Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

If you are affected by wildfires or flooding across Canada, delivery of your CRA benefit and credit cheques may be delayed. If affected, please visit Canada Post for the latest mail delivery updates. To avoid interruptions to refunds or benefit payments, register for direct deposit through My Account.

When applying for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for the first time, individuals must provide a birth certificate.

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 or territorial programs.

Who Is Eligible for the Canada Child Benefit

You must meet all of the following conditions:

• You live with a child under 18 years of age
• You are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
• You are a Canadian tax resident
• You or your spouse/common-law partner is one of the following:
  • A Canadian citizen
  • A permanent resident
  • A protected person (with a positive decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board)

Note: Individuals holding a Refugee Protection Claimant Document are not eligible for CCB.

• A temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month (excluding permits marked “does not confer status” or “does not confer temporary resident status”)
• An individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

You cannot receive CCB for a foster child for any month in which the Children’s Special Allowance (CSA) is payable.

If you live with and care for a child under a kinship or close relationship program administered by a government or Indigenous authority, you may receive CCB as long as CSA is not payable for that child.

For more details, refer to the Children’s Special Allowance.

Who Is Considered the Primary Caregiver

The person primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child should apply for the CCB. This person is responsible for:

• Supervising the child’s daily activities and needs
• Ensuring the child’s medical needs are met
• Arranging childcare when necessary

When a Female Parent Lives With the Child

When spouses or common-law partners live together with the child, the female parent is presumed to be the primary caregiver and should apply for the CCB. This presumption is a legislative requirement under the Income Tax Act, as only one payment can be issued per household. The benefit amount is the same regardless of which parent receives it.

If the other parent is actually the primary caregiver, they must apply and include a signed letter from the female parent confirming this responsibility.

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

Custody Arrangements and Benefits

If a child lives with you only part of the time, you must determine whether you are considered to have shared custody.

When to Apply

You should apply for the CCB as soon as any of the following occur:

• Your child is born
• A child begins living with you or returns after temporarily living elsewhere
• A shared custody arrangement starts, ends, or changes
• You obtain custody of a child
• You or your spouse/common-law partner becomes eligible

If the child began living with you more than 11 months ago, additional documents will be required.

You do not need to apply separately for provincial or territorial programs. The CRA will determine eligibility when you apply for the CCB.

How to Apply

1. Through Birth Registration

Processing time: You should receive payment within 8 weeks.

You can apply when registering your newborn’s birth in your province or territory. Birth registration is usually completed in hospitals or birthing centres using paper forms. Residents of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta may also register online.

You must provide consent and your Social Insurance Number (SIN) so your province or territory can securely share birth registration information with the CRA. If you do not consent, you will need to apply through another method.

2. Online Through CRA My Account

Processing time: You should receive payment within 8 weeks.

If you did not apply during birth registration, you can apply online through My Account:

1. Log in to My Account
2. On the “Overview” page, select Benefits and Credits
3. Under “Children,” click + Add

You will complete three steps:

• Confirm contact details, marital status, and citizenship
• Enter your child’s information
• Review and submit your application

A confirmation screen will show your application status.
If additional documents are required (e.g., birth certificate), select Submit Documents.

3. By Mail

Processing time: You should receive payment within 11 weeks.

• Complete and sign Form RC66 – Canada Child Benefits Application
• Include any required supporting documents
• Mail the form to your tax centre

When Additional Documents Are Required

Note:
If any document is not in English or French, you must provide a copy of the original document and an acceptable English or French translation.

Additional documents may be required if:

• A birth certificate is needed
• The other parent is primarily responsible for the child
• You are applying more than 11 months after the child began living with you
• You or your spouse/common-law partner is a new or returning resident to Canada
• You are leaving an abusive or violent situation

Birth Certificate Requirements

If CRA has never paid benefits for the child and you apply online or by mail, you must include the child’s birth certificate.
If you apply through birth registration, no birth certificate is required as the information is securely shared with CRA.

Birth documents must include the child’s first name, last name, and date of birth.

Documents can be submitted by:

• Uploading through My Account – Submit Documents, or
• Mailing the birth certificate with Form RC66 to your tax centre

If the Other Parent Is the Primary Caregiver

When parents live together, the female parent is presumed to be the primary caregiver.
If the other parent is primarily responsible, they must:

• Include a signed letter from the female parent confirming this responsibility
• Mail the letter with Form RC66

If both parents are the same gender, no letter is required.

Applying After 11 Months

If applying for a child who began living with you over 11 months ago, you must provide:

• Proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Proof of residence in Canada (at least 3 documents)
• Birth certificate for each child
• Proof you are primarily responsible for the child (at least 3 documents)
• Custody or legal agreements if applicable

All documents must be mailed with Form RC66 to your tax centre.

New or Returning Residents to Canada

You must:

• Complete and sign Schedule RC66SCH – Status in Canada/Income Information
• Mail it with Form RC66

If your spouse/common-law partner was a non-resident at any time during the year, you must also complete Form CTB9.

Leaving an Abusive or Violent Situation

You may be able to receive benefits and credits without putting yourself or your family at risk.
For more information, visit Benefits and Credits in Situations of Abuse or Violence.