Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates 2026
The Canada Child Benefit is paid every month, usually on the 20th. Here is the 2026 CCB schedule, how the dates are set and what to check if a payment does not arrive.
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When is the next CCB payment?
The next Canada Child Benefit payment is scheduled for Tuesday 20 October 2026. The CRA pays the CCB monthly, usually on the 20th. When the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment goes out on the last business day before it, and December's payment usually arrives earlier. Confirm on the CRA's benefit payment dates page.
CCB payment dates 2026
The CCB payment dates for 2026 follow a simple rule. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays on the 20th of each month, or on the last business day before the 20th if it falls on a weekend or federal holiday. December is the exception: the CRA usually pays it earlier in the month, ahead of the holidays. The table applies the rule to the 2026 calendar.
| Month | Payment date | Why this date |
|---|---|---|
| January | Tuesday 20 January | The 20th is a business day |
| February | Friday 20 February | The 20th is a business day |
| March | Friday 20 March | The 20th is a business day |
| April | Monday 20 April | The 20th is a business day |
| May | Wednesday 20 May | The 20th is a business day |
| June | Friday 19 June | The 20th is a Saturday |
| July | Monday 20 July | The 20th is a business day |
| August | Thursday 20 August | The 20th is a business day |
| September | Friday 18 September | The 20th is a Sunday |
| October | Tuesday 20 October | The 20th is a business day |
| November | Friday 20 November | The 20th is a business day |
| December | Mid-December | Paid early before the holidays; check the CRA for the exact date |
The January 2027 payment should follow the same rule. Wednesday 20 January 2027 is a business day, so that is the expected date. The CRA's published list is the only schedule to rely on.
When is the CCB paid, and why the benefit year starts in July
The CCB is paid monthly on a benefit year that runs from July to the following June. Each benefit year is calculated from the tax returns you and your spouse or common-law partner filed that spring. The July 2026 to June 2027 payments are based on your 2025 family net income.
That is why the amount often changes in July. A raise, a new baby or a change in marital status can move your payment up or down when the new benefit year begins. Both partners must file a return every year, even with little or no income, or the payments stop.
How much is the Canada Child Benefit?
The Canada Child Benefit pays up to $7,997 a year for each child under 6 and up to $6,748 for each child aged 6 to 17 in the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year. Families with higher incomes receive less. The amounts are indexed to inflation every July, so check the CRA for the current benefit year.
| Child's age | Maximum per year | Maximum per month |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | $7,997 | about $666 |
| 6 to 17 | $6,748 | about $562 |
The benefit starts to shrink once adjusted family net income passes about $37,500, and shrinks faster above about $81,200. If your yearly entitlement is under $240, the CRA pays it in one lump sum in July instead of monthly. Estimate your own amount with our Canada Child Benefit calculator.
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What is paid with the CCB?
- Child Disability Benefit. Families caring for a child eligible for the disability tax credit receive this extra amount in the same monthly payment.
- Some provincial and territorial benefits. Programs such as the Ontario Child Benefit and the BC Family Benefit are combined with the CCB in one deposit.
- Separate schedules. Other programs, such as Quebec's family allowance from Retraite Québec, are paid on their own dates.
- Not included. The GST/HST credit is separate and paid quarterly. See our GST/HST credit payment dates.
What to do if your CCB payment is late
If your CCB payment has not arrived, wait five business days after the scheduled date before contacting the CRA. Most delays come from bank processing times, a missing tax return or out-of-date personal details.
- Check the payment date against the CRA's official list, especially for June, September and December.
- Sign in to CRA My Account to confirm the payment was issued and your direct deposit details are correct.
- Make sure both you and your partner filed your 2025 tax returns.
- Update your address, marital status or custody arrangement if anything has changed.
- If the payment is still missing after five business days, contact the CRA.
How to budget around monthly CCB payments
Because the CCB is tax-free and arrives on a predictable date, it is easy to plan around. Many families assign it to specific costs, such as child care, activities or an RESP contribution. Our guide on what an RESP is explains how government grants can add to those savings.
EMOH Pay is free to start on iPhone, Android and the web. Record the CCB as its own income category, see it in your daily money digest and track child-related spending against it. If you also run a small business or side gig, the GST/HST expense tracker keeps the tax on your expenses organized. For the bigger picture, read about the cost of raising a child in Canada.
Other benefit dates to know in 2026
Several other federal payments arrive on their own monthly or quarterly schedules. The GST/HST credit comes quarterly around the 5th, while CPP and OAS are paid near the end of each month. See our guides to CPP payment dates and Ontario Trillium Benefit dates to fill in your calendar.
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Get started free➜Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates 2026: frequently asked questions
What day is the CCB paid?
Usually the 20th of each month. When the 20th is a weekend or federal holiday, the CRA pays on the last business day before it. December's payment normally arrives earlier in the month.
Is the CCB paid on the same day every month?
It is paid on or near the 20th every month, but the exact day shifts when the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, as in June and September 2026.
Why did my CCB change in July?
July starts a new benefit year. Your payments are recalculated using the previous year's family net income and the new indexed maximum amounts.
Do I have to apply for the CCB?
Yes. Most parents apply when they register a baby's birth with their province, or through CRA My Account. You must also file a tax return every year to keep receiving it.
Is the Canada Child Benefit taxable?
No. The CCB is tax-free and you do not report it as income on your tax return.
Sources and further reading
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