CCB payment dates for 2025

What is the Canada Child Benefit?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that helps eligible families with the cost of raising kids under 18.

It may also include:

• The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) for children who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit

• Provincial and territorial child benefits for most provinces and territories (Quebec pays its own family allowance separately)

The CCB is not taxable, so you don’t report it as income on your tax return.

CCB payment dates for 2025

The CRA has confirmed all Canada Child Benefit payment dates for 2025. If you’re set up for direct deposit (including to a KOHO account), these are the dates your CCB is scheduled to be paid:

• January 20, 2025

• February 20, 2025

• March 20, 2025

• April 17, 2025

• May 20, 2025

• June 20, 2025

• July 18, 2025

• August 20, 2025

• September 19, 2025

• October 20, 2025

• November 20, 2025

• December 12, 2025

A few useful details:

• The CRA aims to pay CCB once a month, usually on or around the 20th.

• If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is moved to the previous business day (that’s why some dates look “off,” like April 17 or July 18).

• If your total annual CCB is under $240, the CRA may pay you in one lump sum, usually with your July payment.

If you still receive your CCB by cheque, the payment is mailed around the same dates, but mail time can add a few business days.

The CRA recommends waiting five business days after the expected date before contacting them if your payment hasn’t arrived.

How CCB payments work with KOHO

You can set up your CCB to be paid by direct deposit into a KOHO Essential account.

KOHO processes direct deposits as soon as they’re received from the CRA, typically the evening before or on the scheduled payment date, though it can take up to two business days depending on when the payment is sent.

With KOHO, that means:

• You don’t have to wait for a cheque in the mail

• Your CCB can land straight in the same account you use to spend, save, and earn interest

• You can set up automatic savings goals (for things like school clothing, activities, or RESP contributions) as soon as the money comes in

To set up direct deposit to KOHO, you can grab your transit, institution, and account numbers from the app or web portal and update your banking details in your CRA account.

Who is eligible for the CCB?

To be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit, you generally need to meet all of the following conditions for each child:

1. You live with the child, and the child is under 18.

2. You’re primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing (you arrange childcare, look after their daily needs, and make sure medical needs are met).

3. You’re a resident of Canada for tax purposes.

4. You or your spouse/common-law partner is one of:

   • Canadian citizen

   • Permanent resident

   • Protected person (after receiving a positive decision)

   • Temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the last 18 months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month

   • An individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

If you have shared custody (the child lives with each parent roughly 40–60% of the time), the CRA may consider both parents primarily responsible during their time, and splits the benefit 50/50.

You can’t receive CCB for a month when Children’s Special Allowances are payable for a foster child, but you may still qualify in other months or under kinship/close relationship programs as long as CSA isn’t being paid.

How much CCB can you get in 2025–2026?

Every July, the CRA recalculates CCB amounts based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from the previous tax year, and indexes the benefit to inflation. For payments from July 2025 to June 2026, the CRA uses your 2024 tax return.

For that period (July 2025–June 2026), the maximum annual amounts per child are:

• Child under 6: up to $7,997 per year (about $666.41 per month)

• Child aged 6 to 17: up to $6,748 per year (about $562.33 per month)

You get the full amounts if your AFNI is under $37,487. Above that, the benefit is gradually reduced, with different reduction rates depending on how many children you have.

Child Disability Benefit (CDB)

If your child is under 18 and approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), you may also receive the Child Disability Benefit on top of your CCB.

For July 2025–June 2026, the maximum CDB is:

• Up to $3,411 per year, or $284.25 per month, for each child who is eligible for the DTC.

The CDB starts to be reduced once your AFNI goes over $81,222, with different reduction rates depending on how many children with disabilities you have.

Provincial and territorial top-ups

For most provinces and territories (other than Quebec), the CRA also administers provincial/territorial child benefits and pays them together with your CCB or as a separate but related deposit.

Examples include:

• Alberta Child and Family Benefit

• BC Family Benefit

• Ontario Child Benefit

• Several others for Atlantic and northern provinces/territories

In some provinces, additional amounts flow through as “Canada PRO” deposits, which can show up alongside your federal benefits if you qualify for provincial programs like the Ontario Trillium Benefit or Alberta Child and Family Benefit.

The exact amounts depend on your province, number of children, and AFNI, but the big picture is: if you qualify for CCB, you might be receiving more than just the federal amount.

How to apply for the CCB

You can apply for the Canada Child Benefit in three main ways:

1. Through birth registration (Automated Benefits Application)

   • Available in every province and territory except Nunavut.

   • When you register your baby’s birth with your province/territory and consent to share your info with CRA, they’ll use that to start your CCB application.

2. Online via CRA My Account

   • Use the “Apply for child benefits” option.

   • You’ll need your child’s info and proof of birth (unless it’s already on file).

3. By mail using Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application)

   • You complete and mail Form RC66, and possibly RC66SCH – Status in Canada and Income Information if you or your partner are newcomers, protected persons, or temporary residents.

Since November 2023, CRA requires proof of your child’s birth if they haven’t paid benefits for that child before. Proof of birth must show your child’s name and date of birth (e.g. birth certificate, hospital record, or other accepted documents).

Once CRA has everything and processes your application, you’ll receive a CCB notice with your monthly amount and the date of your first payment.

How to keep getting your CCB without interruptions

To avoid surprises in 2025 and beyond, make sure you:

• File your taxes every year, even if you had little or no income. The CRA uses your tax return to calculate your CCB.

• Update your information promptly (address, marital status, custody changes) with the CRA.

• Check your CRA account if a payment doesn’t arrive on the scheduled date; then wait five business days before calling, as CRA suggests.

Final thoughts

The Canada Child Benefit remains one of the most important supports for families in Canada.

Knowing your exact payment dates, understanding how your benefit is calculated, and setting up direct deposit into an account that works for you can make those monthly deposits much easier to plan around.

^{*While Direct Deposits are typically received and processed the evening before your scheduled payday, the actual timing may vary depending on when the payment is issued. Please allow up to 2 business days for complete processing.}