Canada child benefit: More information about this benefit

How do we calculate your Canada child benefit payments?

Your Canada child benefit (CCB) payments are calculated for the period of July of one year to June of the next year using the following information:

• the number of children who live with you
• the ages of your children
• your adjusted family net income
• your child’s eligibility for the child disability benefit  

Your marital status affects how we calculate your benefits. If your marital status changes, you need to tell us before the end of the month after the month your status changed. For example, if your marital status changed in August, tell us about the change by the end of September. Make sure you keep your information up to date.

To estimate the amount of CCB you might be entitled to, as well as any benefits from CCB-related provincial or territorial programs and other benefits, use the child and family benefits calculator. Calculations are based on the information you enter in the calculator fields.

When do we recalculate your benefits?

We recalculate your payment every July based on your adjusted family net income from the previous year. Your net income is the amount from line 236 of your income tax and benefit return. Your family net income is your net income plus the net income of your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one.

We recalculate your benefits:

• every July based on your adjusted family net income reported on the returns that you and your spouse or common-law partner filed for the previous year
• after each reassessment of either your income tax and benefit return or your spouse or common-law partner's return that affects how your benefit is calculated after a child for whom you receive the CCB turns 18 (the last payment you will receive will be for the month of his or her birthday)
• after you tell us about changes to your situation that could affect your benefit

We will send you a notice that shows our revised calculation.

We "adjust" your family net income so that we don't count any universal child care benefit (UCCB) and registered disability savings plan (RDSP) payments you receive. We do this to make sure that people with low and modest incomes get the most benefits they can. However, if you have to repay any UCCB and RDSP amounts, we will include them as part of your adjusted family net income.

Basic benefit for July 2016 to June 2017

We calculate the Canada child benefit (CCB) as follows:

• $6,400 per year ($533.33 per month) for each eligible child under the age of six

• $5,400 per year ($450.00 per month) for each eligible child aged 6 to 17

We start to reduce the amount of CCB you get when your adjusted family net income (AFNI) is over $30,000. The reduction is calculated as follows:

• families with one eligible child: the reduction is 7% of the amount of AFNI between $30,000 and $65,000, plus 3.2% of the amount of AFNI over $65,000
• families with two eligible children: the reduction is 13.5% of the amount of AFNI between $30,000 and $65,000, plus 5.7% of the amount of AFNI over $65,000
• families with three eligible children: the reduction is 19% of the amount of AFNI between $30,000 and $65,000, plus 8% of the amount of AFNI over $65,000
• families with four or more eligible children: the reduction is 23% of the amount of AFNI between $30,000 and $65,000, plus 9.5% of the amount of AFNI over $65,000

If you have a balance owing

If a recalculation shows that you were paid too much CCB, we will send you a notice with a remittance voucher attached to tell you about the balance owing. We may keep all or some of your future CCB payments, income tax refunds or goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credits until your balance owing is repaid. This may also apply to other federal, provincial and territorial programs that we administer.

If you received a CCB overpayment, see Balance owing – benefits overpayment.

Calculators and tools