Federal (Canada)Family & children

Canada Child Benefit

A tax-free monthly payment to help families with the cost of raising children under 18. Lower-income families receive more. Children with a disability can get an extra amount.

Estimated value

Up to $8,157/year per child under 6, $6,883/year per child 6-17

Check if I qualify →

Who qualifies

You must live with a child under 18 and be primarily responsible for their care.
You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes; at least one parent must meet a status requirement (citizen, PR, protected person, or certain temporary residents).
The amount is based on adjusted family net income, number of children, and their ages.

How to apply

1
Register the birth or apply online
For a newborn, you can apply through the provincial birth registration. Otherwise apply through CRA My Account or Form RC66.
Go to application ↗
2
File taxes every year
Both parents must file taxes each year, even with no income, so the CRA can keep paying the benefit.
- 💡 If your child is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, you also get the Child Disability Benefit automatically.

Documents you will need

Social Insurance Number
Proof of birth (if asked)

Processing time

Usually 8 weeks

How often it is paid

Monthly

Good to know

If your child is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, the Child Disability Benefit (up to about $3,400/year) is added automatically.
Both parents must file taxes every year — even with no income — or payments can stop.
In shared custody, each parent can receive 50% of the amount.

Often applied for together

BC Family Benefit Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Disability Tax Credit

Official government page ↗

Last verified: September 1, 2026