How the Canada Child Benefit Is calculated in 2025–2026

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is one of Canada’s most important family supports — a tax-free monthly payment from the federal government designed to help families with the costs of raising children under age 18. It’s administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and recalculated every year based on your most recent tax return.

What Determines Your CCB Amount

Your CCB payment for the benefit year (July 2025 to June 2026) is calculated using several key factors:

1. Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI)
The foundational driver of your benefit amount is your family’s Adjusted Family Net Income — that is, the combined net income of you and your spouse or common-law partner from your most recently filed tax return (for this benefit year, that’s your 2024 tax return). The CRA uses this number to decide both eligibility and payment size.

2. Number of Eligible Children and Their Ages
CCB includes base amounts for each eligible child in your care. For the 2025–2026 benefit period:

• Children under 6: up to $7,997 per year (about $666.41 per month)
• Children aged 6–17: up to $6,748 per year (about $562.33 per month)

These represent the maximum amounts before income-related reductions are applied.

3. Income Thresholds and Reductions
CCB is income-tested. Families with income below a certain level receive the full maximum benefit; as adjusted family net income rises above specified thresholds, the benefit is reduced in a phased manner:

• For incomes below about $37,487, the full maximum benefit is paid.
• Between $37,487 and $81,222, a percentage of the income above the threshold is used to reduce the benefit, with the rate depending on the number of eligible children.
• Above about $81,222, an additional reduction formula applies.

The specific reduction percentages increase with more children — for example, families with one child see a smaller reduction rate compared to families with three or more.

4. Disability Supplement (If Applicable)
If a child qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit, you may also receive an additional Child Disability Benefit — an extra monthly amount added on to your CCB payment.

5. Annual Recalculation Every July
Your CCB is re-evaluated each July based on your latest tax return. So changes in income from one year to the next — up or down — can lead to higher or lower payments in the following benefit year.

Estimate Your Benefit With the Official CRA Calculator

If you want to know roughly how much CCB you might receive, the CRA offers an online Child and Family Benefits Calculator. It helps estimate your payments by asking for basic income and family information and then showing the potential benefit amounts for CCB, the GST/HST credit, and other related family benefits.

For more information, click here.