Are you receiving the child benefits you’re entitled to?
No surprise, but raising kids is expensive. Statistics Canada calculates that each child costs a two-parent household an average of $17,235 a year.
To help parents make ends meet, the federal government offers the Canada Child Benefit (CCB). If you have children under 18 and file a tax return, you are automatically enrolled. Tax-free monthly payments are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Provincial governments provide additional financial support to low- to moderate-income families. But the benefit amounts, income thresholds, eligibility and payment dates can vary slightly from province to province and territory to territory. Provincial child benefits, except for Quebec, are administered by the CRA on behalf of the provinces and territories. The government of Quebec manages its Family Allowance program independently.
All provincial child benefit programs run from July to June of the following calendar year.
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What are the provincial child payment amounts for June 2025?
The child benefit amount is based on your adjusted family net income, which is your family net income (calculated by adding your net income and the net income of your spouse or common-law partner) minus any universal child care benefit (UCCB) and registered disability savings plan (RDSP) income received.
The provinces and territories have different payment benefit amounts and income thresholds. In fact, income thresholds are one of the indicators that determine eligibility for the programs. Some other requirements include whether you live in the province, have children under 18 years of age, and how many, and whether you filed your tax return.
| Province or territory | Maximum annual benefit per child | Income thresholds | Payment frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Child and Family Benefit | $2,221 | Full benefit if income ≤ $27,024 |
4 times a year |
| B.C. family benefit | $2,188 | Full benefit if income ≤ $35,902 |
Monthly |
| Manitoba Child Benefit | $420 | Full benefit if income ≤ $15,000 |
Monthly |
| New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit | $250 | Full benefit if income ≤ $20,000 |
Monthly |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit | $1,825.92 | Full benefit if income ≤ $17,397 |
Monthly |
| Nova Scotia Child Benefit | $1,525 | Full benefit if income ≤ $26,000 |
Monthly |
| Ontario Child Benefit | $1,680 | Full benefit if income ≤ $25,646 |
Monthly |
| Prince Edward Island Child Benefit | $360 | Full benefit if income ≤ $45,000 |
Monthly |
| Quebec Family Allowance | $3,006 | All incomes (verification required) | 4 times a year |
| Northwest Territories Child Benefit | Under the age of 6, $815; ages 6 to 17, $652 | Full benefit if income ≤ $30,000 |
Monthly |
| Nunavut Child Benefit | $330 | Full benefit if income ≤ $22,065 |
Monthly |
| Yukon Child Benefit | $918 | Full benefit if income ≤ $35,000 |
Monthly |
When are provincial child payments issued?
For British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island, the provincial benefit amounts are combined with the Canada Child Benefit into a single monthly payment.
Manitoba’s child benefit is paid monthly. In Alberta, quarterly payment amounts are issued in August, November, February and May.
In Quebec, quarterly amounts are issued in July, October, January and April.
What is the eligibility and application process for receiving the child payment?
| Province or territory | Eligibility | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | • You reside in Manitoba • You have dependent children under 18 • You receive CCB payments for your dependent children • Your total family income is below a specific level |
Go through the guidelines for completing the MCB application and then fill out and mail in a printable PDF version of the MCB application. |
| Quebec | • You or your spouse is responsible for a child under 18. • You or your spouse lives in Québec (in accordance with the Québec Taxation Act). • You or your spouse has one of the following statuses: – Canadian citizen – permanent resident – temporary resident who has been living in Canada for at least 18 months – protected person. |
In the case of a birth in Québec, no application is required from the parent. The child is automatically signed up for the Family Allowance measure when the birth is declared to the Director of Civil Status. In other situations, an individual must file an application for the Family Allowance online. |
| Alberta British Columbia New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Ontario Prince Edward Island Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon |
At least one parent or guardian must be a resident of the respective province or territory, have a dependent under 18, file their tax returns annually, and meet the income criteria set by their respective province or territory. | You don’t need to apply separately. If you are eligible for the CCB, you automatically qualify. |
What to do if you haven’t received your provincial child benefit payments?
If you do not receive your payment on the designated date, wait five working days before reaching out to the CRA at 1-800-387-1193.
You must also reach out to the CRA in case of any changes, including if:
- The number of children in your care has changed
- Your marital status has changed
- A CCB recipient has died
- You are moving
- Any of the personal information, such as your name, marital status or the spousal or child information shown on your CCB notice is not correct
- You (or your spouse or common-law partner) are no longer a resident of Canada
Across all provinces, once your adjusted family net income exceeds the respective threshold, the benefit amount will start to decrease. The final benefit amount is also determined by the number of eligible children in the household.
While most provinces and territories offer child benefit programs to supplement the federal CCB, Saskatchewan currently does not have a stand-alone child benefit program. Instead, the province provides other forms of income assistance, such as the Active Families Benefit and the Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS).
It is crucial for families to stay informed and file their taxes each year to ensure they receive the correct payments.
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