The Canada Child benefit (CCB) is a non-taxable monthly benefit paid to eligible Canadian families designed to alleviate child poverty and assist with the cost of raising children under 18.
The CCB is a very helpful initiative for Canadian citizens. Even temporary residents who meet the eligibility criteria can receive this benefit. The good part about the CCB is that eligible families will not lose other income-tested benefits, like the GST/HST tax credit, when they benefit from the CCB.
Stay with me on this page to learn about the Canada Child Benefit, eligibility requirements, payment dates, amounts, and more.
Without skipping a beat, let’s get right into it.
CCB Payment Dates 2023
The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) will remit the CCB payments to eligible families on the following CCB payment dates:
Benefit Month CCB Payment Dates January January 20, 2023 February February 20, 2023 March March 20, 2023 April April 20, 2023 May May 19, 2023 June June 20, 2023 July July 20, 2023 August August 18, 2023 September September 20, 2023 October October 20, 2023 November November 20, 2023 December December 13, 2023
You may also receive the CCB payments in one lump sum if your annual CCB amount is below $240.
However, if you don’t receive the CCB benefits on the scheduled Canada Child Benefit payment dates, wait for five business days, and contact CRA using the Canada Child Benefit phone number.
What is The Canada Child Benefit?
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to reduce child poverty and help them with the costs of raising children under 18 years of age.
CCB was introduced in the 2016 Federal Budget. The Canada Child Benefit came into being, replacing the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and the Universal Child Tax Benefit (UCCB).
Eligible families receive the CCB payment each month and do not have to pay taxes on it nor include it on their income tax and benefit return.
Also, CCB does not disqualify you from benefiting from other federal benefits like GST/HST credit and even other provincial programs like OCB, ACFB, BC Childcare benefits, etc.
Who Is Eligible for the Canada Child Benefit?
Not every Canadian is eligible to receive the CCB payments. You could be eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit if you meet all the following criteria:
- You’re a resident of Canada for tax purposes (including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents who have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months, a protected person, or an indigenous person).
- You live with a child under 18 years of age.
- You have primary responsibility for the child’s care and upbringing: You may qualify for the CCB if you’re considered “primarily responsible” for raising your child. That means being responsible for things like:
- Supervising the child’s everyday activities
- Taking care of their daily needs
- Taking care of any medical needs
- Arranging childcare
Only one parent can apply for the CCB, and which parent applies depends on your own family situation.
What Happens If I Share Custody? If you have a custody arrangement, this could affect your childcare benefits. This will depend on who has primary responsibility and if your child’s time is shared mostly with you, mostly with the other parent, or shared equally.
How to Apply for Canada Child Benefit?
You should apply for the CCB as soon as any of these events occur:
- Your baby is born
- Your child starts to live with you after a period of living elsewhere
- Your custody arrangements change, or you are granted custody of a child
- You or your spouse or partner start to meet the criteria and become eligible
You can apply at the same time you register the birth of your baby with the province or territory or afterwards using your CRA online account. You can also download and complete Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and return this by mail along with any additional documents and forms necessary.
- Birth Registration: When you have a newborn child, you can apply for the CCB upon registering them in your province or territory. Often, this is handled at a birthing centre or hospital. But if you’re a British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, or Quebec resident, you can register online.
During your childbirth registration, you must provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and consent for your information to get to the CRA. Else, you have to apply for the CCB through other means.
- Your CRA My Account: This option is suitable for those that didn’t apply for the CCB during their children’s birth registrations. If you’re one of them, you need to follow these steps to apply for the CCB:
- Visit your CRA My Account
- Navigate to “Apply for child benefits.”
- Confirm that your contact information is accurate.
- Provide the name, gender, place, and date of birth of your child.
- Ensure all your information is correct before submitting your application.
- Mail: If you didn’t apply for the CCB through your childbirth registration or your “CRA My Account,” you could do so through the mail. Here are the steps you need to follow when applying for the CCB through mail:
- Complete Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and sign.
- Attached all the required documents.
- Send it to your tax centre.
Your payments will start within eight weeks of the government receiving your online application or within 11 weeks of sending a paper application through the mail. The payments will stop when your child turns 18, or your net family income surpasses $120,000.
How Much CCB Will You Receive?
How much you can receive from the CRA as your Canada Child Benefit payment depends on several factors, such as the number of eligible children you have, your marital status, whether your child lives with you full or part-time, and your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI).
Each July, your payments are recalculated to account for inflation and any changes in your AFNI. AFNI is determined by calculating your total family income, subtracting several tax credits from this amount, and then dividing it by the number of family members in your household.
If there is no change in your AFNI, then the amount you receive this July will be the same as last July: nice and easy!
For example, if there is a change in your income level for the year 2022, it will show up in your payments beginning in July 2023.
For July 2022 to June 2023 payment period, you could receive a maximum of the following:
- $6,997 per year ($583.41 per month) for each eligible child under the age of 6
- $5,903 per year ($491.41 per month) for each eligible child aged 6 to 17
Also, you can use the CRA’s Canada Child Benefit calculator to get an idea of your payments. That way, you can spend less time worrying about money and more time doing what you love.
With the CCB calculator, you enter basic information about your kids and your family situation, and the calculator tells you exactly how much CCB to expect each month.
In the end, you may receive lower or higher CCB payments based on those factors. However, it’s important to remember that your CCB payments will reduce as the adjusted net income of your family increases.
This is so because the CCB aims to help families with low and moderate incomes in Canada. So the more you shift away from the low-medium income bracket, the less the CCB favours you.
If you have yet to receive your CCB payment five working days after the scheduled dates, you should contact the CRA.
Furthermore, ensure to inform the CRA about any changes in your situation. If you refuse to report recent changes to the CRA, your payments may stop.
CCB Increase 2023
The CCB is increased annually to keep up with the rising inflation index and offset the high costs of raising children in Canada.
For July 2022, families with children under six got an increase to $6,997 annually. On the other hand, families with children between 6 to 17 years got an increase to $5,903 annually.
This increase extends to the first half of 2023. The next increase is slated for July 2023.
CCB Young Child Supplement 2021 (Canada Child Benefit Extra Payment 2021)
The CCB Young Child Supplement (CCBYCS) is also a part of the federal government’s child tax benefits increase in 2021. The program ended in December, 2021 and is no longer available.
The federal government earmarked about $2 billion in May 2020 for the Child Tax Benefit increase in 2021, leading to a $300 CCB increase for each eligible child to curb the rising inflation index caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-medium-income Canadian families.
With the (CCBYCS), Canadian families with less than $120,000 net income received up to $1,200 for each child under six. Accordingly, each eligible child received up to $300 four times in 2021.
However, high-income families got $600 in CCBYCS, which amounts to a $150 payment per eligible child four times in 2021.
The CCBYCS doesn’t require an application. Once you’re a CCB beneficiary and have filed your 2019 and 2020 tax returns, you will receive them.
Furthermore, CCBYCS is non-taxable, and this increase went a long way in helping many Canadian families offset the increasing cost of raising their children during those hard and uncertain times.
The CCBYCS was paid out on the following dates:
- May 28, 2021
- July 30, 2021
- October 29, 2021
Child Benefits Programs By Provinces in Canada
There are other child benefit payments funded by the provincial government but administered by the CRA. These child benefits are also combined with the CCB payments.
This implies that you are not limited to one benefit under the CCB but several benefits once you’re qualified.
Receiving the CCB payment with additional provincial/territorial programs means more than the average CCB payment.
Here are some provincial/territorial programs administered together with the CCB:
- NBCTB – New Brunswick Child tax benefit
- NSCB – Nova Scotia child benefit
- NLCB – Newfoundland and Labrador child benefit
- NCB – Nunavut child benefit
- NTCB – Northwest Territories child benefit
- OCB – Ontario child benefit
- BCECTB – BC early childhood tax benefit
- YCB – Yukon child benefit
These provincial or territorial programs do not require an application. When you apply for the CCB, the CRA determines your eligibility for the provincial child benefits based on your residency,
However, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is administered separately from the CCB, and the province of Saskatchewan has no child benefit program as of 2022.
Furthermore, your CCB payment may include a child disability benefit if your child qualifies for the disability tax credit.
Accordingly, each of your children eligible for the disability tax credit may receive $242.91 monthly from July 2021 to June 2022.
What To Do With the CCB Payment?
The truth is, it’s up to you to decide how to spend the CCB payment. Thankfully, CCB is non-taxable, so you’ve more flexibility in spending it.
However, you need to be smart in spending your CCB benefit by investing wisely in things that will bring a long-lasting return.
For example, you can invest in one of the best RESP plans in Canada. With a registered education savings plan (RESP), you can have your children’s secondary school savings growing tax-free in addition to government grants.
This singular financial move of saving towards their education can help secure your child’s future, and this selfless act will give them a headstart, educating them without a trail of student loans.
From stocks, bonds, and ETFs to GICs, RESPs cover you. However, before investing in any security, ensure that it aligns with your risk tolerance and investment objective.
When Should I Notify CRA of CCB Situation Changes?
In the event of a change in your situation, let the CRA know as soon as possible. Your payments may stop if you don’t inform the CRA. Examples of these changes include:
Personal Information Changes
- Address change
- Marital status change
- Start direct deposit or change bank account
- Residency status change
- The notice shows outdated personal information
- Leaving an abusive or violent situation
- Reporting a death
Child and Custody Changes
- Shared custody
- Temporary custody change
- A child starts to live with you
- A child is no longer in your care
Final Thoughts on the Canada Child Benefit
The CCB is for every parent in Canada, but only eligible parents can apply. If eligible, do not hesitate to apply online or by mail.
You should apply if you have children under 18 and meet all the necessary criteria. Also, endeavour to look into other government benefits and programs that might help you with the cost of raising children.
Remember to file your tax return on time every year. This is important if you wish to continue getting your Canada Child Benefit and related provincial and territorial payments. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, their yearly tax returns must also be filed promptly.
Understandably, CCB calculations can take a bit of work to grasp. This is why the Government of Canada has a CCB calculator on the Internet that can help you calculate how much CCB you will receive monthly.
So, don’t be discouraged by all the figures and decimals. Anybody can sort out their numbers; you only need to follow the proper steps.
If you have questions about government rebates, tax credits, or any other family benefits, get in touch with an advisor to make sure you claim everything you can.
FAQs on Children’s Benefits Canada
What was the Canada Child Benefit Called Before?
It was called the Canada Child Tax Benefit. It was ended in 2016 and replaced by the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a tax-free payment targeting low- and middle-income families.
What Is the Canada Revenue Agency?
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is a federal agency that receives taxes and administers tax laws for the Canadian government and many of Canada’s provinces and territories. The Canada Revenue Agency, also known as Agence du Revenu du Canada, is also in charge of a range of social and economic benefit and incentive programs via the tax system, alongside international trade legislation.
What Other Children’s Benefits Do We Have in Canada?
Canada has the affordable childcare benefit of British Columbia and the Ontario baby bonus you can also get.
Hi, I'm Adeola Adegoke. I am a licensed Insurance Broker in Manitoba, and I hold a master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences (with a major in Financial Modeling) from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Tanzania.
Also, I have a second master's degree in Statistics from the University of Regina, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Manitoba.
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