New Canada Child Benefit Payment Coming August 20. Here’s How Much You’ll Get.

The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment coming from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The CCB is to help families pay for the cost of raising children under the age of 18.

If you have children under the age of 18, here’s how much you will receive. Plus, who qualifies for the Canada Child Benefit, and what newcomers need to know about applying.

Key Takeaways

• Next payment date: August 20, 2026
• Maximum amount for a child under six: $679.75 per month
• Maximum amount for a child aged six to 17: $573.58 per month
• Income used to calculate payments: Your adjusted family net income from 2025
• Are CCB payments taxable? No
• Do newcomers qualify? All permanent residents and protected persons should quality, and some temporary residents may also qualify

How Much Is the Canada Child Benefit in August 2026?

For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, eligible families can receive a maximum of:

These are the maximum amounts available for each eligible child.

Families with an adjusted family net income below $38,237 will receive the full amount. Payments gradually decrease for families with incomes above this threshold. The calculation also depends on the number of eligible children in the family.

The Canada Child Benefit is tax-free, so you don’t have to include the payments as taxable income when filing your tax return.

Why Did My CCB Payment Change Last Month?

Canada Child Benefit payments are indexed to inflation and adjusted each July.

For 2026, a new maximum threshold was set, increasing the maximum possible amount per child under six by $160, while the maximum amount for children aged six to 17 increased by $135.

If you noticed your CCB payment amount change last month, it was due to the annual recalculation. For example, if your annual income increased in 2025, it’s possible that your CCB payments could decrease.

Who Qualifies for the Canada Child Benefit?

The Canada Child Benefit is available to eligible residents of Canada who live with and are primarily responsible for the care of a child under 18. To qualify, you generally need to meet all of the following requirements:

• you live with a child under 18
• you are primarily responsible for the child’s care and upbringing
• you are considered a resident of Canada for tax purposes
• you or your spouse or common-law partner have an eligible immigration or residency status

Eligible statuses can include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and even some temporary residents.

Can Temporary Residents Receive the Canada Child Benefit?

Temporary residents may qualify for the Canada Child Benefit, but they generally need to have lived in Canada for the previous 18 consecutive months.

This means many newcomers on temporary work or study permits will not qualify immediately after arriving in Canada. They may become eligible once they meet the 18-month residency requirement, provided they continue to hold valid temporary resident status (and meet the other requirements.)

Permanent residents and protected persons do not have to complete this same 18-month waiting period.

Do Newcomers Need to File a Tax Return Before Applying?

Newcomers do not have to wait until they have filed their first Canadian tax return to apply. However, you and your spouse or common-law partner will need to provide information about your income from before you arrived in Canada so the CRA can check your eligibility and calculate your payment.

Permanent residents should apply for the Canada Child Benefit immediately after arriving in Canada, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Temporary residents will not be eligible until they have lived in Canada for 18 months.

How Do You Apply for the Canada Child Benefit?

There are three main ways to apply for the CCB:

1. Through birth registration: Parents can apply while registering the birth of a newborn with their Canadian province or territory.
2. Through an online CRA account: You can add a child under the “Benefits and credits” section of your CRA account.
3. By mail: Only recommended if you cannot apply through the first two methods. You can complete Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and send it to the CRA with any required supporting documents.

Newcomers may also need to submit additional forms confirming their immigration status and income earned outside Canada. The CRA may ask for proof of birth, immigration documents or information about your spouse or partner before processing the application.

Are Provincial Child Benefits Included?

Depending on where you live, your August 20 payment may also include a provincial or territorial child benefit.

Several provincial programs are administered by the CRA and paid alongside the federal Canada Child Benefit. In most cases, you do not need to submit a separate application. The CRA assesses your eligibility using the information from your tax return and CCB application.

British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island have their child benefits combined with the CCB and administered by the CRA.

Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec administer their main child benefit programs separately, so those payments follow different schedules.

Families with a child who qualifies for the disability tax credit may also receive the Child Disability Benefit with their CCB payment. For the July 2026 to June 2027 period, the Child Disability Benefit provides up to $3,480 annually, or $290 per month, for each eligible child.

What If Your August 20 Payment Does Not Arrive?

Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive the Canada Child Benefit. If you have direct deposit set up, the payment should appear in your bank account on August 20. If your total CCB entitlement for the entire year is less than $240, the CRA will not issue monthly payments. Instead, you would have received a lump sum payment in July.

If you were expecting a payment but don’t receive it, check your online CRA account and confirm that your address, marital status and banking information are up to date. The CRA recommends waiting five business days after the scheduled payment date before contacting the agency about a missing payment.

The next Canada Child Benefit payment after August will be issued on September 18, 2026.

Learn about more upcoming CRA benefits in our guide.