Rudraksh Immigration explains – Canada Child Benefit (CCB): Eligibility, Process, and More!
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a significant initiative introduced by the Canadian government to provide financial support to families raising children. Launched in 2016, the CCB aims to alleviate the financial burden on parents and caregivers and ensure that every child has the resources they need to thrive. In this blog, Rudraksh Immigration Group iterates the eligibility criteria, requirements, and application process for the Canada Child Benefit.
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a non‑taxable amount paid monthly to help eligible families with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CCB may include an additional amount for the child disability benefit. You should apply for the CCB as soon as your child is born, or a child starts living with you, or you begin a new shared custody arrangement, or you or your spouse or common-law partner meet the eligibility conditions.
Eligibility Criteria
- You must live with the child, and the child must be under 18 years of age.
- You must be the person primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child.
- You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You or your spouse or common-law partner must be any of the following:
• a Canadian citizen
• a permanent resident (as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)
• a protected person (as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)
• a temporary resident (as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) who has lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month
• an individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
How to Apply
If you are the mother of a newborn, you can use the Automated Benefits Application to apply for your child’s benefits.
You can also apply for the CCB by using “Apply for child benefits” in My Account or by sending Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application.
You must also fill out and attach to your application Form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information, if any of the following situations apply. You or your spouse or common-law partner:
• became a resident of Canada (for example, a newcomer to Canada or a returning resident of Canada) in the last two years
• became a Canadian citizen in the last 12 months
• are, as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a permanent resident, protected person, or temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months
• are not a Canadian citizen and are registered, or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
It is recommended that you include proof of birth for the child with your application in order to minimize processing delays. You may be required to provide proof of birth if the CRA has not previously paid benefits for this child.
You must provide proof of birth for the child if the CRA has not previously paid benefits to anyone for this child.
• The child was born outside Canada.
• The child was born in Canada and is one year of age or older.
After you have applied, you will receive a CCB notice. It will tell you how much you will get and what information we used to calculate the amount. Your CRA calculates your benefits based on:
• the number of eligible children you have and their ages
• your adjusted family net income for the base year 2022
• the child’s eligibility for the disability tax credit (DTC)
The CCB is calculated as follows:
• $7,437 per year ($619.75 per month) for each eligible child under the age of 6
• $6,275 per year ($522.91 per month) for each eligible child aged 6 to 17
These amounts start being reduced when the adjusted family net income (AFNI) is over $34,863. The reduction is calculated as follows:
• For families with one eligible child:
◦ the reduction is 7% of the amount of AFNI greater than $34,863 up to $75,537
◦ for income greater than $75,537, the reduction is $2,847 plus 3.2% of AFNI greater than $75,537
• For families with two eligible children:
◦ the reduction is 13.5% of the amount of AFNI greater than $34,863 up to $75,537
◦ for income greater than $75,537, the reduction is $5,491 plus 5.7% of AFNI greater than $75,537
• For families with three eligible children:
◦ the reduction is 19% of the amount of AFNI greater than $34,863 up to $75,537
◦ for income greater than $75,537, the reduction is $7,728 plus 8% of the amount of AFNI greater than $75,537
• For families with four or more eligible children:
◦ the reduction is 23% of the amount of AFNI greater than $34,863 up to $75,537
◦ for income greater than $75,537, the reduction is $9,355 plus 9.5% of the amount of AFNI greater than $75,537
Note that each province has its own way of calculating the CCB. Hence, one needs to look at the individual regulations pertaining to each province in this regard. If you wish to get more details about your specific case, make sure to contact Rudraksh Immigration Group in Mohali. The experienced staff will guide you through the entire process.
