Canada Child Benefit payments increased starting July 20, 2026: families now get up to $8,157 per year for each child under 6 and up to $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17, a 2% indexation bump from the 2026-27 benefit year.
How Much the CCB Pays Now
The Canada Revenue Agency confirmed the new maximum annual amounts take effect with the July payment, the first of the new benefit year (July 2026 to June 2027):
- Under age 6: up to $8,157/year ($679.75/month), up $160 from last year’s maximum
- Age 6 to 17: up to $6,883/year ($573.58/month), up $135 from last year’s maximum
This year’s 2% indexation is smaller than the 2.7% bump families saw in July 2025, tracking a slower pace of inflation.
Who Gets the Maximum Amount
CCB is income-tested, not a flat payment. Families with an adjusted family net income (AFNI) under $38,237 get the full maximum for each child. Above that threshold, the benefit phases down gradually — the more a family earns, the smaller the monthly deposit, until it phases out entirely at higher income levels.
No separate application is needed for the increase — if you already receive CCB, the higher amount is calculated automatically from your 2025 tax return and paid on the regular schedule.
Do You Need to Apply?
If you’re not currently receiving CCB, you do need to apply once — through your CRA My Account, by mail with form RC66, or automatically when you register a newborn’s birth in most provinces. After that, payment amounts recalculate every July based on the tax return you filed for the prior year, so nothing further needs to be filed to receive future indexation increases.
Why the Increase Happens Every July
CCB amounts are indexed to inflation and recalculated once a year, every July, using the consumer price index and the family’s net income reported on the tax return for the year just filed. That is why the new amount always starts in July rather than January — it lines up with tax-filing season, not the calendar year.
What This Means for a Typical Family
A family with two children — one under 6, one aged 8 — and income below the $38,237 threshold would see their combined maximum annual benefit rise from about $14,745 to $15,040, an increase of roughly $295 for the year, delivered in slightly larger monthly deposits rather than a lump sum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reapply to get the higher CCB amount?
No. If you’re already receiving CCB, the new amount is calculated and paid automatically — there’s no renewal form.
Why did my CCB payment go up in July instead of January?
CCB’s benefit year runs July to June, and amounts are indexed and recalculated each July based on your most recently filed tax return.
What if my income changed a lot this year?
Your payment is based on the tax return already filed (generally the prior year’s), not your current income — so a mid-year income change will not adjust your CCB until the next annual recalculation, unless you report a change in marital or custody status, which CRA does process immediately.
Is the CCB taxable?
No. The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment.
Source: Canada Child Benefit payments increasing in 2026-2027 — Canada.ca