Find out about the new Canada child benefit

Already getting child benefits?

If you already get the universal child care benefit or the Canada child tax benefit, or both, you do not have to apply for the Canada child benefit.

Under proposed legislation, the Canada child benefit (CCB) will replace the universal child care benefit (UCCB), the Canada child tax benefit (CCTB), and the national child benefit supplement (NCBS). The CCB will be a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.

The first CCB payment will be issued on July 20, 2016 (subject to Parliamentary approval). The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will issue the last regular CCTB and UCCB payments on June 20, 2016. If you get your payments by direct deposit, this will continue.

Will you be eligible?

The eligibility rules for the CCB are generally the same as the CCTB. For more information on eligibility, go to Canada child tax benefit - Before you apply.

Will you need to apply?

If you already get the UCCB or the CCTB, or both, you will not have to apply for the CCB. However, you and your spouse or common-law partner must file a 2015 income tax and benefit return, even if you did not have income in that tax year. The CRA will use your adjusted family net income from your return to calculate your payment. The payment you receive for the July 2016 to June 2017 period will be based on your adjusted family net income for 2015.

How will you apply?

If you do not currently get the UCCB or the CCTB and you have a child under 18, you can apply for child benefits by using one of the following options:

Applying for the CCB in July 2016 will be the same as the current CCTB process. For more information, go to Canada child tax benefit - How to apply.

Although the last regular CCTB, NCBS, and UCCB payments will be issued in June 2016, you can still request adjustments to prior years.

How much will you get?

There are two main factors that determine how much you will get:

  • the number and ages of the children in your care
  • your adjusted family net income

You can get annual payments of up to:

  • $6,400 for each child under the age of 6
  • $5,400 for each child aged 6 through 17

Families with less than $30,000 in adjusted family net income will get the maximum benefit. As your adjusted family net income increases over $30,000, the payment will be reduced until it reaches zero. To see how much you might get, go to the child and family benefits calculator.

If you already get the CCTB, the UCCB, or both, and if you and your spouse or common law partner have filed your tax returns, we will send your notice in July 2016. It will let you know if you will get the CCB and how much your payment will be. If your adjusted family net income is too high, the notice will tell you that you are not entitled to the CCB. If you already get an electronic notice of assessment from the CRA, you will also get an electronic CCB notice of determination.

If your child qualifies for the disability amount, you may get an additional child disability benefit (CDB) amount of up to $2,730 for the year. If your adjusted family net income is more than $65,000, your CDB will be reduced until it reaches zero.

If you share custody, the existing rules for shared custody will apply to the CCB.

You have to file your income tax and benefit returns every year to keep getting the CCB.

Forms and publications

Related services and information

Date modified: