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- For July 2026 through June 2027, the maximum CCB is $8,157 per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17.
- The CRA bases payments on your adjusted family net income, the number and ages of your children, and your 2025 tax information.
- To avoid interruptions, eligible families should file tax returns every year, update custody or personal details, and check payment information in their CRA account.
What changed for the Canada Child Benefit in 2026–2027?
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) increased for the payment period running from July 2026 through June 2027. The maximum is now $8,157 per year for each child under age 6, or about $679.75 per month. For each child aged 6 to 17, the maximum is $6,883 per year, or about $573.58 per month.
Those are maximum amounts, not guaranteed payments. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reduces the benefit as adjusted family net income rises. Your actual amount also depends on how many eligible children are in your care and their ages.
The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families raising children under 18. It may also include the Child Disability Benefit and related provincial or territorial programs. You generally don’t apply separately for those related programs when you apply for the CCB.
For families in the United States, this is a Canadian federal benefit administered by the CRA. U.S. residents generally aren’t eligible simply because they have children; the eligibility rules are tied to living in Canada, caregiving responsibility, immigration status, and Canadian tax information.
How much could you receive?
The CRA calculates the 2026–2027 CCB using your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from your 2025 tax return. If your AFNI is below $38,237, the maximum benefit isn’t reduced under the standard calculation.
| Child’s age | 2026–2027 maximum | Approximate monthly maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | $8,157 per year | $679.75 |
| 6 to 17 | $6,883 per year | $573.58 |
For one eligible child, the first reduction range applies when AFNI is above $38,237 and up to $82,847. In that range, the annual benefit is reduced by 7% of the income above $38,237. Higher-income families use a different calculation, and families with more than one child have additional rates and thresholds.
The easiest way to get a personalized estimate is to use the CRA’s child and family benefits calculator or review the amount shown in your CRA account. An online estimate is useful for planning, but the CRA’s official determination controls the payment you receive.
Use the CRA child and family benefits calculator
Who is eligible for the CCB?
You may qualify if you live with and care for a child under 18 and are primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing. You must also meet the CRA’s residence and status requirements.
In general, the eligible caregiver must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and certain temporary residents may qualify. A temporary resident generally must have lived in Canada during the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month that doesn’t say it does not confer status or temporary resident status.
You must meet the criteria for each child. A foster child isn’t eligible for the CCB for any month when Children’s Special Allowances are payable for that child. However, a child cared for under certain kinship or close-relationship programs may qualify if those special allowances aren’t payable.
Parents living together
Only one CCB payment is issued for a household. When spouses or common-law partners live together with the children, the female parent is generally presumed to be primarily responsible under the legislation. If the other parent is actually primarily responsible, that parent can apply with a signed letter from the female parent confirming the caregiving arrangement. This letter isn’t required for same-sex parents.
Shared custody
If a child lives with each parent between 40% and 60% of the time, both parents can generally apply for the CCB. Each parent’s payment is calculated using that parent’s own adjusted family net income.
If the child lives with you more than 60% of the time, you generally apply as the parent with full custody. If the child lives with you less than 40% of the time, you generally aren’t considered eligible for the CCB for that child. Tell the CRA when custody arrangements change, even if the change is temporary.
What should you prepare before applying?
Most applicants should have the following information ready:
- Your Social Insurance Number and, if applicable, your spouse’s or common-law partner’s SIN.
- The child’s full legal name, date of birth, and proof of birth if the CRA hasn’t previously paid benefits for that child.
- Your marital status, citizenship or immigration information, and current address.
- Details about who lives with the child and who is primarily responsible for care.
- Supporting documents for custody, residency, immigration status, or a late application if the CRA requests them.
If you’re a newcomer or returning resident, you may need Form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information. If you apply for a period that began more than 11 months ago, the CRA may request proof of Canadian status, residence, the child’s birth, and your caregiving responsibility.
How to apply for the Canada Child Benefit
Apply as soon as you or your spouse or common-law partner becomes eligible—for example, after a birth, when a child starts living with you, or when a custody arrangement changes.
Apply through the Automated Benefits Application
Apply for the Canada Child Benefit through your CRA account
- Apply during birth registration. In participating provinces and territories, a parent can use the Automated Benefits Application while registering a newborn’s birth. Nunavut doesn’t currently offer this option.
- Apply through your CRA account. Sign in, choose your Individual account, open Benefits and credits, select Add in the Child information section, enter the requested details, and submit the application. Save the confirmation.
- Apply by mail if needed. Complete and sign Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and include any supporting documents required for your situation.
If you apply online and the CRA asks for proof of birth or another document, use the Submit documents service in your CRA account. Don’t submit a second application through another method unless the CRA tells you to; duplicate applications can delay processing.
Submit documents to the CRA online
2026 CCB payment dates and how to check your amount
The CRA normally issues the CCB on the 20th of each month, or on the previous business day when the 20th falls on a weekend or federal holiday. The published 2026 dates are:
| Month | Payment date |
|---|---|
| January | January 20, 2026 |
| February | February 20, 2026 |
| March | March 20, 2026 |
| April | April 20, 2026 |
| May | May 20, 2026 |
| June | June 19, 2026 |
| July | July 20, 2026 |
| August | August 20, 2026 |
| September | September 18, 2026 |
| October | October 20, 2026 |
| November | November 20, 2026 |
| December | December 11, 2026 |
Because the current payment year runs from July 2026 through June 2027, the July, August, September, October, November, and December 2026 payments are based on 2025 tax information. The CRA recalculates benefits every July.
Check your CCB payment date and amount in your CRA account
In your CRA account, look under Benefits and credits to see your next expected payment date, payment amount, payment history, and CCB statement of account. Direct deposit is generally the fastest way to receive the money. If a payment doesn’t arrive, check your account and personal information first, then wait five business days after the scheduled date before contacting the CRA.
How to keep receiving the benefit
After you apply, both you and your spouse or common-law partner must file an income tax and benefit return every year, even if one of you had no income. The CRA uses those returns to reassess eligibility and calculate the next payment year.
Update the CRA when your address, marital status, banking information, immigration status, or custody arrangement changes. A change in family income can also change your payment when the benefit is recalculated.
If your payment stops or changes unexpectedly, review your notice in the CRA account and check whether the CRA requested documents. Missing information, an unfiled tax return, a change in custody, or a review of eligibility can all affect payments.
Sign in to your CRA account to manage benefits and credits
Common mistakes and scams to avoid
Don’t assume that the maximum amount is what every family will receive. The figures of $8,157 and $6,883 apply only before income-based reductions and other adjustments.
Be cautious of messages promising an instant CCB increase or asking you to provide banking information through a text message or unfamiliar website. Use the CRA’s official account and Canada.ca pages instead of links supplied in unsolicited messages.
If you’re unsure what to do next, the safest action is to sign in to your CRA account, review the Benefits and credits section, and confirm that your 2025 tax return and family information are up to date.
Helpful Links
- Canada Child Benefit overview – Review the official CCB eligibility, payment, application, and contact information.
- CCB amounts for July 2026 to June 2027 – Check the official maximum amounts, income thresholds, and calculation rules.
- CCB payment dates for 2026 – View the official monthly payment schedule and instructions for checking payment status.
- How to apply for the CCB – Compare birth registration, CRA account, and mail-in application options.
- Form RC66 Canada Child Benefit Application – Download the current official application form and filing instructions.
- Sign in to your CRA account – Official page referenced in the article.
- Child and family benefits calculator – Official page referenced in the article.
- How to apply for child and family benefits when registering the birth of your newborn with the Automated Benefits Application – Official page referenced in the article.
- RC66SCH Status in Canada and Income Information for the Canada Child Benefit Application – Official page referenced in the article.
- Submit documents online – Official page referenced in the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to apply again because the CCB increased for 2026–2027?
A. No. If you already receive the CCB and continue to meet the requirements, the CRA recalculates your payment automatically each July using your tax information. You should still file your tax return every year and report changes that could affect eligibility.
Q. Is the Canada Child Benefit taxable?
A. No. The CCB is a tax-free benefit, so you don’t include it as taxable income on your income tax return.
Q. What happens when my child turns 6?
A. The child receives the under-6 rate for the month they turn 6. The lower 6-to-17 rate generally begins the following month.
Q. Can both parents receive the CCB for the same child?
A. Only one household payment is issued when parents live together. In shared custody situations where the child lives with each parent between 40% and 60% of the time, both parents can generally apply and the CRA calculates each parent’s share using their own family income.
Q. What should I do if my September 2026 CCB payment is missing?
A. The scheduled September 2026 payment date is September 18, 2026. First check your CRA account, payment status, bank information, and any messages requesting documents. If the payment still hasn’t arrived, wait five business days after September 18 before contacting the CRA.
