Canada child benefit: 5. What to expect after you apply

How long it will take to process your online application

You should hear from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) within 80 days after we receive your application. If some information was missing from your application, we will ask you for it. This will delay the processing of your application.

After we process your application, we will send you a notice. It will tell you if you will get benefits, how much your payment will be, and what information we used to calculate the amount.

There are no delays expected. Online applications should be processed within 80 business days.

When are Canada child benefit payments made?

Benefits are paid over a 12-month period from July of one year to June of the next year. Generally, payments are made on the 20th of each month. If your total benefit amount is less than $240, we will send it in one payment on July 20 instead of monthly payments. If your payment does not arrive on that day, wait five working days before checking on its status.

To find out when the CRA will make the next CCB payment, go to benefit payment dates or subscribe to our CCB electronic mailing list. If you want to know how much your next payment will be and when you'll get it, go to My Account or go to mobile apps and select "MyBenefits CRA".

Payments of the following related provincial and territorial programs are combined with the CCB into a single monthly payment:

• BC family bonus
• BC early childhood tax benefit
• New Brunswick child tax benefit
• Newfoundland and Labrador child benefit
• Northwest Territories child benefit
• Nova Scotia child benefit
• Nunavut child benefit
• Ontario child benefit
• Yukon child benefit

Alberta child benefit

Alberta child benefit payments are not combined with the CCB or the Alberta family employment tax credit. Quarterly payments are issued in August, November, February and May, on the 27th of the month.

Alberta family employment tax credit

Alberta family employment tax credit payments are not combined with the CCB. The payments are issued in July and January, on the 27th of the month.

Keep your information up to date

To continue receiving the benefit and credit payments that you are entitled to, file your income tax and benefit return every year, even if you do not have income in the year. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they also have to file a return every year.

Make sure you keep your information up to date. We need to know when your personal information changes so that you get the right benefit payment. You need to contact the CRA when:

• your marital status changes
• you change your address
• you want to start, change or stop direct deposit
• the number of children in your care changes
• you start or stop sharing custody with another individual of one or more children
• a death has occurred
• you or your spouse or common-law partner's residency status has changed
• your notice shows outdated information

What if we ask you to validate information?

The CRA might ask you for documents as part of the validation process.  

Our review could increase or decrease your benefits, depending on your situation.

If the CRA sends you a letter or questionnaire, you must reply. If you do not, your child and family benefits or credits could stop. In some situations you might have to repay benefits or credits you already received.