Canada Child Benefit Payment Schedule 2026: All Dates

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is paid monthly, with twelve payments scheduled in 2026. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) publishes the calendar, and each payment is calculated from tax information for one of two different years.

CCB Payment Schedule for 2026

The CRA lists the following 2026 payment dates:

How the Tax Year Sets the Amount

The CCB is recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax information. According to the CRA, payments from January to June 2026 use the 2024 tax year, and payments from July to December 2026 use the 2025 tax year. The switch happens at the July recalculation, so the first six payments of the year and the last six are based on different tax filings.

Maximum Amounts from July 2026 to June 2027

The maximum CCB for July 2026 to June 2027, according to MoneySense (2026-08-17), is:

When will the next payment be made?

As of October 29, 2026, the next Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment is scheduled for November 20, 2026, followed by December 11, 2026. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) published this calendar on 2026-10-22. Payments fall on the 18th to 20th of most months, with the December payment on the 11th.

Source: Canada Revenue Agency, 2026-10-22.

What determines the amount of the next payment

CCB payments are recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax information. The November and December 2026 payments therefore rely on the 2025 tax year, and the January to June 2026 payments relied on the 2024 tax year. The amount is mainly recalculated each July, although a change in your family situation or a child’s age band can also alter it during the year.

The published maximum amounts for July 2026 to June 2027 are:

• Child under 6: up to $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month)
• Child aged 6 to 17: up to $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month)
• Disability amount: up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month)

Source: MoneySense, 2026-08-17.

Exception for small annual totals

If the total CCB for the year is under $240, the CRA pays it as one lump sum with the July payment instead of monthly installments. In that case, no November or December monthly payment is made.

How to confirm your date

1. Compare the dates above with the CRA’s published 2026 schedule, since the list may be updated.
2. Check that your 2025 tax information is on file with the CRA, because the November and December amounts depend on it.
3. Confirm the child’s age band (under 6 or 6 to 17) so you can estimate the expected monthly amount against the maximums listed above.

December 2026 CCB payment date and tax-year basis

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) lists the December 2026 Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment on December 11, 2026, while most other months fall on the 20th. The source material for this section does not give a reason for the earlier date, so no reason is stated here. What the CRA schedule does establish is how the December payment fits into the year’s payment cycle.

The tax-year basis is the key link. CCB amounts are recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax information. The payments below show which tax year applies to each period in 2026:

December’s payment therefore uses the same 2025 tax-year figure as July through November. Its date changes, but the amount basis does not.

Two checks help when planning around the December deposit:

1. Compare the December date against the full CRA list rather than assuming the 20th.
2. Confirm which tax year applies to the period, since that determines the amount.

If the annual CCB total for the year is under $240, it is paid as one lump sum with the July payment instead of monthly. In that case, no December payment is made for that year.

Maximum amounts from July 2026 to June 2027

The Canada child benefit (CCB) has a maximum annual amount that depends on the child’s age. For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) for a child under 6, and $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) for a child aged 6 to 17. A separate disability amount can reach $3,480 a year ($290 a month).

The CCB is recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax information. Payments from January to June 2026 used the 2024 tax year, and payments from July to December 2026 use the 2025 tax year. The new basis therefore applies from the July payment onward, so the amount paid in that window reflects the 2025 figures.

To check your payments against these figures:

• Note the dates the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) lists for July to December 2026: July 20, August 20, September 18, October 20, November 20 and December 11.
• Compare each monthly deposit with the monthly equivalent in the table. A difference usually means the amount is below the maximum for that child category, for example because of family net income. If the gap is unexpected, check your CRA online account or contact the CRA.
• Check the annual total. If the CCB for the year is under $240, it is paid as one lump sum with the July payment instead of in monthly instalments.
• Keep the CRA payment dates separate from the amounts when planning your budget. The dates set when money arrives, while the amounts set how much.

Sources: maximum amounts from MoneySense (published August 17, 2026); payment dates and recalculation rules from the Canada Revenue Agency (verified October 22, 2026).

How is the amount recalculated each year?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax information. The CRA does not recalculate monthly, so each July update sets the amount for the next twelve months, from July to June.

The payments in a calendar year draw on two different tax years:

The July 2026 update therefore switches the reference from the 2024 tax year to the 2025 tax year. Payments for the first half of 2026 were calculated from the earlier figures.

The recalculated amount is capped. For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum CCB is:

If the total CCB for the year is under $240, the CRA pays it as a lump sum with the July payment instead of spreading it across monthly payments.

What happens if the total annual CCB is under $240?

If the total Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for the year is under $240, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does not pay it monthly. The full amount is paid as a lump sum with the July payment. In 2026, that payment is scheduled for July 20.

The total is set by the July recalculation. Each July, the CRA recalculates the CCB using the previous year’s tax information. January to June 2026 payments use the 2024 tax year, and July to December 2026 payments use the 2025 tax year. Because the figure depends on prior-year tax data, the total can change from one benefit year to the next, so the threshold should be checked again after each July recalculation.

To prepare for a lump-sum year:

1. Confirm the July 20, 2026 date in your CRA account or the CRA payment calendar.
2. Expect no CCB deposits in the other months of that benefit year, since the amount arrives in one payment.
3. Decide in advance how the lump sum fits your monthly budget, for example by setting it aside in a separate account before July 20.
4. Confirm that your tax return for the prior year is filed, because the July recalculation uses that information.

Source: Canada Revenue Agency, updated 2026-10-22.

How to check your CCB payment with the CRA

To check a Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment, compare the deposit with the CRA’s 2026 payment calendar, then confirm that the amount matches the tax year used for that period. Amounts are recalculated once a year, so a change in July is expected.

2026 payment calendar and tax-year basis

Verification steps

1. Match the scheduled date. Find the payment date in the table above and check your account for the deposit on or around that day. If it is missing, check your payment history in your CRA online account before contacting the agency.
2. Confirm the tax-year basis. From January to June, the amount reflects the 2024 tax information. From July onward, it reflects the 2025 information. A different amount after July is consistent with this recalculation.
3. Check for a lump-sum year. If your total CCB for the year is under $240, no monthly deposits are made. The full amount is paid with the July payment.
4. Compare with the maximums. For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum amount is CAD 8,157 a year (CAD 679.75 a month) for a child under 6, and CAD 6,883 a year (CAD 573.58 a month) for a child aged 6 to 17. The disability amount can reach CAD 3,480 a year (CAD 290 a month). These figures are ceilings, not guaranteed amounts; the actual benefit depends on family net income. Source: MoneySense, 2026-08-17.

Frequently asked questions

Which tax year determines my CCB amount in early 2026?

Payments from January to June 2026 are calculated from your 2024 tax return, and payments from July to December 2026 use your 2025 return. The switch happens at the July recalculation, according to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA, updated 2026-10-22).

When is the last 2026 CCB payment, and why is it earlier than the others?

The CRA lists December 11, 2026 as the final 2026 payment date. The sources provided do not explain why this date falls earlier than the usual 18th to 20th, so no reason is given here.

What are the maximum CCB amounts from July 2026 to June 2027?

According to MoneySense (2026-08-17), the maximum CCB is $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) for a child under 6, and $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) for a child aged 6 to 17. The disability amount is up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month).

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