Canada Child Benefit (CCB): Eligibility, Process, and More!

Surya Rathee
[Published 30 Jun, 2023 | 12:17 PM]
About Author - 7 min read
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Administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CBB was introduced in 2016 to replace the previous Canadian Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) - including the National Child Benefit (NCB) Supplement and the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB).

If you meet the eligibility criteria for the CCB, such as living with the eligible child/children and being a resident of Canada, you can receive a benefit of up to $6,997 per child annually.

Who is eligible for Canada Child Benefit?

To apply for Canada Child Benefit (CCB), you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You must live with the child, and the child must be under 18 years of age.
• You must be the person primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child.
• You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. CRA will consider you to be a resident of Canada when you establish sufficient residential ties in Canada and have successfully gone through the process to apply for Canada PR visa.
• You or your spouse or common-law partner must be any of the following:
• A Canadian citizen.
• A permanent resident (as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act).
• A protected person (as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act).
• A temporary resident (as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) who has lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month (do not apply before the 19th month).
• An individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act.

The person who is primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child should apply for the CCB. You should apply even if any of the following situations apply:

• Your child only lives with you part of the time.
• Your current adjusted family net income is too high. CRA calculates your amount every July based on your adjusted family net income for the previous year.
• Your child is living with you for a determined temporary period of time of at least one month, for example over the summer holidays.
• You care for a child under a kinship or close relationship program and you otherwise meet all the CCB eligibility criteria.

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

• Your child is born.
• A child starts to live with you.
• You begin a new shared custody arrangement.
• You or your spouse or common-law partner meet the eligibility conditions under the eligibility criteria.

How to apply for Canada Child Benefit?

You can apply for Canada Child Benefit (CBB) in 5 easy steps.

STEP 1: Gather required documents: You'll need documents such as birth certificates, Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) for you and your child, and proof of residency in Canada.

STEP 2: Create a CRA My Account: Visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website and create an account if you don't have one. Ensure your mailing address is up to date.

STEP 3: Apply online or by mail: You can apply online through your CRA My Account or by completing the Canada Child Benefits Application (Form RC66) and mailing it to the CRA.

STEP 4: Provide necessary information: Fill out the application with accurate details about yourself, your child, and your family’s income. Include any changes in custody arrangements or marital status.

STEP 5: Submit the application: If applying online, submit the application electronically. If applying by mail, mail the completed form to the address provided on the form.

The CRA will review your application and notify you about your eligibility for the CCB. If approved, you'll start receiving monthly payments based on your family's income and the number of children. Remember to keep your information up to date and report any changes to the CRA to ensure continued eligibility for the CCB.

How much can you get?

For the payment period of July 2022 to June 2023, CRA calculates your benefit based on all the following information:

• The number of eligible children you have and their ages.
• Your adjusted family net income for the base year 2021.
• The child's eligibility for the disability tax credit (DTC).

As of June 2023, qualifying applicants with an AFNI under $32,797 can get the maximum amount available for each child, which is $6,997 per year ($583.08 per month) for children under 6, and $5,903 per year ($491.91 per month) for children aged between 6 and 17.

When a family's net income is over $32,797, CCB payments gradually start to decrease. Payments are recalculated each year in July, which means if your AFNI changed between 2021 and 2022, the amount you get via the CCB may also change later this year.

Expected Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates For 2023

Here are the expected payment dates for the CCB for the remainder of 2023:

• April 20, 2023
• May 19, 2023
• June 20, 2023
• July 20, 2023
• August 18, 2023
• September 20, 2023
• October 20, 2023
• November 20, 2023
• December 13, 2023

If your total benefit amount for the year is under $240, you'll receive a lump sum in July as opposed to monthly payments.

What’s Next?

If you think you could be eligible, find out more about the criteria and see if you could apply to start receiving monthly payments. Make sure to look into other government benefits and programs that might help you with the cost of raising children.

If you have questions about government rebates, tax credits, or any other family benefits, speak to the best immigration consultant in India to make sure you claim everything you can.

Read More:- What are the requirements for bringing a partner on a visitor's visa to Canada?