The Canada Child Benefit and the B.C. Family Benefit are tax-free monthly payments to families with children under the age of 18.
Our articleRefundable Tax Credits and Benefitsprovided an overview of refundable tax credits. Common refundable tax credits that we wanted to expand on were the federal Canada child benefit and the B.C. family benefit.
Young families
We ensure that the young families we work with take advantage of all benefits available to them. One of the benefits relates to tax-free monthly benefits that clients may be eligible for.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does the administration for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and the B.C. Family Benefit (BCFB). Both are tax-free monthly payments to families with children under the age of 18.
These benefits are designed to support couples, single parents and other low-income and middle-income families. All of the benefits noted below are income tested, so families with higher incomes (depending on annual thresholds) might not qualify.
Filing tax returns
Every May, we review CRA’sRepresent a Clientto ensure our young families have filed their income tax returns and to review income levels.
The CRA administers the monthly CCB and BCFB, and those wishing to apply for the benefit must file a personal income tax return. Both parents must file tax returns, even if one of the parents has zero income.
If you qualify for the CCB, you will automatically be registered for the BCFB and no additional action is required. If you want to continue to receive the benefit, you must file income tax returns each year.
2025 CCB and BCFB payment dates
Payments for the CCB and BCFB are combined and electronically deposited around the 20th of every month; however, this is adjusted for holiday periods as noted below.
• Jan. 20, 2025
• Feb. 20, 2025
• March 20, 2025
• April 17, 2025
• May 20, 2025
• June 20, 2025
• July 18, 2025 (adjusted based on 2024 income tax returns)
• Aug. 20, 2025
• Sept. 19, 2025
• Oct. 20, 2025
• Nov. 20, 2025
• Dec. 12, 2025
Maximum CCB benefit amounts
If your adjusted family net income (AFNI) is under $37,487 (based on the 2024 tax year), you get the maximum amount for each child for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit period. It will not be reduced.
• For each child under 6 years of age: $7,997 per year ($666.42 per month)
• For each child 6 to 17 years of age: $6,748 per year ($562.33 per month)
Examples:
• For a child born in March 2025, you will be eligible to receive the CCB in April 2025 or the month following the month you become eligible.
• For a child turning 6 in March 2025, you will be paid at the under-6 rate for March and at the 6 to 17 years of age rate for April 2025.
• For a child turning 18 in December 2025, the last payment will be in December 2025.
Payments are based on your adjusted family net income
Any reduction to the maximum benefit payment depends on your adjusted family net income and on the number of children.
The payments gradually start decreasing when the adjusted family net income is over $37,487.
The total CCB is reduced by 13.5 per cent once income exceeds $37,487.
The maximum CCB amount is increased annually for inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
Maximum BCFB benefit amounts
The BCFB is a monthly payment to families with children under the age of 18.
If your adjusted family net income is under $29,526 (based on 2024 tax year), you get the maximum amount for each child for the benefit period of July 2025 to June 2026. It will not be reduced.
For July 2025 to June 2026, a family receiving the maximum annual benefit, including the bonus, would be entitled to receive the following BCFP amounts:
• First child: $1,750 per year ($145.83 per month)
• Second child: $1,100 per year ($91.67 per month)
• For each additional child: $900 per year ($75.00 per month)
If your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is less than $29,526, you’ll receive the maximum annual benefit.
If your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is between $29,526 and $94,483, you’ll receive a reduced amount of at least:
• First child: $775 per year ($64.58 per month);
• Second child: $750 per year ($62.50 per month);
• For each additional child: $725 per year ($60.42 per month).
If your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is more than $94,483, you’ll receive a reduced amount up to:
• First child: $775 per year ($64.58 per month)
• Second child: $750 per year ($62.50 per month)
• For each additional child: $725 per year ($60.42 per month)
These amounts are reduced by four per cent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $94,483 until they are reduced to zero.
If your child is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you may also be eligible for the Child Disability Benefit (CDB). For the period of July 2025 to June 2026, you could get up to $3,411 per year ($284.25 per month) for each child who is eligible for the disability tax credit.
As of July 2025, the CDB maximum was $3,411 per year. The maximum monthly payment of $284.25 would be added to the CCB and BCFB. This benefit is also income tested.
Low-income single-parent families will receive an annual supplement of up to $500 per family, if at the beginning of the month:
• You’re receiving a B.C. family benefit payment for that month.
• You’re not the cohabitating spouse or common-law partner of another person.
If your adjusted family net income is more than $29,526, your supplement will be reduced as part of the overall calculation of your B.C. family benefit.
Child benefit payments are recalculated in July
The benefit year runs from July to June. For those who were collecting benefits for the benefit period July 2024 to June 2025, they would have had their benefits recalculated once the 2024 personal income tax returns were filed. The current benefit year, where monthly payments have been adjusted is for the period July 2025 to June 2026.
In addition to inflation adjustments, Canada Child Benefit payments are adjusted based on: the number of children in your care, age of your children, and adjusted family net income (using the July 2025 to June 2026 period as an example — adjustments based on amounts reported on the 2024 income tax return).
Combined calculation
Every family is different, which makes illustrating the combined calculation of all the child benefits a little challenging. A great resource that we like to review with young families that may be eligible for child benefits isthe child and family benefits onlinecalculator.
The calculator has five easy steps:
• Step 1: Enter the tax year.
• Step 2: Enter residency status and marital status.
• Step 3a: Enter how many children you have, whether you qualify for the disability supplement and whether your spouse or partner (if applicable) qualifies for the disability supplement.
• Step 3b: Enter the first name, date of birth, whether the child is a qualified disabled dependent and whether there is shared custody for each child.
• Step 4: Enter net income and working income for yourself and your spouse/partner (if applicable), along with UCCB and RDSP repayment information.
• Step 5: Generates a report with the summary of benefits, including the federal child benefit monthly amount, BC family benefit monthly amount.
When we have clients that are in our office, we can do the online calculator with them, provided the client has My Account set up and has appointed us a representative.
My Account
We encourage all our clients to sign up for My Account with CRA. On this website, those individuals can see their next payments. It is also possible to set up reminders about one week before payments are received.
As noted above, every July we will be able to log in through CRA’s Represent a Client service to ensure tax returns have been filed. We will also be able to see the mail from CRA regarding the child benefit payments.
Most people apply for the Canada Child Benefit at birth when they are registering their newborn. If by chance this was not done, then it is possible to apply online through the My Account portal or using Form RC66 and mailing your application in.
Kevin Greenard CPA CA FMA CFP CIM is a Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager, Wealth Management with The Greenard Group at Scotia Wealth Management in Victoria. His column appears every week at timescolonist.com. Call250.389.2138, email[email protected], or visitgreenardgroup.com.