Q: I’m a new parent. How do I apply for government child benefits and which ones am I eligible for?
A: The Canada child benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families to help with the cost of raising children younger than 18.
The amount you can expect to receive is calculated based on your adjusted family net income, and the number and ages of eligible children. As your family net income increases, the amount you receive is reduced. The payment amounts are recalculated every July based on the previous year’s income.
Ryan Minor, director of taxation for CPA Canada, says the maximum payment for July 2025 to June 2026 is $666.41 a month, or $7,997 a year, per child younger than six. For children aged six to 17, the maximum annual payout is $6,748 per year. “The benefit starts being reduced when adjusted family net income exceeds $37,487,” Minor adds.
If your child was born in Canada and you consent to the province sharing information with the Canada Revenue Agency, you can apply for the Canada child benefit automatically when registering your child’s birth at the hospital or birthing centre.
When two individuals, either married or common-law, reside in the same home as the child, the female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home, and she should be the one applying for the CCB, according to the government of Canada’s website.
If you didn’t apply for the CCB when you registered the birth of your newborn, you can apply online using your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) account.
Minor says eligibility begins the month after the month of birth, but it can take up to eight weeks for the CRA to process the application.
If you’re eligible for the CCB you’re automatically registered for the GST/HST credit, a tax-free quarterly payment to assist individuals and families with low and modest income. Typically, Minor says, you need to have filed a tax return for the previous year to get the credit (unless you are a newcomer). For those who are married, only one person will get the credit (Minor says this is usually whoever’s tax return is assessed first). For July 2025 to June 2026, the annual maximum is $533 for single folks and $698 for those who are married, plus $184 for each child younger than 19.
On a provincial level, the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) is a provincial tax-free benefit administered by the CRA for low- to moderate-income families. Minor says when you apply for the Canada Child Benefit, the CRA will automatically assess your eligibility for the Ontario Child Benefit — there is no separate application. If you are eligible, you will get a payment every month.
For July 2025 to June 2026, the maximum Ontario Child Benefit is $143.91 per child per month (or $1,727 per year). The amount is gradually reduced once adjusted family net income exceeds $26,364.
The Canada Revenue Agency has on online payment calculator that can help you determine how much you’d be eligible for each month.
Money Coach is a weekly feature that helps Canadians find helpful solutions to personal finance challenges. If you have a question, email Lora at [email protected].
