Quick answer: Starting this month, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) pays up to $8,157 per child under age 6 and up to $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17 for the 2026-27 benefit year — an increase of up to $160 and $135 per child, respectively. In New Brunswick alone, the higher payments reach roughly 81,000 families and 130,000 children.
What Is the Canada Child Benefit?
The Canada Child Benefit is a monthly, tax-free payment from the Government of Canada that helps eligible families cover the cost of raising children. The amount a family receives depends on the number and ages of their children and the family’s prior-year adjusted net income — lower-income families receive more.
How Much More Are Families Getting in 2026-27?
The federal government announced the increase on July 17, 2026, in Saint John, New Brunswick, on behalf of the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), and the Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions).
| Child’s age | Maximum annual amount, 2026-27 | Increase vs. 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | up to $8,157 per child | up to $160 per child |
| 6 to 17 | up to $6,883 per child | up to $135 per child |
These are maximum amounts for lower-income families; actual payments phase down as household income rises.
Announcing the increase, the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), said:
“Starting Monday, the Canada Child Benefit is going up for 3.6 million Canadian families. This increased monthly payment will help cover everyday expenses like school supplies, clothing, and groceries. When we invest in kids, we’re investing in our future and building Canada strong.”
The Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), added:
“The Canada Child Benefit has helped families in the province, including my own community of Saint John–Kennebecasis, cover the costs of raising children and build a stronger future for their kids. By increasing payments each year to keep pace with inflation, we are ensuring families continue to receive the support they need when it matters most.”
New Brunswick by the Numbers
- Nearly 81,000 families in New Brunswick receive the CCB.
- The province receives over $641 million in CCB payments each year.
- Approximately 130,000 children in New Brunswick are supported by the benefit.
Nationally, the CCB now supports about 3.6 million families caring for 6 million children, delivering roughly $30 billion in tax-free payments annually.
How the Benefit Is Calculated — A Worked Example
The government’s announcement includes a concrete example: a family with one child aged 5 and one child aged 9, with an adjusted net family income of $65,000, will receive approximately $11,430 in 2026-27 — nearly $400 more than the same family would have received in 2025-26.
Because the CCB is income-tested, families with higher household incomes will see smaller payments than the maximums listed above, reduced on a sliding scale as income rises above the program’s threshold. The Canada Revenue Agency calculates each family’s exact entitlement automatically from the prior year’s tax return — there’s no separate income-verification step families need to complete themselves beyond filing on time.
Does This Affect Provincial Benefits Too?
The CCB is a federal program administered by the Canada Revenue Agency and paid to eligible families in every province and territory. Some provinces layer their own child or family benefits on top of the federal CCB — for example, Quebec pays its own Family Allowance alongside the federal payment, and Ontario administers the Ontario Child Benefit as a supplement for lower-income families. Those provincial programs are calculated and paid separately from the CCB increase described here, so a New Brunswick family’s total support depends on federal CCB payments plus any provincial programs available in their own province.
Why the CCB Keeps Going Up
The Canada Child Benefit, introduced in 2016 to replace Canada’s earlier child benefit programs, has been indexed to inflation every year since 2018, meaning payment amounts are adjusted annually to keep pace with the rising cost of living rather than staying fixed. Indexation takes effect each July 1, which is also the start of the CCB’s benefit year (running July 1 to June 30). That’s why this month’s payments reflect the new, higher amounts rather than a mid-year top-up.
Because the benefit year starts in July and is based on the previous year’s tax return, families who want to make sure they’re getting the correct amount should confirm their tax filing is up to date — a missed or late return can delay recalculation of the payment.
According to the government’s release, research on the CCB’s impact has found it has:
- Made it easier for single low-income mothers to make ends meet — 85% of surveyed recipients said they would struggle significantly without it.
- Helped low-income families spend more on necessities like food, shelter, and children’s clothing.
- Reduced the rate of severe food insecurity by roughly one-third among low-income families.
Related Resources
The government’s announcement points families to several official pages for more detail:
- Canada Child Benefit — the main CRA program page, for eligibility rules and application steps.
- Children’s Special Allowances — the related program for children in the care of an agency or institution rather than a parent.
- National School Food Program and National Food Security Strategy — companion federal initiatives aimed at reducing child food insecurity alongside the CCB.
Families with questions about a specific payment can also contact the Canada Revenue Agency’s media and public inquiries lines listed in the government’s release, or check their CRA My Account for personalized payment details.
FAQ
Do I need to apply for the increase separately?
No. If you’re already receiving the CCB, the higher amount is applied automatically starting this month — there’s no separate application for the annual inflation adjustment.
What if I haven’t applied for the CCB before?
Families who haven’t yet applied can do so through the Canada Revenue Agency, generally at the time they register a child’s birth or through their CRA My Account. Payment amounts are based on the family’s net income reported on the prior year’s tax return, so filing taxes on time is required to receive the benefit.
Is the CCB taxable?
No. The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free payment and does not need to be reported as income.
Does this increase apply outside New Brunswick?
Yes — the July 17, 2026 announcement was made in New Brunswick to highlight the benefit’s local impact, but the increased maximum amounts (up to $8,157 and $6,883 per child) apply to eligible families across Canada.
What happens if my income changes during the year?
The CCB amount for a given benefit year (July to June) is based on the family’s adjusted net income from the previous year’s tax return, not current income. If your income changes significantly, the adjustment will show up in the following July’s recalculation once you’ve filed that year’s taxes — it isn’t updated mid-year based on a change in circumstances alone.
Is the CCB the same as the old Canada Child Tax Benefit?
No. The CCB replaced the previous Canada Child Tax Benefit and the Universal Child Care Benefit when it was introduced in 2016, consolidating them into a single, simpler, income-tested monthly payment.