The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment from the federal government to help families with the cost of raising children. For newcomers with children, the CCB can be a significant financial support — worth thousands of dollars per year for eligible families. This guide explains who qualifies as a newcomer, how to apply, and how much you can expect to receive.
The CCB is a monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) made to eligible families with children under 18. The amount depends on your family net income, the number of children, and their ages. Payments are non-taxable — they do not count as income on your tax return.
In the 2024–2025 benefit year, the maximum annual CCB amounts per child are:
These amounts are gradually reduced as family net income exceeds certain thresholds. Lower-income families receive the maximum or near-maximum amounts.
To receive the CCB, you must:
Permanent residents are fully eligible for the CCB from the date they arrive in Canada, provided they live with their children and are primarily responsible for their care. You do not need to wait a period before applying. Apply as soon as you arrive.
There are several ways to apply:
When you register your child's birth with your province, you can also apply for the CCB at the same time through the Automatic Benefits Application (ABA) available in most provinces.
Log into CRA My Account online and apply through the Benefits and Credits section. You'll need your SIN and your child's SIN (or birth certificate). This is the fastest option for newcomers who already have their CRA accounts set up.
Complete Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) and mail it to your tax centre. Include form RC66SCH (Status in Canada / Statement of Income) if you are a newcomer who arrived in Canada in the previous two years.
If you arrived in Canada within the past two years, you must complete Form RC66SCH along with your CCB application. This form asks for:
The world income is used to calculate your CCB amount for the months before you started filing Canadian tax returns. Do not skip this form — it can affect your payment amount significantly.
CCB payments are based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from the previous tax year. This is why filing your tax return every year is essential — even if you owe no taxes, your CCB amount is recalculated based on your return. For newcomers who haven't yet filed a full year of Canadian taxes, CRA uses the world income from your RC66SCH to estimate your payment.
After applying, CCB payments typically begin within 8 weeks. Payments are deposited directly to your bank account if you have direct deposit set up with CRA, or mailed as a cheque otherwise. Set up direct deposit in CRA My Account to receive payments faster and more reliably — you'll need your Canadian bank account number, institution number, and transit number (found on a cheque or in your online banking).
Several provinces offer their own child benefit top-ups that are administered alongside the CCB. When you apply for the CCB, you are automatically assessed for provincial benefits as well:
If you share custody of a child with a former partner, each parent may receive 50% of the CCB for that child. Special rules apply — if you are newly separated or have a shared custody arrangement, notify CRA and ensure both parents' returns are filed so the benefit is calculated correctly.
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