Families in Canada will receive their next Canada Child Benefit payment in the coming week. The amount you get depends on where you live and how much your family earns & how many kids you have. This money can make a real difference in your monthly budget. The CCB helps parents pay for regular costs like food & diapers and school items and activities for their children. For many families this federal payment is one of the biggest sources of monthly financial help they get. This guide covers what you need to know about the December 2025 Canada Child Benefit. You will learn who can get it and how much money you might receive and when it will show up in your account.
Understanding the $1,200 Canada Child Benefit and Why Families Are Expecting a December Deposit
The Canada Child Benefit is a monthly tax-free payment from the federal government for families with children under 18. The program helps cover the costs of raising kids and is run by the Canada Revenue Agency. The CCB started in 2016 and took the place of earlier programs like the Universal Child Care Benefit. The amount families receive depends on several things including household income & how many children live at home. The ages of the children also matter along with whether any child qualifies for disability benefits. Certain provinces and territories provide extra money on top of the federal benefit. These additional payments boost the total amount that eligible families can receive each month.
Eligibility Rules: Which Canadian Families Qualify for the Updated Canada Child Benefit?
To qualify for the CCB you need to meet three basic requirements.
– First you must be a Canadian resident according to tax rules.
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– Second you need to live with a child who is younger than 18 years old.
– Third you must be the main person taking care of that child.
Several groups of people can apply for this benefit. Canadian citizens can apply along with permanent residents & protected persons. People who are registered under the Indian Act are also eligible. Temporary residents can qualify too but they need to have maintained valid status in Canada for at least 18 months in a row. When parents share custody of a child they can split the benefit. Each parent might get half of the total CCB amount based on their custody agreement. The amount you receive depends on your family income. As your income goes up your CCB payment goes down gradually. Families with higher incomes can still get some money from this program but the amount will be smaller than what lower-income families receive.
CCB Payment Breakdown: How Much Support Families Can Receive Under the Revised Canada Program
Automatic Registration at Birth New parents can apply for the CCB when they register their newborn. Most provinces & territories let parents share birth information with the CRA to start the CCB application automatically.
Applying After Birth If you missed applying at birth you can still apply online through CRA My Account or send Form RC66 to your local tax center. Online applications process faster.
Annual Tax Filing Requirement Both parents or guardians must file income tax returns every year to keep receiving the CCB even if they had no income. Late filing can delay or reduce payments for the benefit year that runs from July to June.
Canada Child Benefit Calculator: Estimate Your Family’s Potential $1,200 December Payment
CCB payment amounts depend on your family net income and the number and ages of your children.
– Disability eligibility also affects the amount you receive.
– For the 2025–26 benefit year the maximum amounts are $666.41 per month for each child under 6 years old & $562.33 per month for each child aged 6 to 17.
– Families with annual incomes of $37487 or less get the full benefit amount.
– Families earning more than this threshold receive reduced payments that decrease as income rises.
-Additional Support for Children with Disabilities The Child Disability Benefit provides up to $284.25 per month for children who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit.
This additional benefit starts to decrease when family income exceeds $81,222. Provincial and Territorial Top-Ups Several provinces offer extra payments that are delivered together with the CCB. These provincial supplements can provide up to $300 per child each month in regions like British Columbia & Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Tax Questions Explained: Do Canadians Need to Pay Tax on the Canada Child Benefit?
The CRA provides a free online calculator that helps you figure out how much your family will receive each month.
– To use it you need to enter your household income and the number of children you have.
– You also need to provide the ages of your children and indicate whether anyone qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit.
This calculator automatically adds any extra payments from your province so you can see the complete amount of your CCB payment.
Complete Schedule: Canada Child Benefit Payment Dates for 2025–2026
The CCB payment arrives on the 20th of every month unless that day lands on a weekend or holiday. In December 2025 families will receive their payment on Thursday December 20. Here are the remaining CCB payment dates for the 2025–26 period:
December 12, 2025
January 20, 2026
February 20, 2026
March 20 2026
April 20, 2026
May 20 2026
June 19, 2026
