By CCB Payment Dates 2026: When the Canada Child Benefit Lands Each Month
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is paid on or near the 20th of every month, and in 2026 there are exactly three exceptions to the “20th” rule: June 19, September 18 and an early December payment on December 11. The next payment lands Friday, November 20, 2026. Below is the full 2026 calendar, the current maximum amounts (up to $8,157 a year per child under 6), and a worked example of how family income changes the payment.
All 12 CCB payment dates for 2026
| Month | 2026 payment date | Month | 2026 payment date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Tuesday, January 20 | July | Monday, July 20 |
| February | Friday, February 20 | August | Thursday, August 20 |
| March | Friday, March 20 | September | Friday, September 18 |
| April | Monday, April 20 | October | Tuesday, October 20 |
| May | Wednesday, May 20 | November | Friday, November 20 |
| June | Friday, June 19 | December | Friday, December 11 |
The CRA pays on the 20th unless that day is a weekend or a federal holiday, in which case the payment moves to the last business day before it. That is why June’s payment arrived on the 19th (June 20 was a Saturday) and September’s on the 18th (September 20 was a Sunday). December is different every year: the CRA pays on December 11 so the money lands well before the holidays — and so families feel the flip side in January, when the gap to the next payment stretches to almost six weeks.
This calendar is one piece of a bigger picture. Our master list of Canada benefit payment dates for 2026 puts the CCB alongside CPP, OAS, the Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the other federal and Ontario calendars.
How much is the CCB in 2026?
CCB amounts run on a July-to-June benefit year, so calendar 2026 contains two sets of maximums:
| Benefit year | Per child under 6 | Per child aged 6–17 | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2025 – June 2026 (paid Jan–Jun 2026) | $7,997/year | $6,748/year | Your 2024 tax return |
| July 2026 – June 2027 (paid Jul–Dec 2026) | $8,157/year ($679.75/month) | $6,883/year ($573.58/month) | Your 2025 tax return |
Those are maximums, paid in full only when adjusted family net income (AFNI) is $38,237 or less. Above that, the CRA reduces the benefit gradually — there is no cliff where one extra dollar of income wipes out the payment. For the July 2026 to June 2027 year, the reduction on income between $38,237 and $82,847 is 7% of the excess for one child, 13.5% for two children, 19% for three and 23% for four or more. Above $82,847, the reduction becomes a fixed amount ($3,123 for one child, $6,022 for two, $8,476 for three, $10,260 for four or more) plus a smaller percentage of the income above $82,847 (3.2%, 5.7%, 8% or 9.5%).
Families with a child who qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit also receive the Child Disability Benefit on the same dates: up to an additional $3,480 a year ($290 a month) per eligible child for July 2026 to June 2027.
A worked example: two kids, $75,000 of family income
Take a family with two children, aged 4 and 8, and 2025 adjusted family net income of $75,000. Using the CRA’s formula for July 2026 to June 2027:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum: child under 6 | $8,157 |
| Maximum: child aged 6–17 | $6,883 |
| Combined maximum | $15,040 per year |
| Income above the $38,237 threshold | $75,000 − $38,237 = $36,763 |
| Reduction at 13.5% (two children) | − $4,963.01 |
| Actual CCB | $10,076.99 per year = $839.75 per month |
That $839.75 is what lands on each of the dates above from July to December 2026. It also shows why an RRSP contribution can pay twice: it cuts this year’s tax bill, and by lowering the net income on your return it can raise next July’s CCB recalculation.
Who gets the CCB, and how to apply
You can receive the CCB if you live in Canada with a child under 18, you are primarily responsible for the child’s care, and you (or your spouse or common-law partner) are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month. Both parents must file a tax return every year — even with no income — because the CRA calculates the CCB from those returns.
Most parents are signed up automatically when they register their newborn’s birth with their province or territory. If that did not happen, apply through CRA My Account or with Form RC66. Payments are usually made to the parent who is primarily responsible for the child’s care, and in shared-custody situations each parent can receive 50% of the amount they would get with full custody.
Your CCB deposit often includes more than the federal benefit: most provinces and territories pay their own child benefits through the same deposit on the same dates, so a larger-than-expected payment on the 20th is usually the combined total. It is also separate from the quarterly Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (the renamed GST/HST credit), which helps many of the same families with an extra $234 a year per child under 19.
Common mistakes that delay or shrink the CCB
Filing late. The CCB is recalculated every July from your latest returns. A missing return — yours or your partner’s — is the most common reason payments shrink, pause or stop.
Not reporting a change. A new child, a separation, a death, or a child turning 18 all change the calculation. Tell the CRA when it happens; overpayments have to be repaid, and they are usually discovered at the July recalculation.
Budgeting the December payment as a normal month. December 11’s deposit has to stretch until January 20 — about 40 days. Treating it as a regular four-week payment is how January runs short.
Assuming a late payment on the 20th is lost. Banks post deposits at different times of day, and mailed cheques take up to 10 business days. Check CRA My Account first: it shows your exact payment amount and date.
Frequently asked questions
What are the remaining CCB payment dates in 2026?
Two: Friday, November 20, 2026 and Friday, December 11, 2026. The December payment always comes early, ahead of the holidays.
How much is the Canada Child Benefit per month in 2026?
At the maximum, $679.75 a month for each child under 6 and $573.58 a month for each child aged 6 to 17 (July 2026 to June 2027). Your actual amount depends on your adjusted family net income and the number and ages of your children.
Why did my CCB change in July 2026?
Every July the CRA recalculates using your most recent tax return — the July 2026 payment was the first based on 2025 income — and the maximum amounts are indexed to inflation at the same time. A raise, a new child or a change in custody will all show up in the July payment.
Is the Canada Child Benefit taxable?
No. The CCB is tax-free. You do not report it as income on your tax return, and receiving it does not reduce your refund.
What if my CCB payment does not arrive on the payment date?
With direct deposit it should land on the date, though banks post at different times. If you are paid by cheque, allow up to 10 business days for delivery before contacting the CRA. You can confirm the amount and date for your own account in CRA My Account.
Does the CCB stop when my child turns 18?
Yes — payments are made for the month of the child’s 18th birthday and then stop. The amount for a child also drops from the under-6 rate to the 6-to-17 rate starting the month after the child turns 6.
The bottom line
Two dates left in 2026: November 20 and an early December 11. The amounts behind them — up to $679.75 a month per child under 6 and $573.58 per child 6 to 17 — come from your 2025 tax return, which makes filing on time, every year, the single most valuable habit a CCB family can build.
