Question 1

How is Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) calculated?

Accepted Answer

AFNI is the sum of both spouses' net incomes from line 23600 of the T1 return, with certain adjustments. The main adjustment is adding back the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) you received and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) income reported, and subtracting any UCCB or RDSP income that was repaid. For most families, AFNI is essentially "household net income": gross income minus RRSP deductions, union dues, child-care expenses (if claimed as a deduction), employment expenses, and other line-23600 deductions. If you are a single parent, AFNI is just your own line 23600. CRA calculates AFNI automatically from your tax return; you do not file a separate AFNI calculation.

Question 2

When does the CCB get paid?

Accepted Answer

CCB is paid monthly, on or around the 20th of each month. The benefit year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year, recalculated each July based on the family income from the prior year's tax return (so July 2026 to June 2027 payments are based on 2025 tax returns). You must file a tax return every year, even with zero income, to receive CCB; CRA cannot calculate your benefit otherwise. New parents should apply within 11 months of birth using Form RC66 or via My Account. Direct deposit speeds up payment by several days versus cheque.

Question 3

How does the CCB phase-out work?

Accepted Answer

There are two phase-out tiers. Below AFNI of $38,237, you receive the full maximum benefit. Between $38,237 and $82,847 (the tier 1 zone), the benefit is reduced by 7% of the excess AFNI for one child, 13.5% for two children, 19% for three, and 23% for four or more. Above $82,847 (tier 2), the reduction continues at 3.2% per dollar of excess for one child, 5.7% for two, 8% for three, and 9.5% for four or more, on top of a fixed reduction from tier 1. The phase-out is income-tested but reasonably gradual, so most middle-income families still receive a meaningful CCB.

Question 4

What is the Child Disability Benefit (CDB)?

Accepted Answer

The CDB is a tax-free supplement added on top of the CCB for children eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum CDB is $3,480 per year per eligible child ($290/month). It is reduced by 3.2% of AFNI above $82,847 for one DTC-eligible child, or 5.7% for two or more. To receive the CDB, the child must be approved for the DTC by submitting CRA Form T2201 signed by a medical practitioner certifying a severe and prolonged impairment. Once approved, the CDB is added automatically to your CCB payments.

Question 5

How do shared custody arrangements work?

Accepted Answer

In a shared custody arrangement where each parent has the child between 40% and 60% of the time, the CCB is split 50/50 between both parents based on each parent's own AFNI and household. Each parent receives approximately half of what they would receive as a sole custodial parent. If one parent has the child more than 60% of the time, that parent is considered to have full custody for CCB purposes and receives the full benefit. If you have shared custody, both parents must apply separately using their own My Account. CRA does not automatically split CCB; you must request the shared-custody designation on Form RC66.

Question 6

Newcomer to Canada: when can I claim CCB?

Accepted Answer

You can apply for CCB as soon as you become a resident of Canada (for tax purposes). For permanent residents and citizens returning to Canada, this is immediate. For temporary residents (work permit or study permit holders), you must have lived in Canada for at least 18 continuous months and have a valid permit in the 19th month. Protected persons and Indigenous status-holders can apply immediately. New Canadians should apply using Form RC66 along with proof of residency status (PR card, citizenship certificate, or work permit). CRA will pay retroactively up to 11 months from the application date.

Question 7

What happens when my child turns 6?

Accepted Answer

The under-6 amount of $8,157/year drops to the 6-to-17 amount of $6,883/year starting the month after the child's 6th birthday. The difference is $1,274 per year per child, or about $106 less per month. CRA adjusts automatically; you do not need to notify them. The 6-to-17 amount continues until the month the child turns 18, at which point CCB stops entirely. After 18, an adult dependent can receive the Disability Tax Credit and other benefits if eligible, but the CCB is purely for children under 18.

Question 8

CCB and other benefits: any interactions?

Accepted Answer

CCB is tax-free and does not affect federal income-tested benefits. It does not reduce your Old Age Security (no clawback), your Guaranteed Income Supplement, your Employment Insurance, or your Canada Workers Benefit. CCB does not need to be reported as income on your tax return (although CRA still tracks AFNI internally). Some provincial programs may consider CCB indirectly: for example, the Quebec Soutien aux enfants program is administered separately by Retraite Québec and uses its own income test. The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) supplements CCB for lower-income Ontario families and is administered jointly. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia also have province-specific child benefits.

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