Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

In 2016, the Canada Child Benefit, or CCB, replaced the Canada Child Tax Benefit, or CCTB. The government made this change to make more money available to parents with lower incomes.

The CCB is a monthly payment made directly to families with children under 18 years old. As payments are handled by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you’ll need to file your income taxes to be eligible. But you don’t need to include any CCB funds you receive in your taxable income for the year. If you’re eligible, the CCB payments you receive may include additional benefits for your children, including a child disability benefit and provincial and territorial benefits.

Key features of the Canada Child Benefit include:

1. Financial Support: The CCB provides financial assistance to families with children under the age of 18. The benefit is intended to help cover the costs of raising children, including expenses related to education, food, clothing, and other essential needs.
2. Income-Based: The amount of the Canada Child Benefit is determined based on the family’s net income. Families with lower incomes receive a higher benefit, and as the family’s income increases, the benefit amount gradually decreases.
3. Universal Nature: The Canada Child Benefit is available to all eligible families, regardless of whether the parents are working or not. It is a universal benefit designed to support families across different income levels.
4. Indexation: The benefit amount is indexed to inflation, which means that it is adjusted annually to account for changes in the cost of living.
5. Accessible Application Process: Families can apply for the Canada Child Benefit by filling out the appropriate forms during the income tax filing process. The benefit is calculated based on information provided in the tax return.
6. Additional Support for Low-Income Families: Families with lower incomes may also be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit National Child Benefit Supplement and the Child Disability Benefit, providing additional support for those who need it most.

Monthly CCB payments are based on:

• The number of children in your care.
• The age of the children.
• Your marital status.
• Your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from the previous year’s tax return.

If your AFNI for 2022 was less than $34,863, you can receive up to the following amounts per child:

• Under six years of age: $7437 per year ($619.75  per month).
• Six to 17 years of age: $6,275  per year ($522.911 per month).

Since the CCB is meant to deliver assistance to lower-income families, payments start to decrease if your AFNI exceeds $34,863. Additionally, if you’re over this income threshold, the CCB is reduced for each additional child you have.

To be eligible You must meet all of the following conditions:

• You live with a child who is under 18 years of age
• You are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
• You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes
• You or your spouse or common-law partner must be any 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, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month other than one that states “does not confer status” or “does not confer temporary resident status”
  • an individual who is registered, or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

You cannot get the Canada child benefit (CCB) for a foster child for any month in which Children’s special allowances (CSA) are payable.

You may get the CCB if you live with and care for a child under a kinship or close relationship program from the governments of Canada, a province, a territory or an Indigenous governing body, as long as CSA are not payable for that child.

When to apply

You should apply for the Canada child benefit (CCB) as soon as any of the following situations happen:

• your child is born
• a child starts to live with you, or returns to live with you after a temporary period with someone else
• you begin, end, or change a shared custody arrangement
• you get custody of a child
• you, or your spouse or common-law partner, start to meet the eligibility conditions under Who can apply

If the child started living with you more than 11 months ago, you will need to provide additional documents.

You don’t need to apply separately for related provincial and territorial programs. The CRA will determine your eligibility when you apply for the CCB.

Calculate your payments

Use the child and family benefits calculator to help plan your budget.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/child-family-benefits-calculator.html

Canada child benefit payment dates

You will not receive a monthly payment if your total benefit amount for the year is less than $240. Instead you will receive one lump sum payment with your July payment.

You should receive your first payment:

• within 8 weeks of our receiving your application online
• within 11 weeks of our receiving your application by mail

Payment will stop if you don’t file your tax return

To keep getting your Canada child benefit (CCB) and related provincial and territorial payments, you must file your tax return on time every year. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they also have to file their tax return on time every year. You must file your tax return even if your income is tax exempt or you have no income. If you don’t file your tax return every year, your payments will stop. Your CCB payment is not taxable. This means that you will not receive a slip, and you don’t have to report it on your tax return.

The Canada Child Benefit is a significant component of the Canadian government’s strategy to reduce child poverty and support the well-being of families. It is important for eligible families to ensure that they are registered for the benefit to receive the financial support they are entitled to.

Read about Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)