Answer a few quick questions – we'll tell you if you likely qualify for the Canada Child Benefit.
CCB Qualification/Eligibility Checker
Complete guide to determine if you qualify for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. This CCB Eligibility Checker will help you understand if you meet all the criteria to receive this benefit.
Quick Eligibility Checklist
Use this checklist to see if you may qualify for the Canada Child Benefit:
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You live with a child under 18 years old – The child must be living with you
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You are primarily responsible for the child's care – You supervise daily activities, meet medical needs, arrange child care
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You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes – You normally live in Canada with significant residential ties
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You or your spouse/common-law partner have valid status – Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or qualifying temporary resident
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The child is not a foster child receiving Children's Special Allowance – Foster children may be eligible under kinship programs
If you checked YES to all items, you may be eligible to apply for the CCB. If you answered NO to any item, you may not qualify or may need more information.
Complete CCB Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit, you must meet all of the following conditions for each child you are applying for:
1. Age Requirement
You must live with a child who is under 18 years of age. The benefit continues until the month the child turns 18.
2. Primary Responsibility
You must be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child. This includes:
- Supervising the child's daily activities and needs
- Making sure the child's medical needs are met
- Arranging for child care when necessary
3. Residency Requirement
You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. You are considered a resident if you normally live in Canada and have established significant residential ties, such as:
- A home in Canada
- A spouse or common-law partner in Canada
- Dependants in Canada
4. Legal Status Requirement
You or your spouse or common-law partner must be one of the following:
- Canadian citizen
- Permanent resident
- Protected person (with positive Notice of Decision from Immigration and Refugee Board)
- Temporary resident who meets both conditions:
- Lived in Canada for the previous 18 months
- Have a valid permit in the 19th month that does not state "does not confer status"
- Individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
Exception: An individual with a "Refugee Protection Claimant Document" is not eligible for the CCB.
5. Foster Children and Children's Special Allowance
You cannot get the CCB for a foster child for any month in which Children's Special Allowances (CSA) are payable.
However, you may get the CCB if you live with and care for a child under a kinship or close relationship program from the Government of Canada, a provincial or territorial government, or an Indigenous governing body, as long as CSA are not payable for that child.
Who Should Apply: Parents Living Together
When 2 individuals who are spouses or common-law partners reside in the same home as the child:
- The female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home
- She should be the one applying for the CCB
- Only one payment per household can be issued under the Income Tax Act
- The amount will be the same no matter which parent receives it
If the other parent is primarily responsible: They should apply and attach a signed letter from the female parent stating that they are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home.
Same-sex parents: If the child resides with same-sex parents, only one parent should apply for all the children in the home.
Who Should Apply: Custody Arrangements
If a child only lives with you part of the time, you need to determine if you are considered to have shared custody. You must notify the CRA if your shared custody situation changes.
Determine Your Custody Type
Shared Custody (40% to 60%)
Definition: The child spends about equally between you and another individual (between 40% and 60% of the time).
Examples: Child lives with you one week and with another individual one week, or with you 4 days a week and with the other individual 3 days a week.
Who should apply: Both individuals should apply for the CCB for the child in shared custody.
Payment: Each parent will get 50% of what they would have gotten if they had full custody, calculated based on their own adjusted family net income.
Full Custody (More than 60%)
Definition: The child lives with you more than 60% of the time.
Examples: Child lives with you during the week and with another individual every second weekend.
Who should apply: You should apply for the CCB for the child.
Less than 40% Custody
Definition: The child lives less than 40% of the time with you and mostly with another individual.
Examples: Child lives with you every second weekend only.
Who should apply: You are not eligible to apply for the CCB for the child.
Temporary Custody (e.g., Summer)
Definition: The child usually lives with another individual, but stays with you temporarily (e.g., summer vacation).
Who should apply: You can apply for the period when the child is living with you. When the child returns to the other individual, they need to reapply.
How Shared Custody Payments Work
Important: Each parent with shared custody will get 50% of what they would have gotten if they had full custody of the child. The amount is calculated based on their own adjusted family net income.
The CRA will not split the amount using other percentages, or give the full amount to one of the parents if the CRA considers you to have shared custody.
When Payments Are Recalculated
Your benefit payments are recalculated every July based on your adjusted family net income from the previous year. The CCB is indexed to inflation.
| Payment Period |
Based on Income From |
| July 2025 to June 2026 |
2024 income |
| July 2024 to June 2025 |
2023 income |
Important: A change in your income in 2024 will only be reflected in your payments starting in July 2025.
Eligibility Summary Table
| Custody Type |
Time with Child |
Eligible to Apply? |
Payment Calculation |
| Full Custody |
More than 60% |
Yes |
Full amount based on your income |
| Shared Custody |
40% to 60% |
Yes (both parents) |
50% of full amount each, based on own income |
| Less than 40% |
Less than 40% |
No |
Not eligible |
| Temporary Custody |
Temporary period |
For that period |
Full amount for duration |
Important Reminders:
- To be eligible, you must meet all criteria for each child
- If you have more than one child, check eligibility for each child separately
- You must notify the CRA if your shared custody situation changes
- The CRA will not split payments using other percentages – only 50/50 for shared custody
- Refugee Protection Claimants are not eligible for CCB
Frequently Asked Questions About CCB Eligibility
Because CCB rules are more complicated than you think. This Canada Child Benefit eligibility calculator helps you figure out if you qualify based on your custody situation, residency status, and income. Shared custody? Temporary resident? Kinship care? This tool covers all those tricky situations before you apply.
This CCB benefit estimator is for parents, guardians, and caregivers across Canada. Biological parents, adoptive parents, grandparents raising grandkids, and even temporary residents who have lived in Canada for 18 months. If you are taking care of a child under 18, this tool helps you figure out what child benefit you might qualify for.
100% free. No sign up, no credit card, no hidden fees. This federal child benefit payment calculator works for any family in Canada. Single parent, two parent household, shared custody, or kinship care — it costs nothing to estimate your monthly CCB payment before you file your taxes.
No way. This CCB payment date tracker does not save, store, or share any of your information. No name, no SIN, no income details, no child information. Your answers stay in your browser. We never see them and we never sell your data. Completely private.
Yes. This Canadian child tax benefit tool follows official CRA rules for the CCB. That means the base benefit per child under 6 and for kids 6 to 17, the income reduction rates (7% for families with one child, up to 13.5% for larger families), and the shared custody rule where each parent gets 50% of what they would get with full custody. It won't approve your benefit, but it tells you what you should expect before you apply or wait for your first payment.
