CCB 2026-27: $8,157 per Child Under 6, Explained
For the benefit year July 2026 to June 2027, the Canada Child Benefit pays up to $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) for each child under 6, and $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) for each child aged 6 to 17. That is a 2% inflation increase — $160 more per young child than last year. Here is who gets the maximum, how the phase-out math works, and the mistakes that cost families money.
How we check the numbers: every figure on this page is calculated from official CRA, Statistics Canada or Bank of Canada data and cross-checked with the free calculators on this site — run them yourself to verify.
The short version
The CRA recalculates your CCB every July using the previous year's tax return. For the 2026-27 benefit year that means your 2025 adjusted family net income (AFNI). If it was under $38,237, you get the maximum for each child — no reduction. The benefit is tax-free: you never report it as income.
How much you get: two worked examples
The CRA's own 2026-27 examples, verified against its published formula:
Example 1 — Martha: one child under 6, AFNI $45,000. Reduction = 7% of ($45,000 - $38,237) = 7% of $6,763 = $473.41. Annual payment = $8,157 - $473.41 = $7,683.59 (about $640.29/month).
Example 2 — Fatima: two children under 6, AFNI $60,000. Reduction = 13.5% of ($60,000 - $38,237) = 13.5% of $21,763 = $2,938.00. Annual payment = (2 x $8,157) - $2,938.00 = $13,376.00 (about $1,114.66/month).
The $38,237 phase-out: how it actually works
There is no single income cutoff. Instead, the CRA uses a two-tier reduction that depends on how many children you have:
Above $82,847, the reduction steepens: a fixed base amount plus a percentage of income over $82,847. For one child, that is $3,123 plus 3.2% of income above $82,847. For two children: $6,022 plus 5.7%. For three: $8,476 plus 8%. For four or more: $10,260 plus 9.5%.
The takeaway most people miss: the more children you have, the longer the benefit survives into high incomes, because there is more benefit to claw back. High earners should not assume they are ineligible.
Who qualifies
- You live with a child under 18 and are primarily responsible for their care and upbringing.
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You or your spouse/common-law partner must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, registered under the Indian Act, or a qualifying temporary resident.
- Both partners must file a tax return every year — even with zero income. This is the number one reason payments stop unexpectedly.
New parents can apply when registering the birth (the Automated Benefits Application), or through CRA My Account with form RC66. If you never registered, you can request retroactive payments going back up to 10 years.
Two things that add to your payment
- Child Disability Benefit: if a child is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, you automatically get up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month) extra per eligible child, on top of the base CCB.
- Provincial child benefits: in Ontario, the Ontario Child Benefit (up to $146.66/month per child) can arrive with your CCB payment. Amounts vary by province.
Payment dates and fine print
- Paid monthly on the 20th (or the last business day before, if the 20th is a weekend or holiday). Upcoming 2026 dates: November 20 and December 11.
- Under $240 a year total? You get it as a single lump sum in July instead of monthly payments.
- Shared custody: if both parents have the child roughly equally (about 40-60% of the time), each gets 50% of what they would receive with full custody, based on each parent's own income. One parent above 60% gets the full amount.
- Child turns 6 during the year: you get the under-6 rate for the month of the birthday, and the 6-17 rate starting the next month.
Checklist: don't leave money on the table
- File your 2025 return on time. No return, no recalculation — payments can freeze.
- Tell the CRA about marital status or custody changes promptly. Your payment is based on your current family situation.
- Don't self-disqualify. There is no single income cutoff — run the CRA child and family benefits calculator before assuming you earn too much.
- Claim missed years. If you were entitled but never registered, retroactive claims can go back 10 years.
- High-income families with multiple young kids: you may still get thousands a year — the examples above are worth more than most "too rich for CCB" assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CCB per month in 2026-27?
For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is $679.75/month ($8,157/year) per child under 6, and $573.58/month ($6,883/year) per child aged 6 to 17. You get the full amount if your 2025 adjusted family net income was under $38,237; above that, payments shrink gradually.
Is the Canada Child Benefit taxable?
No. CCB payments are tax-free and you do not report them on your tax return. The CRA recalculates your payment every July using the previous year's income — that is the only link between your tax return and the benefit.
Do I need to apply for the CCB every year?
No — you apply once, and the CRA recalculates automatically each July. But both you and your spouse or common-law partner must file a tax return every year, even with no income. Missed filing is the most common reason payments are delayed or stopped.
At what income does the CCB stop completely?
There is no single cutoff. Reductions begin above $38,237 of adjusted family net income and steepen above $82,847, at rates that depend on your number of children (7% to 23%). A family with one child under 6 can still receive some CCB well past $150,000 of family income — run the CRA calculator instead of assuming you are out.
How does shared custody affect CCB payments?
If both parents share custody roughly equally (about 40-60% of the time), each parent gets 50% of what they would receive with full custody, calculated separately on each parent's own adjusted family net income. If one parent has the child more than 60% of the time, that parent receives the full CCB amount. Notify the CRA of your custody arrangement.
Sources
- CRA — Canada child benefit: how much you can get (maximums $8,157/$6,883, thresholds $38,237/$82,847, worked examples)
- MoneySense — Canada Child Benefit payments 2026: amounts, payment dates, eligibility (Sept 2026)
- True North Benefits — CCB increase 2026-2027: amounts, reduction formula and estimates by income
- Ontario — Ontario Child Benefit (up to $1,760 per child per year)
Raising a child? Run the full cost math
We estimated the real cost of raising a child in Toronto in 2026 — and how far the CCB actually stretches. Pair it with the RESP calculator to stack the $500/year federal grant on top of your CCB.
Educational content only — not financial advice. Figures are estimates; confirm your own situation with the CRA or a licensed financial advisor. See our Disclaimer.