Canada Child Benefit disperses approximately $23 billion per year with an average of $2,300 per family. The total population aged 15 years and over receiving child tax benefit income is approximately 3,958,640, according to Statistics Canada.
What Is Canada Child Benefit?
Canada Child Benefit(CCB) is a monthly payment that is non-taxable offered to Canadians eligible families to assist raising children below 18 years. The benefits include child disability benefits or territorial and provincial programs. Majority of Canadians with children below age 18 have enrolled for the Canada Child Benefit program.
Also Read: Canada Pension Plan Payment Increase 2024
Canada Child Benefit Overview
| Name | Canada Child Benefit |
| Type | Non-taxable payment |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Issued by | Canada Revenue Agency |
| Monthly payment | $619.75/month for children below 6 years | $522.91/month for children aged 6-17 years |
| Payment dates | 20th Oct20th Nov13th Dec |
Canada Child Benefit Amount
According to Employment and Social Development Canada, the federal government estimates that only about 88% of the 4,056,060 potentially eligible families received the CCB in its first year.
How Much Is Canada Child Benefit?
The CCB calculations are a bit hard, however, the Government of Canada has an online CCB calculator to help you estimate how much to receive each month. CCB payments are calculated every July based on previous years’ tax returns. In addition, the Canada Government adjusts the maximum payout for CCB yearly, to account for inflation
The Canada Child Benefit amounts are based on:
- Your marital status
- The number of children under your care
- Their age
- Your adjusted family net income(AFNI)
If your AFNI is over $32,797, the amount to receive per child is reduced as follows:
- A family with one eligible child: The reduction is 7% of the AFNI amount that is more than $34,863 up to $75,537. If the income is above $75,537, the reduction is $2,847 plus 3.2% of AFNI greater than $75,537
- A family with two eligible children: The reduction is 13.5% of the AFNI amount more than $34,863 up to $75,537. Whereas, if the income is above $75,537, the reduction is $5,491 plus 5.7% of AFNI greater than $75,537
- A family with three eligible children: The reduction is 19% of AFNI amount more than $34,863 up to $75,537. If the income is more than $75,537, the reduction is $7,728 plus 8% of the amount of AFNI above $75,537
- A family with four or more eligible children: The reduction is 23% of the AFNI amount more than $34,863 up to $75,537
Child Disability Benefit (CDB) – Additional Tax Credit
(1) Child Disability Benefits(CDB)
The Child Disability Benefit is a monthly additional benefit added to Canada Child Benefit to financially assist qualified families with disabled children.
A qualified disabled child receives $261.41 per month up to $3,173 per year. For a child to qualify for disability tax credit (DTC), there must be approved Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate by the CRA.
Just like the Canada Child Benefit, CDB benefits are reduced if the adjusted AFNI surpasses CRA limit of $75,537.
The reduction is as follows:
- A family with one disabled child: The reduction is 3.2% of AFNI amount more than $75,537
- A family with two or more disabled children: The reduction is 5.7% of the AFNI amount more than $75,537
(2) Related Provincial and Territorial Benefits
There are territories and provinces that offer additional benefits to assist with the cost of raising a family. They include:
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Yukon
- Nunavut
- Manitoba
- Alberta
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories
- British Columbia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
These benefits are added to your CCB benefit while some are paid separately.
Canada Child Benefit Eligibility
To qualify for Canada Child Benefit, you and your spouse must be a Canadian resident, protected individual, or an indigenous person as per Indian Act. Also, you may qualify if you’ve stayed for 18 months with a resident status valid permit for the following month.
In addition,
- You should be a resident of Canada contributing to Canadian income tax.
- Applicants are responsible for the Child upbringing and caring.
- The child should be below the age of 18.
Parents sharing custody can still apply for Canada Child Benefits if the child doesn’t live with them full-time. In shared custody, each parent receives 50% of the benefits they’d get if the child lived with them 100% of the time.
Conditions for Shared Custody:
- Child lives alternately with each parent.
- Time distribution is typically 40% to 60% with each parent.
Benefits Calculation:
- Each parent gets half of what they would receive if the child lived with them full-time.
Canada Child Benefits Application
You can apply for CCB soon after your child is born at the hospital. Just provide your consent and your Social Insurance Number(SIN). Payments are made 20th every month through cheque or direct deposit.
If your total yearly income benefit is less than $240, and you file taxes every year, you’ll instead receive a single lump-sum payment as long as you’re eligible for CCB. Those applied via online will receive their payment within 8 weeks, if you applied via mail, you’ll get your payment within 11 weeks.
For Alberta or Ontario residents, you’ll receive a CRA’s Canada Pro deposit ( Child and Family Benefit payment through direct deposit.
When to Apply for Canada Child Benefit (CCB):
- Apply when your child is born.
- Apply when a child starts living with you or returns after a temporary period elsewhere.
- Apply when initiating, ending, or changing shared custody arrangements.
Additional Considerations:
- Apply when gaining custody of a child.
- Apply when you, your spouse, or common-law partner meet eligibility conditions.
- For children living with you over 11 months, provide extra documents.
Simplified Application Process:
- No separate application for provincial or territorial programs.
- CRA determines eligibility for CCB, streamlining the application process for related benefits.
How to apply for Canada Child Benefit
There are three ways to apply for Canada Child Benefit:
- Through Birth Registration
- Online through My Account
- By mail
Through Birth Registration
To apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) through birth registration, submit the application when registering your newborn with your province or territory. Typically done on paper at hospitals, residents in certain provinces also have the online option. Ensure you provide consent and your Social Insurance Number (SIN) for secure information sharing with the CRA. Failure to give consent requires an alternative CCB application. Processing time is approximately 8 weeks for payment.
Online through “My Account”
If you didn’t apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) during your newborn’s birth registration, you can do so online through My Account, your personal CRA account.
Steps to Apply:
- Sign in to My Account: Access your personal CRA account.
- Navigate to Benefits and Credits: Click on “Benefits and credits” on the left side of the Overview page.
- Add Child Information: On the Benefits and credits page, find “Child information” and click on “+” Add.
- Complete Three Steps:
- Confirm contact info, marital status, and citizenship.
- Enter your child’s details.
- Review and submit your application.
- Confirmation Screen: View the application status on the confirmation screen.
- Submit additional documents: If requested, click “Submit documents” to provide any necessary additional information.
By mail
If you’re applying by mail for Canada Child Benefit, expect your payment within 11 weeks.
Simple Steps:
- Fill out and sign Form RC66, the Canada Child Benefits Application.
- Include any extra documents required for specific situations.
- Mail the form to your tax centre.
Canada Child Benefit Dates
2023 Canada Child Benefit 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
2024 Canada Child Benefit Dates
- January 19, 2024
- February 20, 2024
- March 20, 2024
- April 19, 2024
- May 17, 2024
- June 20, 2024
- July 19, 2024
- August 20, 2024
- September 20, 2024
- October 18, 2024
- November 20, 2024
- December 13, 2024
Frequently Asked Question
How much does it cost to raise a baby in Canada?
A middle-income family of two parents and two children will spend on average $293,000 to raise one kid till age of 17. On the other hand, a family earning below $83,013 yearly before tax will roughly spend $238,190.
What happens when a foreigner gives birth in Canada?
When a foreigner gives birth in Canada, the newborn is regarded as a citizen. The child is entitled to travel in and out of Canada without a visa until they reach the age.
How much benefit do you get for a child in Canada?
The maximum you can get is $6,765 per year for a child under 6, and $5,708 for children aged 6 to 17. The CCB is calculated based on the age of your child/children, number of child/children in your care, and family income from the previous year.
