Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates

What is the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a federal government-issued tax-free monthly payment made to eligible Canadian families to assist with the cost of raising children. Sometimes known as the “Baby Bonus,” the Canada Child Benefit was introduced in July 2016 as a replacement for the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB).

The Canada Child Benefit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to eligible parents in Canada with children under the age of 18 to assist with the costs incurred by raising these children.

The Canada Child Benefit may include the Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement (CCBYCS), the Child Disability Benefit (CDB)—a monthly benefit paid to families with children who have severe and prolonged physical or mental disabilities—and the National Child Benefit (NCB), a monthly benefit paid for children in low-income families as well as other related programs offered at the provincial and territorial levels.

The program targets low-income and middle-income families and aims at reducing poverty levels by enabling struggling Canadian parents to have access to financial assistance provided by the government.

CCB Payment Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must live with a child or children below 18 years of age.
• You must have primary responsibility for the child's or children's upbringing.
• You must be a Canadian citizen for tax purposes.

You or your spouse or common-law partner are eligible for the CCB payment if any of you are:

• a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada.
• a protected person.
• an indigenous person.
• a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the past 18 months and has a valid permit obtained in the 19th month.
• an Indian according to the Indian Act.

Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates For 2023

Every year, the CCB payment period starts in July and ends in June. Normally, you should receive your first payment within 8 weeks after submitting your online application, or within 11 weeks after sending it by mail. The CRA will send out Canada Child Benefit payments to qualified applicants on the following dates:

• January 20, 2023
• February 20, 2023
• March 20, 2023
• April 20, 2023
• May 19, 2023
• June 20, 2023
• July 20, 2023
• August 18, 2023
• September 20, 2023
• October 20, 2023
• November 20, 2023
• December 13, 2023

Note: If your annual payable benefit amount is less than $240, you will not receive it in monthly installments. Instead, you'll be paid in a single lump sum in July 2023.

How The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payments Are Calculated

Payments are made based on your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI). Every June to July of the benefit year, the Canada Child Benefit payments are adjusted and the size of your payment may be affected by the following factors:

• The number of children under 18 years that you have in your care.
• Your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI).
• Your marital status.
• Your child's or children's eligibility to receive the Child Disability Benefit (CDB).
• Where you live and your eligibility for provincial benefits.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Amount

Depending on your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI), the maximum payable Canada Child Benefit (CCB) amount to any eligible Canadian family is as follows:

• For each child under 6 years:

$583.08 per month amounting to $6,997 per year.

• For each child aged 6 to 17 years:

$491.91 per month amounting to $5,903 per year.

Applying for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Program 

When to Apply

You should apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) if any of these events occur:

• Your baby is born or you give birth.
• Your child starts living with you after living with someone else for some time.
• You're given custody of a child or you change custody arrangements.
• You or your spouse or your common-law partner meet the criteria and are eligible.

How to Apply

You can apply for the CCB through any of these methods:

Birth registration

After the birth of your baby, you can apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) during the birth registration of your newborn with your province. 

Ensure that you give your consent and your Social Insurance Number (SIN) to enable the Vital Statistics Agency, operating within your province or territory to safely share the birth registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Should you fail to give your consent, your child's birth registration data will not be shared with the CRA.

The processing time is 8 weeks, during which you should receive your first payment.

Online application

If you did not apply for the CCB during the birth registration of your baby, you can apply online through your CRA My Account.

All you need do is to sign in to “My Account”, go to the “Apply for benefits” tab, fill in the necessary information, and review and submit your application.

If asked to submit additional documents, go to the “Submit documents” tab in “My Account” and follow the necessary steps.

You should receive your first payment after 8 weeks.

The mail

To apply through mail, download, fill out, and sign Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application. Include the necessary additional documents and mail the form to your tax center.

You should receive your first payment after 11 weeks.

On Primary Responsibility

Only one parent can apply for the CCB and the one who does should be the one who is considered primarily responsible for the child or children. This entails being responsible for:

If you are qualified to receive Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for a child under 6 years, you will receive:

• $300 for each child if your family's net income is $120,000 or less.
• $150 for each child if your family's net income is more than $120,000.

Parents with shared custody each get half of the Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement (CCBYCS) per child under 6 years depending on their family net income.

Child Disability Benefit (CDB)

The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is an additional tax-exempt monthly benefit that is included in the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to help low-income families in Canada who care for children under 18 years with severe and prolonged mental or physical disabilities.

The Child Disability Benefit payment is made based on the following:

• The Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) from the previous year. 
• The number of children you have that are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
• Marital status.

Maximum Child Disability Benefit (CDB) Payment 

The annual maximum payable amount per eligible child is $2,915 ($242.91 for each month).

This amount decreases gradually when the Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) is above $71,060.

Eligibility for CDB

To be eligible for the CDB:

• the child must be below 18 years of age.
• you must be qualified for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).
• your child must also qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).

For your child to be considered eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), a qualified practitioner must verify and certify, using Form T2201 Disability Tax Credit Certificate, that the child has a prolonged and severe impairment in mental and physical function. Prolonged, in this case, means that the impairment has lasted for at least 12 months.

This form must be submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for approval.

If you receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for your child who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), you do not have to apply for the CDB, you will receive it automatically.

To keep getting these CDB payments, you have to remain eligible for the CCB and your child will have to also remain eligible for the DTC.

Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement (CCBYCS)

In 2021, the Canadian government made up to four additional payments to families with young children (under 6 years old) through the CCB young child supplement (CCBYCS). The size of those payments was determined by your family's 2019 and 2020 net income. Families were eligible to receive up to $1,200 per child under the age of tix.

You get $150 to $300 per child based on your family net income in 2019 and 2020. The January and April 2021 payments were made as follows:

• $300 per child if your family net income for 2019 was $120,000 or less
• $150 per child if your family net income for 2019 was more than $120,000

Here's how the payments were broken down in July and October 2021:

• $300 per child if your family net income for 2020 was $120,000 or less
• $150 per child if your family net income for 2020 was more than $120,000

In cases where parents share custody, each parent was awarded half of the CCBYCS based on their own family net income.

CCB Young Child Supplement Payment Dates

The Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement was paid on different dates from the Canada Child Benefit, as follows:

• May 28, 2021 (both the January and April payments were made together here)
• July 30, 2021
• October 29, 2021

The CCBYCS program is now closed, so no new payments will be made in 2022 and beyond (aside from retroactive payments made for 2021).

Provincial and Territorial Child Benefit Programs

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and its different variations are all sponsored by the Canadian federal government. Other related programs that are sponsored at the provincial and territorial levels include:

Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is offered by the Alberta provincial government. The program is targeted at lower-income and middle-income families with children under the age of 18. 

Issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Alberta's behalf, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) offers direct financial assistance to these families to aid in providing a better quality of life for their children.

When you file your annual tax return and also qualify to receive the federal government's Canada Child Benefit (CCB), you are automatically considered for the ACFB.

To be eligible for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB), an individual must:

• have one or more children that are under 18 years.
• live in Alberta.
• file an annual tax return.
• meet the income benchmark.

Your eligibility for the ACFB is not affected if you already receive benefits from other programs like the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support, or the Alberta Child Care Subsidy.

The ACFB is comprised of the base component and the working component.

The base component caters to lower-income families with children. The payment is made to these families even if they do not work to earn an employment income.

The working component is provided to families with an employment income that exceeds $2,760.

In the base component:

• The maximum ACFB amount paid to families annually for one child is $1,330.
• The maximum benefit amount payable for four or more children is $3,325.

In the working component:

• The maximum ACFB amount payable for one child is $681.
• The maximum Benefit amount payable to families with four or more children is $1,795.

British Columbia Child Opportunity Benefit (BCCOB)

The British Columbia Child Opportunity Benefit (BCCOB) is a tax-exempt monthly benefit issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to families with children under the age of 18 living in British Columbia. The amount is added to the CCB and issued as a single monthly payment.

The British Columbia Child Opportunity Benefit (BCCOB) is fully funded and sponsored by the British Columbia provincial government.

The maximum BCCOB payment made to families is:

• $133.33 per month for the first child.
• $83.33 per month for the second child.
• $66.66 per month for each additional child.

If your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) is between $25,806 and $82,578, your BCCOB payment will not be less than:

• $58.33 per month for the first child.
• $56.66 per month for the second child.
• $55.00 per month for each additional child.

If your AFNI is $82,578 or more, your BCCOB payment is reduced by 4% of the AFNI greater than $82,578 till it reaches zero.

New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit (NBCTB)

The New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit (NBCTB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families with children under 18 years of age. The payment is combined with the CCB and given as a single monthly payment. The benefits program is fully sponsored by the Province of New Brunswick.

The maximum amount paid to eligible families is $20.83 per month for each child. This amount is reduced if your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) is greater than $20,000.

Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) aka the “Ontario Baby Bonus”

In a bid to reduce child poverty in Canada, the Ontario government offers a benefits program called the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB).

The benefit is issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and is available to low-income and middle-income families.

The maximum amount payable is $1,473 per year for each child.

To be eligible for the benefit, an individual must:

• live in Ontario.
• be the primary caregiver to a child under 18 years.
• have filed a tax return for the past year.
• have registered their child for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).

Eligible families will receive their payments as part of the CCB.

Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit

This is a tax-exempt monthly payment fully funded and sponsored by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for low-income and middle-income families with children under 18 years. The benefit is issued by the CRA and is paid as part of the monthly CCB.

The maximum payable amount under the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit is as follows:

• $34.16 per month for the first child.
• $36.33 per month for the second child.
• $41.83 per month for each additional child.

Northwest Territories Child Benefit

Sponsored and fully funded by the Northwest Territories, the Northwest Territories Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly amount paid to eligible families to assist with the cost of raising children under 18 years.

The Northwest Territories Child Benefit monthly payment amount is as follows:

For children under 6 years:

• $67.91 per month for one child.
• $122.25 per month for two children.
• $166.41 per month for three children.
• $203.75 per month for four children.
• $30.58 per month for each additional child.

For children from 6 to 17 years:

• $54.33 per month for one child.
• $97.83 per month for two children.
• $133.08 per month for three children.
• $163.00 per month for four children.
• $24.41 per month for each additional child.

The benefit is issued by the CRA and the amounts are paid as part of the monthly CCB payments.

Nova Scotia Child Benefit

The Nova Scotia Child Benefit is a non-taxable monthly payment made to low-income families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years. The program is fully sponsored by the Province of Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Child Benefit program offers the following monthly payments:

• $77.08 per month for the first child.
• $68.75 per month for the second child.
• $75.00 per month for each additional child.

The payments are issued by the CRA and are paid together with the CCB as a single monthly payment.

Nunavut Child Benefit

Fully funded and sponsored by Nunavut, the Nunavut Child Benefit is a non-taxable monthly payment made to eligible low-income families to assist with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.

The program provides a basic benefit of $27.50 per month for each child.

Families with an income of more than $3,750 with children under 18 years may also get the Territorial Workers' Supplement which provides:

• $22.91 per month for one child.
• $29.16 per month for two or more children.

The payment is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and is paid as part of the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) monthly payment.

Yukon Child Benefit

The Yukon Child Benefit is a tax-exempt monthly payment made to low-income and middle-income families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. 

The Yukon Child Benefit is funded by Yukon with a contribution from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada on behalf of Indian children.

The program offers a benefit of $68.33 per month for each child.

The Yukon Child Benefit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and payments are received as part of the monthly Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments.

In Summary

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) was born as a method of curtailing child poverty in Canada. The program serves as a steady source of income in many Canadian homes. The CCB has many affiliations such as the Child Disability Benefit (CDB) and the Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement (CCBYCS). Families eligible for the CCB are also eligible for the CDB and the CCBYCS.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates FAQs 

Do you pay back Child Benefits in Canada?

No, you do not pay back child benefits in Canada unless the CRA overpaid you. In such a case, you will be told how much was overpaid and the excess amount will be repaid through a clawback of future CCB payments, GST/HST credit, or income tax refund.

Is the Child Tax Benefit going up in 2022?

Yes, the Child Tax Benefit has been increased to $6,997 per year for children under 6 years and $5,903 per year for children aged 6 to 17 years.

Why have My CCB Payments stopped?

Your CCB payments may have stopped because of any of the following reasons:

• You failed to file your tax returns.
• You did not respond to a letter from the CRA about your situation.
• You did not notify the CRA of any change in your bank account or address.
• There was a change in your marital status, that is, you either got married or divorced.
• Your child turned 18.
• There is no longer a child in your care.
• Your income is now too high.
• You stopped meeting any of the criteria for eligibility.

What is the maximum CCB payment amount?

The maximum CCB payment amount is $6,997 per year or $583.08 per month for children under 6 years and for children aged 6 to 17 years, the maximum amount is $5,903 per year or $491.91 per month.

How is the CCB calculated?

Your CCB payment amount is calculated based on your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) for the past year, the number of children you have, and your residential province.

At what age does the CCB payment stop?

The CCB payments stop when your child becomes 18 years old.

In each benefit year, the payments start in July and end in June of the following year. Payments are issued by the CRA and are made available only to eligible individuals and families.