Qualifying families in Canada can receive financial support of up to $7,437 per child through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), which the government provides to alleviate expenses associated with raising children.
In the following section, I cover the basics of the program, the eligibility requirements, the application process, the payment dates and amounts, how they are calculated, and other benefits combined with the CCB.
CCB Payment Amount Increase in 2024
The CCB is indexed to inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. In July 2023, the maximum annual CCB benefit increased by 6.28% due to inflation.
For this year’s recalculation, eligible families get the following additional amounts:
- Up to $440 per child under 6
- Up to $372 per child aged 6 to 17
These are reflected in all CCB payments for the 2023-2024 payment period that ends in June 2024.
Overview of Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly amount paid to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18. It may include child disability benefits and other related provincial and territorial programs.
Administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the CCB is designed to alleviate financial burdens and reduce child poverty.
CCB Payment Amounts
The benefits each family receives depend on income, number of children, and age. Below are the maximum benefit amounts per child for 2024.
| Age | Maximum annual benefit per child | Maximum monthly payment amount for 2024 |
| Under 6 years | $7,437 | $619.75 |
| 6 – 17 years | $6,275 | $522.91 |
How CCB Payments Are Calculated
Your CCB payments are calculated based on the following:
- The number of children under your care
- The age of your children
- Your previous year’s adjusted family net income (AFNI) as reported on your tax return
Every July, your benefit payment is recalculated using your AFNI from the previous year. Thus, your payments for July 2023 to June 2024 are based on your AFNI from 2022.
If your AFNI is below $34,863, you receive the maximum benefit amount for each child registered under your care. Your CCB payment amounts gradually decrease when your AFNI exceeds $34,863.
CCB Payment Dates for 2024
You can expect to receive your CCB payments from the CRA during these dates:
| CCB Payment Month | Payment Dates for 2024 |
| January | January 19, 2024 |
| February | February 20, 2024 |
| March | March 20, 2024 |
| April | April 19, 2024 |
| May | May 17, 2024 |
| June | June 20, 2024 |
| July | July 19, 2024 |
| August | August 20, 2024 |
| September | September 20, 2024 |
| October | October 18, 2024 |
| November | November 20, 2024 |
| December | December 13, 2024 |
Qualifying individuals typically receive their first payment within 8 weeks of submitting an online application or within 11 weeks of sending an application by mail.
How to Keep Getting Your Payments
You can keep getting your CCB payments if you and your spouse or common-law partner file your tax return on time every year even if your income is tax-exempt or you have no income to report.
Since CCB payments are non-taxable, you will not receive any slip and you do not have to report them on your tax return.
If there are changes to your information (such as your address or bank account) or your situation (such as child custody), make sure to inform the CRA. Failing to do so can stop your CCB payments.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the benefit, you or your spouse must meet all the requirements, which include:
- A child under 18 lives with you
- You are solely responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
- A Canadian citizen
- A permanent resident
- A protected person or a temporary resident who has resided in Canada for the past 18 months
How to Apply for the CCB
There are three ways to apply for the CCB:
Through birth registration
- When you register the birth of your child, apply for the CCB using the Automated Benefits Application.
- Give your consent to your province/territory to share the information with the CRA.
- Provide your Social Insurance Number and submit the registration to your province/territory.
Online through My Account (your personal CRA account)
- Log in to My Account.
- Go to the “Overview” page and navigate to “Benefits and credits.” Find “Child information” and click on + Add.
- Enter the required information and complete the required fields.
- Submit your application.
- Wait for the confirmation regarding the status of your application to appear on the screen. Select “Submit documents” if you are required to submit additional documents, such as the child’s proof of birth.
By mail
- Complete the RC66 Canada Child Benefits Application form.
- Provide all required documents.
- Mail the completed form and the documents to your tax centre.
You should receive your first CCB payment within 8 weeks if you applied through birth registration or 11 weeks if you applied online or by mail.
Other Child Benefits Combined with CCB
Below are provinces and territories that provide child benefits in combination with CCB payments:
| Provincial Child Benefit | Description | Monthly Amount Per Month Per Child |
| BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit | A tax-free, monthly payment paid to eligible families raising children under 6 | Up to $55 per month |
| New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit | A monthly, non-taxable amount provided to eligible families with children under 18 | Up to $20.83 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit | A monthly provincial tax credit for qualifying families with children below 18 years | S149 |
| Northwest Territories Child Benefit | A non-taxable benefit paid monthly to eligible low- and middle-income families with children under 18 years old | $67.91 for children under age 6; $54.33 for children aged 6-17 |
| Nova Scotia Child Benefit | A monthly tax-free payment provided to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 | $127.08 |
| Nunavut Child Benefit | A non-taxable monthly amount paid to qualifying families with children under 18 years | $29 |
| Ontario Child Benefit | A tax-free monthly amount provided to low- to moderate-income families to help raise children under 18 | Up to $140 |
| Yukon Child Benefit | A non-taxable amount paid monthly to help low- and modest-income families with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age | $76.50 |
