All about the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Application Process

Raising kids can be expensive, especially for low-income families or those with many kids. Therefore, the government of Canada provides monthly tax-free payments to eligible families for child support. These payments are known as Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and are taken care of by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The amount you receive is calculated based on your net family income, the region you live in, the number of children under your care, the age of children, your marital status, etc. When applying for this benefit, you are automatically considered for any disability and province-based claims. 

In this post, we will discuss the eligibility criteria, application process, and Canada Child Benefit payment dates.

Eligibility Criteria for Canada Child Benefit

• You must file your income taxes.
• The children under your care should be under 18 years of age.
• You must be a permanent or temporary (living in Canada for more than 18 months) resident.
• Only the parent/guardian/caretaker primarily responsible for the child’s daily needs and healthcare will be eligible to receive the funds. If both parents share equal responsibility, it is assumed that the mother is the child’s primary caretaker. However, for the father to apply for CCB, the mother can sign an application stating that the father is the child’s primary caretaker.

There are also some exceptional cases for which provisions have been made-

• In the case of same-sex couples, either of the parents can apply for CCB if they share equal responsibility for the child.
• In the case of custody sharing, that parent is considered primarily responsible for the child with whom the child is living. If both parents share equal custody, they receive half the amount of CCB each. In case of less than 40% custody for one parent, the other parent gets the full CCB benefit.
• If your spouse is not a Canadian resident, all the necessary information about them has to be sent in writing when they immigrate to Canada.
• If you have a new spouse, you must inform the CRA about this development and all the requisite information about the spouse. All the payments will automatically be routed to the female parent. If you and your new partner were getting separate payments before, you would have to refund the excess amount received by the male spouse after the change in your marital status. 

How to Apply for Canada Child Benefit?

If you meet the eligibility criteria, then you should apply for CCB. However, ensure that you complete the application before submitting it to avoid delays. While your application is being reviewed, the CRA might also ask for documents and make calls to verify that your information is accurate.

We understand how all this information can be overwhelming, and therefore we are here to simplify the process for you so that you can provide for your child without any hassle. This section will discuss how you can apply for the Canada Child Benefit.

If you are parents of a newborn (for children born in Canada)

If you are the parents of a newborn child, you can easily apply for CCB using the Automated Benefits Application option. Follow these three simple steps-

• Give your consent to share your information with the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Fill out your child’s birth registration form.
• Provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN).
• Submit the application request to your province/territory.

Your consent and SIN number are mandatory if you want to be considered for receiving the Canada Child Benefit. If you fail to provide them, there will be a delay in processing your application. 

If you do not have your SIN number, you can apply to Employment and Social Development Canada to obtain it. You can apply in person, via email, or by filling out the SIN application form.

Another piece of advice for such applicants is to fill out the direct deposit form before the birth of your child. Doing so will help you avoid any delay in payments, and you can directly receive money in the bank account of your choice.

For children born outside Canada or born in Canada and are one year and older

Parents of these children can apply using either of these ways-

• Log into your account on the Canada Revenue Agency website, and choose the “Apply for child benefits” option.
• Send in application form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application.

You also have to fill the form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information; if you or your spouse-

• Have become a Canadian resident in the last two years.
• Have become a Canadian citizen within the last 12 months.
• You are a permanent or a temporary resident or a protected person.
• You are already registered or can be registered under the Indian Act.

You will also have to submit proof of the child’s birth to ensure that no benefits of the child have been previously paid to you or someone else and you may also have to provide certain supporting documents proving marital and immigration status. As mentioned before, you will also have to prove that you are the child’s primary caregiver.

Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates

After your application gets approved, you will likely receive your first payment in 8 weeks if you have applied online or in 11 weeks if you have sent your application by mail. 

As mentioned earlier, Canada Child Benefit is a monthly payment. However, if the amount you are entitled to per year is less than $240 then you will receive the lump sum in July of every year when all payment amounts are revised.

If you do not receive your payment, wait for 5 working days from the original date of receipt before contacting CRA. You can also check ‘My Account’ to see when your next payment is due.

For the year 2022, the following dates have been decided upon to pay the Canada Child Benefit allowance to parents-

• January 20, 2022
• February 18, 2022
• March 18, 2022
• April 20, 2022
• May 20, 2022
• June 20, 2022
• July 20, 2022
• August 19, 2022
• September 20, 2022
• October 20, 2022
• November 18, 2022
• December 13, 2022

See Also: How to Save Money (50 Amazing Ways to Save Those Dollars)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What amount can you get from CCB?

You can get upto $6,833 per year for each child under the age of six and upto $5,765 for each child from ages 6 to 17.

Does every family get the Canada Child Benefit?

To get the benefit, you must meet the eligibility criteria. Check our 'Eligibility Criteria for CCB' section above for more clarity.

Which province in Canada provides the best child benefit payment?

Quebec province continues to be the most generous when giving out CCB payments

Can I be asked to refund my CCB payment?

You might be asked to refund your payment if the government feels you have been paid extra. They will send you a formal notice about the amount that needs to be refunded.

Summing Up

This post is our comprehensive guide to the Canada Child Benefit. We hope that we were able to solve all your queries.