CCB Payment Dates 2025 to 2026: Updated Guide

From diapers to daycare, there's no question that raising children is expensive, and parents need all the help they can get. The government introduced the Canada Child Benefit to help lessen the financial burden on families. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment designed to help eligible families cover the costs of raising children under 18 years old. Keep reading to learn more about CCB eligibility, how payments are calculated, and the CCB payment dates (2025 to 2026).

Key Takeaways

• The Canada Child Benefit CCB is a tax-free benefit for eligible Canadian families with children under 18
• Maximum payment for 2025-2026: $7,997 per year ($666.41 monthly) for children under 6
• Maximum payment for 2025-2026: $6,748 per year ($562.33 monthly) for children aged 6-17
• Families with adjusted family net income under $37,487 receive the maximum benefit
• Benefits gradually decrease as family net income increases
• CCB payments are typically issued on the 20th of each month

What is the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?

The Canada Child Benefit replaced the Universal Child Care Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) in 2016. The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment paid each month, starting in July and going to June the following year. The payment amount you receive depends on:

• The number of children in your care
• The age of your children
• Your marital status
• Your adjusted family net income

Who is Eligible for the CCB?

To receive the CCB monthly payment, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Primary Caregiver Status

To be considered a primary caregiver, you must be the parent who provides the majority of care to your child. To determine if you meet primary caregiver status, consider the following questions:

• Do you supervise your child's daily activities and needs?
• Do you make sure the child's medical needs are met?
• Do you arrange for child care when it's needed?

Only one parent can apply for CCB benefits. When a spouse or common-law partner lives in the same home, it's assumed that the female parent is primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child. For this reason, the female parent is the only one who should apply for the CCB.

If the other parent is the primary caregiver or if the child lives with same-sex parents, only one parent should apply. You will receive the same amount of money regardless of which parent receives the Canada Child Benefit payments.

If you share custody of your child, and they only live with you part-time, you will need to figure out if you have shared custody.

You are considered to share custody if your child generally spends 50% of their time with you and 50% with the other parent. In this case, both individuals should apply for the CCB.

When your child is with you more than 60% of the time, you are considered to have full custody and should apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).

You are not eligible for CCB payments and should not apply if your child lives with you less than 40% of the time.

If your child lives with you temporarily (e.g., spends the full summer vacation with you), you can apply for temporary CCB benefits.

2. Canadian Residency Status

For tax purposes, you must be a Canadian resident to apply for the CCB. You and your spouse or common-law partner may also be eligible if you are a:

• Canadian citizen
• Permanent resident
• Protected person
• Temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and has a valid permit
• Registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

3. The Age of the Child(ren)

You can only apply for the CCB if your child is under the age of 18 years old.

4. Income Qualifications

The amount of your CCB benefits partly depends on your income. Those with an adjusted family net income under $37,487 (in 2025-2026) will get the maximum CCB amount for each child.

As your income goes up, the amount you receive will go down. You can use the Government of Canada's child and family benefits calculator to see how many children qualify and how much you might get.

Waiting for your CCB payment? Bree offers tax-free advances up to $500. No fees, just support when you need it most!

Frequently Asked Questions

CCB payment eligibility

1. How do changes in family circumstances affect eligibility?

If you just got married or have a new common-law partner, it's important to understand that only one Canada Child Benefit payment is allowed per family, per month.

Even if you and your spouse or common-law partner were receiving separate payments before you got together, you should now only receive one payment based on your adjusted family net income.

Be aware that if you continue to get separate payments, one of you will have to repay the amount after your marital status changes.

2. Does a non-resident spouse affect my eligibility?

If your spouse is a non-resident of Canada during any part of the year, you have to fill out Form CTB9, Income of Non-Resident Spouse or Common-Law Partner.

As soon as your spouse immigrates to Canada, they must submit the following information to the Canada Revenue Agency CRA:

• Social insurance number
• Date of birth
• Address
• Immigration date
• Statement of income

Application and payments

1. How do I apply for the CCB?

There are three different ways you can apply for the CCB:

• When you registered the child's birth with your province or territory. This is typically done by filling out a paper form at the hospital or birthing center. If you live in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, or Alberta, you can also register online.
• Online through My Account. If you didn't apply for CCB when your child was born, you can apply online using your personal CRA account called "My Account."
• Through the mail. You can fill out and sign the Canada Child Benefits application form and mail it to your tax centre.

2. How much will I receive, and how is my CCB payment calculated?

The size of your Canada Child Benefit payment amount depends on several factors, including:

• How many children are in your care
• The children's ages
• Your marital status
• Your adjusted family net income

Your adjusted family net income is calculated using the following steps:

• Your family net income (your income + your spouse or common-law partner's income)
• Minus any Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income you get
• Plus any Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan amounts that you or your spouse have repaid.

For the 2025-2026 benefit year, families with an adjusted family net income under $37,487 will get the maximum CCB amount for each child:

• Under 6 years old: $7,997 per year ($666.41 per month)
• 6 to 17 years old: $6,748 per year ($562.33 per month)

Your CCB payments will decrease as your income grows above $37,487.

In addition to regular benefits, you may also be eligible for the Child Disability Benefit if your child qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit. For 2025-2026, this can provide up to $3,411 per year for each eligible child.

3. What to do if I disagree with my CCB decision?

If you disagree with your CCB decision, you can contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-387-1193. If you live in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut, call 1-866-426-1527.

Additional Considerations

File your tax return on time each year

To ensure you get your CCB each year, you must continue to do your taxes on time. Even if you don't have any income, you need to file your tax return. The same is true for your spouse or common-law partner.

If you don't do your taxes on time, the CRA won't have the information needed to calculate your CCB payment, and your payments will stop.

Keep your personal information up to date

To make sure you get the right amount of CCB each year, keep your personal information updated with the Canada Revenue Agency. Contact the CRA as soon as possible if:

• Marital status changes
• Address changes
• Direct deposit information changes
• The number of children in your care changes
• You start or stop sharing custody of a child
• There is a death
• You/your spouse/common-law partner has a change in residency status
• Your notice shows outdated information

What is the monthly CCB payment schedule?

Canada Child Benefit payments are recalculated every July based on your family's adjusted family net income from the previous year. For instance, your payments for July 2025 to June 2026 are based on your AFNI from 2024. The benefit payment dates occur once per month, typically on the 20th.

CCB payment dates for 2025-2026:

• January 20, 2026
• February 20, 2026
• March 20, 2026
• April 20, 2026
• May 20, 2026
• June 19, 2026 (Friday before the 20th, as the 20th falls on a weekend)
• July 20, 2026
• August 20, 2026
• September 18, 2026 (Friday before the 20th, as the 20th falls on a weekend)
• October 20, 2026
• November 20, 2026
• December 18, 2026 (Friday before the 20th, as the 20th falls on a weekend)

You can set up direct deposit to receive your payments directly to your bank account on these payment dates. Not that past patterns show payments around the 20th, adjusting for weekends/holidays. Expect similar scheduling in 2026 unless CRA issues changes.

Possible Reasons for Missed or Delayed CCB Payments

If you stop getting your CCB payments, it could be for one of the following reasons:

• You didn't file your tax return
• You didn't respond to a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency CRA
• You didn't tell the CRA that your address or banking information changed
• Your income is now too high (your CCB payments are recalculated each July)
• Your child turned 18
• You no longer have a child in your care
• You no longer meet the payment eligibility criteria
• You, your spouse, or common-law partner are missing a statement of world income

If you notice a change in the amount of your CCB payments, it could be for one of the following reasons:

• Your family net income changed
• Your marital status changed
• The number of eligible children in your care changed
• Your child turned six
• Your child turned 18
• One of your children is no longer in your care
• Your custody arrangement changed

What to Do If a Payment is Missed or Incorrect

If you don't get your CCB payment, or if you get the wrong amount, you can sign into your My Account for more information. Or, you can contact the Canada Revenue Agency by phone at 1-800-387-1193 or 1-866-426-1527 in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut or by mail. You are asked to wait five working days from the missed payment date before you contact the government.

Don't Miss Out On Your CCB Payments

The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free payment available to eligible families to assist with everything from groceries to school supplies and your children's education. By understanding how the CCB process works, you can make sure you never miss a benefit payment date in 2025 and beyond.

You may also be eligible for additional territorial child benefits depending on your province of residence. These are often paid along with your regular CCB payments.

If you have questions about the CCB program, check out the Government of Canada website for more details. You can also log into your “My Account” to apply for CCB or to review details related to your CCB payments.

Need help between CCB payments?

If you're waiting for your next CCB payment and need a little extra financial help, Bree offers tax-free monthly payment advances of up to $500 with no mandatory fees. Unlike payday lenders, Bree is committed to helping Canadian parents manage their finances with confidence. Apply today and get the support you need – our only interest is your best interest!