New Canada Child Benefit Payment To Be Sent On January 20

Last Updated On 18 January 2026, 9:33 AM EST (Toronto Time)

Canadian families are watching their bank accounts as the first Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment of 2026 approaches, scheduled for Tuesday, January 20.

This tax-free monthly benefit, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), remains one of the most important cash supports for parents and guardians raising children under 18.

For many families, the January deposit is also a timely reminder of how the CCB actually works: it is income-tested, it uses clear income thresholds, and it is recalculated every July, not January.

This in-depth guide breaks down everything you need to know about the January 20, 2026 CCB payment, including the exact income thresholds that reduce the benefit, the maximum amounts for the current benefit year, and the confirmed increase coming in mid-2026.

What is the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a federal, tax-free monthly payment designed to help eligible families cover the cost of raising children under 18.

It is built to do two things at the same time:

provide meaningful monthly support to families
direct the highest support to lower- and modest-income households through income-tested reductions

The CCB is also linked to inflation.

The CRA recalculates benefit amounts every July based on your income information from the previous year, and the program is indexed so maximum amounts can rise as the cost of living changes.

Key features of the CCB

Tax-free payments: CCB payments are not taxable income.
Income-tested design: benefits start decreasing once adjusted family net income (AFNI) goes above a set threshold.
Automatic July recalculation: your benefit year runs from July to June, with annual recalculation every July.
CRA payment can include extras: the CCB payment may include the child disability benefit (CDB) and related provincial or territorial programs in the same deposit.

Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates for 2026

The CRA’s calendar confirms that the next CCB payment is scheduled for January 20, 2026, with monthly payments continuing throughout the year.

Here is the full list of CCB payment dates in 2026:

January 20, 2026
February 20, 2026
March 20, 2026
April 20, 2026
May 20, 2026
June 19, 2026
July 20, 2026
August 20, 2026
September 18, 2026
October 20, 2026
November 20, 2026
December 11, 2026

The detail most people miss: which tax year drives your 2026 payments

The CRA also confirms that:

January through June 2026 payments are calculated using the 2024 taxes (the 2024 income you reported)
July 2026 through June 2027 payments are calculated using the 2025 taxes

This is why some families see a noticeable change in July even if nothing else changed in their household.

How Much Can You Receive from the CCB in 2026?

Your January 20, 2026 payment falls within the July 2025 to June 2026 CCB benefit year. For that benefit year, the maximum annual CCB amounts are:

$7,997 per year for each child under 6 ($666.41 per month)
$6,748 per year for each child aged 6 to 17 ($562.33 per month)

Those are maximums.

Your actual amount depends primarily on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) and the number and ages of children in your care.

The CRA is explicit that payments gradually start decreasing when AFNI is over $37,487.

Child Disability Benefit can raise your monthly deposit

If your child is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you may also receive the child disability benefit (CDB), which the CRA adds to your monthly CCB payment.

For July 2025 to June 2026, the CRA indicates the CDB can be up to:

$3,411 per year per eligible child ($284.25 per month)

Timing detail: age changes can shift your payment mid-year

Two common examples the CRA provides:

If a child turns 6, the payment switches to the 6–17 rate starting the following month.
If a child is born, you generally become eligible starting the month after you become eligible (often the month after birth, once CRA processes the application).

CCB Income thresholds in 2026

This is the section that determines whether your January 20 deposit is near the maximum or substantially reduced.

For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year (the one covering January 2026 payments), the CRA’s calculation sheet sets two key thresholds:

Threshold 1: $37,487
Threshold 2: $81,222

How the reduction works in plain language

If your AFNI is $37,487 or less, you receive the maximum amounts (no reduction).
If your AFNI is above $37,487 and up to $81,222, the benefit is reduced by a percentage of the income above $37,487.
If your AFNI is above $81,222, an additional reduction applies using a second formula.

Reduction rates between $37,487 and $81,222

For AFNI over $37,487 (up to $81,222), the CRA reduction rate depends on the number of children:

1 child: 7% of income over $37,487
2 children: 13.5% of income over $37,487
3 children: 19% of income over $37,487
4 or more children: 23% of income over $37,487

There is also a cap built into the first step of the calculation. The CRA calculation sheet limits the “income over threshold” used in Step 1 to $43,735.

Additional reduction once income exceeds $81,222

For AFNI above $81,222, the CRA’s calculation sheet applies a second step.

The extra reduction is structured as a fixed amount plus a percentage of income above $81,222, and the amounts depend on how many children you have:

1 child: $3,061 + 3.2% of income over $81,222
2 children: $5,904 + 5.7% of income over $81,222
3 children: $8,310 + 8% of income over $81,222
4 or more children: $10,059 + 9.5% of income over $81,222

This is why higher-income families can still receive some CCB, but the amount can drop sharply once AFNI moves past the second threshold.

Who Qualifies for the Canada Child Benefit?

The CRA’s eligibility rules are specific. To qualify for the CCB, you must meet all of the following conditions:

you live with a child who is under 18
you are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
you are a resident of Canada for tax purposes
you or your spouse/common-law partner has an eligible status in Canada (citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or qualifying temporary resident)
you are not applying for a foster child who is already receiving the Children’s Special Allowance

Shared custody rules can change the amount

If the child lives with you between 40% and 60% of the time and with another individual at a different address, the CRA considers that shared custody for CCB purposes, and both individuals are considered to have shared custody.

Special Considerations for Newcomers and Temporary Residents

This is where many families accidentally assume they qualify when they do not yet qualify, or qualify but delay applying and lose months of payments.

Exact eligibility criteria for long-term temporary residents

To be considered a qualifying temporary resident for CCB purposes, the CRA requires both of the following:

you lived in Canada for the previous 18 months
you have a valid permit in the 19th month that does not state “does not confer status” or “does not confer temporary resident status.”

Important operational note for long-term temporary residents: if your work permit or study permit expires and you do not provide proof of continued legal status to the CRA, payments can be interrupted, including for people on maintained status.

Exact eligibility criteria for new permanent residents

Permanent residents are explicitly listed by the CRA as an eligible status for the CCB (as long as you meet the other core eligibility criteria, including being a resident of Canada for tax purposes and being primarily responsible for the child).

What this means in practice for new permanent residents arriving in Canada:

there is no 18-month waiting rule tied to PR status
you should apply as soon as you are living in Canada even if you land after the tax season is over
The CRA may require additional information about your status and income to correctly calculate your entitlement

How to Apply for the Canada Child Benefit

There are three mainstream ways to apply, and the right one depends on your situation.

1) Automated registration at birth

If you are registering a newborn’s birth with your province or territory, you may be able to consent to share information with the CRA through the Automated Benefits Application, which can start the CCB process without a separate paper application.

2) Apply online through CRA My Account

You can apply using the “Apply for child benefits” option in CRA My Account. For many families, this is the fastest workflow, especially if documents can be uploaded through the CRA portal.

3) Apply by mail using Form RC66

You can submit Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application). This form is designed to apply for the CCB and to register children for related programs that the CRA administers.

When you must include Form RC66SCH

The CRA states you must also complete and attach Form RC66SCH (Status in Canada and Income Information) in common newcomer-related situations, and the CRA’s newcomer guidance also points newcomers to RC66 plus RC66SCH.

Proof of birth and supporting documents

If the CRA has never paid benefits for the child you are applying for, you generally must provide proof of birth when applying online or by mail (unless applying through birth registration).

If you are applying late

If you are applying for a period that started more than 11 months ago, the CRA requires additional supporting documents for the entire period requested.

Newer option for newcomers

The CRA announced an online application option in June 2025 intended to make it easier for newcomers to apply for benefit and credit payments without mailing forms, which can be helpful for families trying to activate benefits quickly after arrival.

Recent Changes That Still Matter in 2026

One change that continues to matter in 2026 is the extension of eligibility after the death of a child.

Starting in 2025, CCB eligibility is extended for 6 months after a child’s death if the individual claiming the CCB for that child is otherwise eligible.

How to Check Your CCB Payment Details

The CRA’s CCB payment-date page confirms that, if you have a CRA account, you can view:

your next expected payment date and amount
the status and amount of each payment for the benefit year (July to June)
your CCB statement of account details

This is also the quickest way to confirm whether your January 20 payment amount changed because of income reassessment, custody changes, or benefit-year recalculation logic.

Tips to Maximize Your CCB Benefits

These are the moves that most often prevent missed payments or unnecessary interruptions:

File taxes every year, on time, for both spouses/common-law partners (even if income is $0).
Keep marital status and custody details updated with CRA, especially if custody becomes shared (40%–60%).
Use direct deposit to reduce payment delays.
Temporary residents should update CRA when permits are renewed to avoid interruptions.
Apply as soon as you qualify, because processing time plus missing documents is the most common reason families miss early months.

If you file late and payments stop temporarily, the CRA states that once your return is assessed, if entitled amounts were missed, you will receive retroactive payments on the next scheduled payment date.

Canada Child Benefit Increase Coming In Mid-2026

The CCB increase that many families associate with “2026” is the annual inflation-indexed update that begins with the new benefit year in July 2026, not in January.

As of July 2026, the CRA indicates eligible families may get up to:

$8,157 per year for each child under 6 (about $679.75 per month)
$6,883 per year for each child aged 6 to 17 (about $573.58 per month)

When the higher amounts start showing up in deposits

The first CCB payment date that can reflect the July 2026 increase is:

July 20, 2026

Also remember the base tax year changes in July. The CRA confirms that July to December 2026 CCB payments are based on the 2025 tax year.

The January 20, 2026 Canada Child Benefit payment is not just another routine deposit.

It is a checkpoint for families to confirm they are still receiving the right amount under the current benefit year and to make sure nothing is missing in their CRA file that could cause delays.

Most importantly, keep July 2026 on your radar. That is when the mid-2026 CCB increase begins and when the CRA recalculates your entitlement for the new benefit year.

If you prepare early by filing your 2025 taxes on time and keeping your details current, you put yourself in the best position to receive every dollar your family qualifies for without disruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions About the CCB

When is the next CCB payment in 2026?

The CRA lists the next CCB payment date as January 20, 2026.

What is the income threshold for the maximum CCB amount right now?

For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year, the CRA shows that payments start decreasing when AFNI is over $37,487. The income threshold for CCB will increase to $38,237 in July 2026.

When does the 2026 CCB increase start?

The CRA indicates the higher maximum amounts begin as of July 2026, with the first payment date that can reflect the new benefit year scheduled for July 20, 2026.

If my taxes were late and my payments stopped, will I get the missed months back?

The CRA states that if entitled benefit amounts were missed due to late filing, once your return is assessed, you will receive retroactive payments on the next scheduled payment date.

What is adjusted family net income (AFNI) for CCB, and where do you find it on a tax return?

AFNI is the income figure the CRA uses to determine eligibility and calculate most child and family benefits. In practical terms, AFNI starts from each spouse/partner’s net income (commonly linked to line 23600 on the T1 return) and then applies specific adjustments.

Does receiving the Canada Child Benefit affect immigration sponsorship eligibility (social assistance rule)?

For family sponsorship, IRCC focuses on “social assistance” as provincial/territorial programs intended to cover basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, utilities, etc.).
A practical way many advisors frame it is: federal benefits generally do not fall under the IRPR definition because the definition is tied to benefits provided “by a province.” A Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) explainer highlights this provincial/federal distinction and notes that federal programs are not treated the same way as provincial social assistance in this context.
Because individual circumstances and program labels can vary, the safest approach for sponsorship-critical situations is to verify how a specific benefit is categorized in your case (especially if a T5007 or line 14500 “social assistance” reporting is involved).

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.