. See our affiliate disclosure.
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