Newcomer Digest – Thursday's Edition

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The Canada Child Benefit Is Not Automatic. Apply for It.

It is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families with children under 18, and you have to apply.

You have a child, a rent payment and a long list of new costs.

There is a tax-free monthly payment built for exactly that. It is called the Canada Child Benefit (CCB). To get it, you have to apply.

Here is what the CRA says it pays from July 2026 to June 2027:

• Up to $679.75 a month ($8,157 a year) for each child under 6.
• Up to $573.58 a month ($6,883 a year) for each child aged 6 to 17.
• Payments start to shrink when family net income is over $38,237.

Next payment dates: November 20 and December 11, 2026.

Read the full guide on our website

What This Means for You

Who may be eligible

• You live with a child under 18 and are primarily responsible for their care.
• You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
• You or your spouse or common-law partner is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or temporary resident.
• Temporary residents: you must have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months, with a valid permit in the 19th month.
• Not eligible: an individual with a Refugee Protection Claimant Document.

Where newcomers commonly go wrong:

• Assuming it is automatic. You have to apply.
• Skipping the newcomer form. The CRA asks newcomers to mail Schedule RC66SCH with Form RC66.
• Forgetting proof of birth. It is needed when the CRA has never paid benefits for the child and you apply online or by mail.
• Not filing taxes. The CRA lists filing your taxes under keeping your payments.

This is general information, not advice. Check the CRA's pages for your situation.

What You Can Do Now

Four steps to apply and keep your payments

1. Check the rules. Read the CRA's eligibility page, including the 18-month rule for temporary residents.
2. Apply. Sign in to your CRA account, choose "Benefits and credits," and use "+ Add" in "Child information." Or mail Form RC66 and Schedule RC66SCH to your tax centre.
3. Attach documents. Add proof of birth if the CRA has never paid benefits for your child. If your application covers a period that started more than 11 months ago, the CRA also asks for immigration or citizenship documents and proof of residence.
4. Keep it going. File your tax return each year. If a payment does not arrive, wait 5 business days after the payment date, then contact the CRA.

CRA: Who can apply for the Canada Child Benefit
CRA: How to apply for the Canada Child Benefit

Helpful Resource

The CRA's Canada Child Benefit pages

The Canada Revenue Agency explains who can apply, how to apply, how much you can get and when payments arrive.

• Who can apply: Canada Child Benefit: Who can apply (CRA)
• How to apply: Canada Child Benefit: How to apply (CRA)
• How much you can get: Canada Child Benefit: How much you can get (CRA)
• Payment dates: Canada Child Benefit: Payment dates (CRA)

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