Canada child benefit (CCB) 2026–2027: how much you get per child and how to apply
Up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6, paid monthly and tax-free. Newcomers apply with form RC66, and the provincial top-ups differ between Ontario and Quebec.
From July 2026 to June 2027, the Canada child benefit (CCB) pays up to $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) for each child under 6, and up to $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) for each child aged 6 to 17. You get the full amount if your 2025 adjusted family net income is under $38,237; above that, it is gradually reduced as income rises. The next payment is on 20 October 2026. Newcomers apply with form RC66 and its schedule RC66SCH.
Maximum amounts and how they shrink as income rises
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) calculates the benefit from the "adjusted family net income" on your 2025 return, which is your income plus your spouse's. How much is clawed back depends on the number of children, not their ages:
| Number of children | Income between $38,237 and $82,847 | Income over $82,847 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | Reduced by 7% of income above $38,237 | $3,123 plus 3.2% of income above $82,847 |
| 2 children | 13.5% | $6,022 plus 5.7% |
| 3 children | 19% | $8,476 plus 8% |
| 4 or more children | 23% | $10,260 plus 9.5% |
The figures in the table are the amounts deducted from the combined maximum for your children. The child disability benefit is added on top: up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month) for each eligible child.
Worked examples using the official formula
We applied the CRA's formula to four families. The figures are approximate; the amount that counts is the one on your notice:
| Family | 2025 family income | Annual benefit | Approx. monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| One child aged 3 | $50,000 | $7,333.59 | $611 |
| 3 children aged 6 to 17 | $40,000 | $20,314.03 | $1,693 |
| 2 children: aged 4 and 9 | $60,000 | $12,102 | $1,008 |
| One child aged 12 | $90,000 | $3,531.10 | $294 |
How the first example works: the maximum for a child under 6 is $8,157; income is $11,763 above the threshold; 7% of that is $823.41, leaving $7,333.59. Enter that monthly figure in the budget tool to see its real effect on household spending, and compare it with your take-home pay in the net salary calculator.
Watch out for the sixth birthday
The difference between the two age brackets at the maximum is $1,274 a year, or about $106 a month per child. If your child turns 6 during the year, expect their monthly payment to drop after their birthday even if your income hasn't changed. Plan for that drop in advance so it doesn't catch your budget by surprise.
Remember that your 2025 income sets this year's payments. If you start working in 2026 and your income goes up, that won't affect the benefit until July 2027.
Who is eligible
The CRA requires you to meet all of these conditions:
- You live with a child under 18.
- You are primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing: supervising their daily activities, arranging medical appointments, and arranging childcare when needed.
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You or your spouse is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person with a positive decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board, registered under the Indian Act, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month that is not marked "does not confer status".
When both parents live together, the CRA presumes the mother is primarily responsible for the care of all the children in the home, so it asks her to be the applicant.
A worker or student on a temporary permit is not eligible during their first months unless their spouse meets one of the status conditions. Eligibility starts after 18 months in Canada on a valid permit.
Newcomers: RC66 and its schedule, step by step
- Complete form RC66, the Canada child benefits application. The same form enrols your children in the groceries and essentials benefit and in related provincial programs. The latest published version is dated 25 August 2026.
- Complete and sign schedule RC66SCH, which covers your status in Canada and your income statement.
- If your spouse was a non-resident for part of the year, they complete form CTB9 to report their income for each year or part-year they were not resident.
- Attach proof of birth for each child, with an acceptable translation if the document is not in English or French.
- Mail the package to your tax centre. If the child has lived with you for more than 11 months, the CRA asks for additional documents.
- File your return and your spouse's every year, even with zero income, because the benefit is recalculated every July from the previous year's return.
Details on your first return, your date of entry and world income are in our guide to the first tax return for newcomers. If your situation is complicated, such as income back home or a spouse who hasn't arrived yet, you'll find specialist firms in the accountants directory.
Remaining payment dates in 2026
| Month | Canada child benefit | Ontario Trillium benefit (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 20 October | 9 October |
| November 2026 | 20 November | 10 November |
| December 2026 | 11 December | 10 December |
- If your total annual benefit is less than $240, it is not paid monthly but as a single payment with the July payment.
- If a payment is late, wait 5 working days after the payment date before contacting the CRA.
- The CRA had not published the 2027 dates as of this update.
Provincial top-ups: Ontario and Quebec
In most provinces, the provincial benefit comes automatically with the federal one. Quebec is the exception: it has its own program, with its own application and its own agency.
| Item | Ontario: Ontario child benefit | Quebec: family allowance (Allocation famille) |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | CRA on behalf of Ontario | Retraite Québec |
| Maximum | $146.66 a month per child (July 2026–June 2027) | $3,068 a year per child in 2026, plus $1,077 for single-parent families |
| Minimum | A partial amount if income exceeds $26,865 | $1,221 per child, plus $430 for single-parent families |
| How to apply | Automatic when you apply for the CCB, no separate application | Separate application to Retraite Québec |
| Payment | Combined with the monthly CCB payment in a single amount | Quarterly (January, April, July and October), or monthly on request |
| School supplies supplement | Not mentioned on the program page | $127 per eligible child, paid in July |
Ontario
You don't need a separate application: when you apply for the Canada child benefit, you are automatically assessed for the Ontario child benefit, as long as you file a return every year, even if you have no income.
Quebec
Quebec residents are still entitled to the Canada child benefit through the same RC66 form, but Quebec's family allowance is a separate application. What matters for newcomers:
- According to Retraite Québec's 2026 table, a two-parent family with income of $60,000 or less receives $3,068 per child, and a single-parent family with income of $44,000 or less receives $4,145.
- Eligible statuses: citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the last 18 months. Refugee claimants are not eligible while they are waiting for protected person status.
- If you or your spouse has a Social Insurance Number, you can apply online; if not, you download the form.
- Retraite Québec asks for two documents proving residence in Quebec, such as your full lease or an electricity bill, plus proof of immigration status and of the child's presence in Quebec.
- Once your application is accepted, Retraite Québec will contact you to ask for a statement of your income outside Quebec or outside Canada.
- Retroactive payments are limited to 11 months from the date your application is received, so don't delay.
- Payments are suspended if either spouse does not file their Quebec return on time.
What stops or reduces the benefit
- Not filing your return or your spouse's return for the previous year.
- An increase in family income, since the calculation is renewed every July.
- A change in marital status or custody that you don't report to the CRA.
- The child turning 18.
- Your temporary permit expiring, or losing tax residency.
Frequently asked questions
I arrived on a work permit with my family. When do I become eligible?
After you have lived in Canada for 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month, unless your spouse is a permanent resident, protected person or citizen, in which case their status is enough.
Can I apply online instead of by mail?
The CRA's page asks newcomers to mail RC66 and RC66SCH to their tax centre. In Quebec, the application for Quebec's family allowance can be made online if you have a Social Insurance Number.
Why does the benefit go to the mother?
Because the CRA presumes the mother is primarily responsible for care when both parents live together. For newcomers, Retraite Québec pays the family allowance to the person who applies.
Is the benefit taxable?
No. The CRA describes it as a tax-free monthly payment, and Retraite Québec also describes the family allowance and its supplements as non-taxable.
I live in Quebec. Do I get both benefits?
Yes, if you meet the conditions for each: the federal one from the CRA monthly, and the Quebec one from Retraite Québec quarterly or monthly.
This guide is general information drawn from official sources, not tax or legal advice. The amount that counts is the one on the notice from the relevant agency.
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