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The Canada child benefit is a tax-free monthly payment for families raising children under 18. From July 2026 to June 2027 it pays up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and up to $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17, based on your 2025 adjusted family net income. Payments start to shrink once that income passes $38,237.
Who gets the Canada child benefit?
You qualify when you live with a child under 18, you are primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing, and you are a resident of Canada for tax purposes. You or your spouse or common-law partner must also be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person, a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months, or a person registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act. The Canada Revenue Agency: Canada child benefit, who can apply page lists the details.
Custody matters. If the child lives with you more than 60% of the time, you are the full-custody parent and should apply. If the child lives with you at least 40% of the time, or about equally with another person at a different address, you have shared custody and both of you should apply. Under 40%, you should not apply. In shared custody, each parent gets 50% of what they would get with full custody, worked out on their own income. Foster children do not qualify in any month when Children’s Special Allowances are payable.
How much is the Canada child benefit from July 2026 to June 2027?
The Canada Revenue Agency: Canada child benefit, how much you can get page gives these maximums. They apply in full when your adjusted family net income for 2025 is under $38,237.
| Child’s age | Maximum per year | Maximum per month |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | $8,157 | $679.75 |
| 6 to 17 | $6,883 | $573.58 |
A child who qualifies for the disability tax credit adds the child disability benefit: up to $3,480 a year, or $290 a month, on top of the CCB for the same July to June period. Our page on the disability tax credit explains how that certificate works.
How does family income reduce the benefit?
The CRA uses your adjusted family net income from the base year, which is 2025 for this benefit year. Between $38,237 and $82,847 one reduction rate applies. Above $82,847 a second formula applies. Here is the reduction by number of children.
| Children | Income from $38,237 to $82,847 | Income over $82,847 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7% of income over $38,237 | $3,123 plus 3.2% of income over $82,847 |
| 2 | 13.5% of income over $38,237 | $6,022 plus 5.7% of income over $82,847 |
| 3 | 19% of income over $38,237 | $8,476 plus 8% of income over $82,847 |
| 4 or more | 23% of income over $38,237 | $10,260 plus 9.5% of income over $82,847 |
The maximums add up by child. Two children under 6 give $16,314 a year before reduction, two children aged 6 to 17 give $13,766, three aged 6 to 17 give $20,649, and four aged 6 to 17 give $27,532.
What does a worked example look like?
Priya and Dev have two children, aged 4 and 9, and their 2025 adjusted family net income is $60,000. The maximum is $8,157 plus $6,883, or $15,040. Their income is above $38,237 by $21,763, and 13.5% of that is $2,938. The benefit is about $12,102 a year, or $1,008.50 a month. This is our calculation using the CRA formula, not a CRA estimate.
A single parent with one child under 6 and $100,000 of income falls in the upper band. By the same formula, $3,123 plus 3.2% of the $17,153 over $82,847 is the reduction, which leaves about $4,485.10 a year. You can run your own numbers in our Canada child benefit calculator, which sits in the family benefits hub.
When are Canada child benefit payments made?
Payments arrive monthly. The Canada Revenue Agency: Canada child benefit, payment dates page lists these dates for the rest of 2026, calculated on your 2025 return: November 20 and December 11. Dates for January to June 2027 are not on that page yet (checked 31 October 2026), and they would be based on the same 2025 return.
The CRA recalculates every July from your previous year’s return. A change in your 2025 income therefore first shows up in July 2026, and a change in 2026 income first shows up in July 2027. If your total for the year is under $240, you get one lump sum with the July payment instead of monthly ones. If a payment is missing, wait 5 business days after the expected date before contacting the CRA. Our payment dates page tracks the calendar.
How do you apply, and what do you do when things change?
For a newborn, the easiest route is the birth registration form at the hospital or birthing centre, where you can apply in the same step if you consent to your province or territory sharing the information with the CRA. Otherwise, apply through your CRA account under Benefits and credits, or mail Form RC66. The Canada Revenue Agency: Canada child benefit, how to apply page notes that proof of birth is needed in some cases and that a start date more than 11 months back needs extra documents.
| What happened | What the CRA says to do |
|---|---|
| Separation or other marital status change | Tell the CRA promptly so payments are correct |
| You moved | Report the new address, because payments may stop without it |
| Child starts living with you | Apply for the CCB |
| Child no longer in your care | Tell the CRA right away; entitlement stops the month after |
| Shared custody begins | Each parent tells the CRA immediately, in the CRA account or on Form RC66 |
| New bank account | Keep the old one open until the first payment arrives |
Both partners must file a return every year, even with no income, and the usual deadline is April 30. Late filing can pause payments, and missed amounts are paid after assessment. The CRA lists the full set of reasons payments stop on its Canada Revenue Agency: Canada child benefit, keep getting your payments page. If you were overpaid, the CRA may keep future benefit payments and tax refunds until the balance is repaid.
What could change?
The July 2026 amounts are indexed to inflation, and the CRA resets them each July. The amounts for July 2027 to June 2028 have not been published yet (checked 31 October 2026). Related payments follow their own schedules, such as the Canada groceries and essentials benefit and the Canada workers benefit. For a view across ages, see our guide to child benefits and credits by age, and the 2027 tax calendar for filing dates.
Where does this information come from?
Rules and figures come from the Canada Revenue Agency Canada child benefit pages on who can apply, how much you can get, how to apply, payment dates and how to keep getting your payments, checked on 31 October 2026. Checked on 31 October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, we collect information from open sources, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Canada child benefit from 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 above $38,237 get less.
Which year of income does the Canada child benefit use?
For payments from July 2026 to June 2027 the CRA uses your adjusted family net income from the 2025 tax year. It recalculates every July from the previous year's return, so you and your partner both need to file every year.
Do I need to apply for the Canada child benefit for a newborn?
You can apply through the birth registration form at the hospital or birthing centre, if your province or territory offers it and you consent to share the information. Otherwise you apply in your CRA account or by mailing Form RC66.
What happens to the Canada child benefit if we separate?
A change in marital status is something you must tell the CRA about promptly, because it can change or stop payments. If a shared custody arrangement starts, each parent must immediately tell the CRA of the new arrangement.
Is the Canada child benefit taxable?
No. Canada child benefit payments are not taxable, and you do not report the amounts on your tax return. You still have to file a return every year so the CRA can recalculate your benefit each July.
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