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The Canada Child Benefit pays up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and up to $6,883 a year for each child aged 6 to 17 (the July 2026 to June 2027 payment year). Other help comes and goes as the child grows, from EI leave at birth to RESP grants and student aid after 18. Almost all of it needs an application and a filed return. Figures are as of October 2026.
What does a family get at each age?
This table lists the main federal items by age band. Amounts are for 2026 unless noted, and your province may add its own on top.
| Stage | Main help | Amount or rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy and newborn | EI maternity and parental benefits (QPIP in Quebec) | 55% of earnings, up to $729 a week |
| Under 6 | Canada Child Benefit, child care expense deduction | Up to $8,157 a year; deduction up to $8,000 |
| 6 to 17 | Canada Child Benefit, child care deduction to 16, dental plan | Up to $6,883 a year; deduction up to $5,000 |
| 18 and over | Tuition credit, student grants, RESP savings | Grant up to $4,200 a year for full-time students |
| Any age, with a disability | Disability tax credit, Child Disability Benefit | Up to $3,480 a year per child |
What can you get while pregnant or with a newborn?
Outside Quebec, the person who gave birth can get up to 15 weeks of EI maternity benefits at 55% of average insured earnings, capped at $729 a week. Parents can then share 40 weeks of standard parental benefits at the same rate, with no more than 35 for one parent. The extended option stretches to 69 weeks shared but pays only 33%, capped at $437 a week. Quebec families use the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan instead. The Government of Canada: EI maternity and parental benefits page has the details.
Someone earning $60,000 outside Quebec would get about $634.62 a week. Fifteen maternity weeks plus 35 parental weeks adds up to roughly $31,731 before tax, which is an estimate from the site’s calculator, and EI benefits are taxable. The standard versus extended parental benefits article compares the two options.
Apply for the Canada Child Benefit soon after the birth. Payments can’t start until the CRA has your application, so waiting can cost you months of payments.
How much help is there for a child under 6?
The Canada Child Benefit pays up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 when family income is under $38,237, and the amount shrinks as income rises past that. Each July the CRA recalculates it from the previous year’s return. Take a family with one child under 6, one aged 6 to 17, and a family net income of $70,000. They would get about $10,752 a year, or $896 a month, out of a maximum of $15,040. The Canada Child Benefit calculator runs your own figures, and the payment dates page shows when the money lands. The formula is on Canada Revenue Agency: how the CCB is calculated.
Child care is the other big cost. You can deduct up to $8,000 a year for each child under 7 at year end, normally on the lower-income parent’s return, and the claim can’t be more than two-thirds of that parent’s earned income. Unused amounts don’t carry forward. Provinces run their own fee reduction programs, so look up yours.
What changes between ages 6 and 17?
The Canada Child Benefit drops to a maximum of $6,883 a year per child, and the child care deduction limit falls to $5,000 for older children. The child has to be under 16 at some point in the year, unless the child is disabled. The federal children’s fitness and arts credits are gone too. The CRA says they ended after 2016 and were eliminated for 2017 and later years, so a hockey registration no longer earns a federal credit.
The newer item is the Canadian Dental Care Plan. A child can be covered if the family’s adjusted net income is under $90,000, nobody has access to private dental coverage, and both partners have filed returns. Check the Government of Canada: Canadian Dental Care Plan eligibility page for the current rules before you apply.
What helps once the child turns 18?
The Canada Child Benefit stops at 18, and the money shifts toward education. A Registered Education Savings Plan attracts a federal grant of 20% on the first $2,500 you put in each year. That’s $500 a year, up to $7,200 over the child’s life, and the grant is available until the calendar year the child turns 17. Children from lower and middle income families can earn an extra 10% or 20% on the first $500 contributed. The RESP and grant calculator shows how a monthly deposit adds up.
Full-time students can get a Canada Student Grant of up to $4,200 a year through the 2026 to 2027 school year. Tuition earns a federal credit at the lowest rate, 14% in 2026, and a student who can’t use all of it can carry it forward or pass part to a parent. Tuition credit carry-forward and transfer explains how.
What extra help exists for a child with a disability?
A child who qualifies for the disability tax credit adds up to $3,480 a year of Child Disability Benefit to the Canada Child Benefit, and the child care ceiling rises to $11,000. A medical practitioner has to certify Form T2201, and the CRA has to accept it before either amount flows. Approval can be backdated, which sometimes produces a lump sum. The disability tax credit calculator estimates the tax side.
Where does this information come from?
Amounts come from the Canada Revenue Agency and Government of Canada benefit pages as of October 2026; the worked EI and Canada Child Benefit figures are estimates from this site’s own calculators. Checked in October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file a tax return to keep getting the Canada Child Benefit?
Yes. The CRA says your payments stop if you don't do your taxes, and your spouse or common-law partner has to file too, even with no income. File by April 30 so July's recalculation uses current numbers and the monthly deposits keep coming.
When does the Canada Child Benefit amount change?
The CRA recalculates it each July using the previous year's tax return, so the July 2026 to June 2027 amounts rest on 2025 income. It can also change mid-year if your family situation changes, for example with a new baby or a separation.
Can both parents claim the child care expense deduction?
Normally the parent with the lower income claims it, and the deduction can't exceed two-thirds of that parent's earned income. Each child has an annual ceiling of $8,000 under 7, $5,000 for older children, or $11,000 for a child eligible for the disability tax credit.
Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan cover children?
Yes. A family needs adjusted net income under $90,000, no private dental coverage, and filed returns for both partners. Children are covered the same way as adults, so check enrolment for each family member.