Canada Child Benefit 2025: Payment Amounts, Dates, and Eligibility

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is one of Canada's most important family support programs — a tax-free, monthly payment that helps families cover the cost of raising children. In 2025, the CCB pays up to $666.42 per month for each child under 6, and up to $562.33 per month for each child aged 6 to 17. For a family with two young children at low income, that's over $1,300 per month in tax-free support. This guide covers the 2025 CCB amounts, every payment date, the income reduction formula, and a powerful strategy for boosting your CCB through RRSP contributions.

CCB Payment Amounts 2025

The CCB benefit year runs from July to June, based on your previous year's tax return. The amounts shown below apply for the July 2025 – June 2026 benefit year, based on 2024 net family income filed in your 2024 tax return.

These are the maximum amounts, paid to families with net income below $36,502. The CCB is non-taxable — it does not count as income and does not need to be reported on your tax return. It also does not affect your eligibility for other income-tested programs.

CCB Payment Dates 2025

CCB payments are made on or around the 20th of each month. When the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is made on the preceding business day. Here are all 12 payment dates for 2025:

Set up direct deposit through CRA My Account to receive your CCB on the exact payment date. Without direct deposit, mailed cheques can take several additional business days to arrive. To update your direct deposit information, log into CRA My Account or call 1-800-387-1193.

How the CCB Income Phase-Out Works

The CCB is income-tested and reduces as your family's adjusted net income rises above $36,502. The reduction formula varies based on the number of children:

For Families with One Child

• Child under 6: CCB reduces by 7% of income over $36,502
• Child aged 6–17: CCB reduces by 3.2% of income over $36,502
• Example: $60,000 family income, child under 6: reduction = 7% × ($60,000 − $36,502) = 7% × $23,498 = $1,645/year reduction from the maximum $7,997
• Benefit at $60,000 income, one child under 6 = $7,997 − $1,645 = $6,352/year ($529/month)

For Families with More Children

• Two children: base reduction rate is 13.5% (under 6) and 5.7% (6–17) on income above $36,502
• Three children: 19% (under 6) / 8% (6–17)
• Four or more children: the reduction rate increases further

There is a second reduction tier above approximately $75,537 family income, where a higher phase-out rate applies. The CCB is designed to provide the most benefit to lower and middle-income families, with partial benefits extending up to approximately $150,000–$175,000 family income depending on the number and ages of children.

Who Qualifies for the CCB?

To receive the CCB, you must:

• Live with the child who is under age 18
• Be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
• Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, temporary resident with 18 months residence, or an Indigenous person as defined under the Indian Act

Both you and your spouse or common-law partner must file annual tax returns — even if you have no income — for CCB payments to continue. The CRA uses your tax return to calculate your family net income, which determines your CCB entitlement. Missing a filing deadline can cause CCB payments to stop until the return is filed.

How to Apply for the CCB

There are three ways to apply:

1. At birth registration: Most provinces allow you to apply for the CCB when registering your child's birth through the provincial vital statistics office. This is the fastest and most convenient method — simply complete the CCB section of the birth registration form.
2. Through CRA My Account: Log in at canada.ca and use the "Apply for Child Benefits" service. You'll need your child's date of birth, SIN (or apply for one simultaneously), and the date they came into your care.
3. By mail (RC66 form): Download and complete form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) and mail it to your local tax centre. Processing may take 8–11 weeks.

The RRSP-CCB Double Benefit Strategy

This is one of the most underappreciated strategies in Canadian personal finance. RRSP contributions reduce your net income on your tax return. The CCB is calculated based on net income. Therefore, RRSP contributions directly increase your CCB entitlement — on top of the tax savings they already provide.

Worked Example

Suppose your family earns $85,000 combined and you have two children under 6. Without any RRSP contribution:

• CCB base = $15,994 (2 × $7,997)
• Reduction = 13.5% × ($85,000 − $36,502) = 13.5% × $48,498 = $6,547
• CCB received = $15,994 − $6,547 = $9,447/year

Now suppose you make a $10,000 RRSP contribution, reducing your family net income to $75,000:

• CCB base = $15,994
• Reduction = 13.5% × ($75,000 − $36,502) = 13.5% × $38,498 = $5,197
• CCB received = $15,994 − $5,197 = $10,797/year

The $10,000 RRSP contribution increased your CCB by $1,350 per year. Combined with the direct tax savings of approximately $2,965 (at a 29.65% marginal rate), the total benefit of the RRSP contribution is approximately $4,315 — making the effective return on the RRSP contribution over 43%. This double benefit is one of the most compelling arguments for RRSP contributions for families with children in the CCB phase-out range.

CCB Disability Supplement

If your child qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), you may be eligible for an additional CCB disability supplement. For 2025, the supplement is up to $3,173 per year for children under 6 with a disability, and the same for children aged 6–17. The supplement is also income-tested and reduces as family income rises.

To access the DTC and the CCB supplement, complete form T2201 (Disability Tax Credit Certificate) with a qualified medical practitioner and submit it to CRA. Once approved, the supplement is automatically added to your CCB payments.

Sources

• Canada Revenue Agency — Canada Child Benefit — Overview
• Canada Revenue Agency — CCB Payment Dates
• Canada Revenue Agency — Form RC66 — Canada Child Benefits Application