Canada child benefit (CCB)

The Child Care Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment provided to qualified families to assist with the cost of rearing children under the age of 18. The child disability benefit and any associated provincial and territory programs may be included in the CCB.

• How much is CCB a month?
• At what age does CCB stop?
• How is CCB calculated?
• Who is not eligible for CCB?
• Will child benefit go up?

The Canada child benefit (CCB) is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CCB may include the child disability benefit and any related provincial and territorial programs.

Who can apply- Canada child benefit
Who can get the Canada child benefit, who is primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child, and impact of shared custody on your benefits

Apply- Canada child benefit
When and how to apply, and when you need to provide additional documents

How much you can get- Canada child benefit
Estimate your payments, how and when payments are calculated, child disability benefit, and related provincial and territorial benefits

Payment dates- Canada child benefit
Find out when the Canada child benefit is paid

Keep getting your payments- Canada child benefit
Filing your tax returns, if payments stop or change, and informing us when your situation changes

Contact the CRA- Canada child benefit
How to contact the CRA about the CCB and related provincial and territorial benefits

Who can get the Canada child benefit

You must meet all of the following conditions:

• You live with a child who is under 18 years of age
• You are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
• You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes
• You or your spouse or common-law partner must be any of the following:
  • a Canadian citizen
  • a permanent resident
  • a protected person
  • a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month other than one that states “does not confer status” or “does not confer temporary resident status”
  • an individual who is registered, or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

You cannot get the Canada child benefit (CCB) for a foster child for any month in which Children’s special allowances (CSA) are payable.

You may get the CCB if you live with and care for a child under a kinship or close relationship program from the governments of Canada, a province, a territory or an Indigenous governing body, as long as CSA are not payable for that child.

Who is primarily responsible for the care of the child

The person who is primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child should apply for the CCB. That person is responsible for things such as:

• supervising the child’s daily activities and needs
• making sure the child’s medical needs are met
• arranging for child care when necessary

When there is a female parent who lives with the child

When two individuals who are spouses or common-law partners reside in the same home as the child, the female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home. She should be the one applying for the CCB. The female presumption is a legislative requirement and only one payment per household can be issued under the Income Tax Act. No matter which parent receives the CCB, the amount will be the same.

However, if the other parent is primarily responsible, they should apply and attach a signed letter from the female parent stating that they are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home.

If the child resides with same-sex parents, only one parent should apply for all the children in the home.