Canada Child Benefit Recalculation: What Families Earning Under $38,237 Receive This Fall

The Canada Child Benefit recalculation that took effect in July 2026 sets what your family receives every month until June 2027, including all of this fall’s payments. For families whose 2025 adjusted family net income was under $38,237, the answer is the full, unreduced benefit: up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and up to $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17. This guide explains where those numbers come from, why the income threshold changed, what the fall 2026 payment dates are, and which life events can trigger another recalculation before next July.

Quick Answer

• For July 2026 to June 2027, families with 2025 adjusted family net income (AFNI) under $38,237 get the maximum CCB with no reduction.
• The maximum is $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) per child under 6 and $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) per child aged 6 to 17.
• Fall 2026 payment dates are September 18, October 20, November 20, and December 11.
• The CRA recalculates every July using last year’s tax returns, and also after a reassessment, a change in marital status, or a change in the number of children in your care.

Pro Tip: Because AFNI is based on net income, an RRSP contribution made before the March deadline lowers the income the CRA uses for the following July’s recalculation. For a family in the phase-out range with two kids, every $1,000 of RRSP contribution can add roughly $135 a year to the CCB — on top of the tax refund itself.

What Changed in the July 2026 Canada Child Benefit Recalculation?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) runs on a payment year that starts every July 1 and ends June 30. Each July, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recalculates your benefit using two things: the number and ages of your children, and your adjusted family net income from the previous calendar year. It also applies annual indexation to inflation, which takes effect July 1.

For the current payment period, that means:

• Payments from July 2026 to June 2027 are based on your 2025 AFNI.
• Payments from July 2025 to June 2026 were based on your 2024 AFNI.

In practice, a change in your income during 2025 only shows up in your payments starting July 2026. The CRA gives an example of a parent whose July payment was lower than June’s even though nothing changed with the children. The reason was that their 2025 income was higher than their 2024 income, and the two payments used different base years.

The 2026-27 amounts went up

Employment and Social Development Canada announced that for 2026-27, the CCB provides up to $8,157 per child under 6 and up to $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17. That is an increase of up to $160 per child under 6 and up to $135 per child aged 6 to 17 compared with the previous year. Nationally, the CCB supports about 3.6 million families and roughly 6 million children, delivering about $30 billion a year in tax-free payments.

Why the income threshold is $38,237, not $36,502

The income level below which you receive the full benefit is also indexed, so it changes every July. You may still see older figures online:

• $36,502 applied to July 2024 to June 2025 payments (2023 income).
• $37,487 applied to July 2025 to June 2026 payments (2024 income).
• $38,237 applies to July 2026 to June 2027 payments (2025 income).

If you are reading about this fall’s payments, $38,237 is the threshold that matters. Articles quoting $36,502 are two payment years out of date.

What counts as adjusted family net income?

Your AFNI is your net income from line 23600 of your tax return, plus your spouse’s or common-law partner’s line 23600 if you have one. The CRA then subtracts any Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income received, and adds back any amounts of those that were repaid. Because it uses net income, deductions such as RRSP contributions lower your AFNI, and that can increase your CCB.

How Much Do Families Under $38,237 Receive This Fall?

If your 2025 AFNI was below $38,237, the CRA does not reduce your benefit at all. You receive the maximum for each eligible child:

• Under 6 years old: $8,157 a year, or $679.75 a month.
• Aged 6 to 17: $6,883 a year, or $573.58 a month.

Because the maximum is per child, you add the amounts together. Using the CRA’s published rates, the annual maximums for some common family shapes are:

Fall 2026 payment dates

The CRA generally pays the CCB on the 20th of each month. When the 20th falls on a weekend or federal statutory holiday, payment arrives on the last business day before. The remaining 2026 dates are:

• September 18, 2026
• October 20, 2026
• November 20, 2026
• December 11, 2026

If a payment does not arrive, the CRA asks you to wait five business days before calling. If your total benefit for the year works out to less than $240, the CRA does not pay monthly — you receive one lump sum with your July payment instead.

Birthdays change the rate

When a child turns 6, the rate switches the month after the birthday. The CRA’s example: a child who turns 6 in March 2027 is paid at the under-6 rate for March and at the 6-to-17 rate starting April. The last payment is made in the month a child turns 18.

Extra amounts that may be added

• Child disability benefit: if your child is eligible for the disability tax credit, the CRA adds up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month) per eligible child for July 2026 to June 2027. This amount only starts to be reduced when AFNI is above $82,847.
• Provincial and territorial child benefits: the CRA administers several of these. Some are combined with your CCB into one monthly deposit, and others are paid separately. You do not have to apply to the province separately; the CRA uses your CCB application.

What If Your Family Income Is Above $38,237?

Above the threshold, the CCB is reduced gradually rather than cut off. The reduction depends on how many eligible children you have. Between $38,237 and $82,847 of AFNI, your total benefit is reduced by a percentage of the income above $38,237:

Above $82,847, the reduction becomes a fixed amount plus a smaller percentage of the income above $82,847:

Worked examples from the CRA

• One child under 6 with AFNI of $45,000: income over the threshold is $6,763. At 7%, the reduction is $473.41, so the annual benefit is $7,683.59, or about $640.30 a month.
• Two children under 6 with AFNI of $60,000: income over the threshold is $21,763. At 13.5%, the reduction is $2,938, so the annual benefit is $13,376, or about $1,114.67 a month.
• Three children over 6 with AFNI of $50,000: income over the threshold is $11,763. At 19%, the reduction is $2,234.97, so the annual benefit is $18,414.03, or about $1,534.50 a month.

The federal government also published a mid-range example: a family with one child aged 5 and one aged 9, with AFNI of $65,000, receives about $11,430 in 2026-27, nearly $400 more than in 2025-26.

When Else Does the CRA Recalculate Your CCB?

The July recalculation is the big one, but it is not the only one. According to the CRA’s Canada Child Benefit guide, your benefit is recalculated in any of these situations:

• Every July, based on the tax returns you and your spouse or common-law partner filed for the previous year.
• After a reassessment of either partner’s tax return that affects the benefit.
• After a change in marital status.
• After a change in the number of eligible children in your care, such as a birth, a child moving in or out, or a new shared-custody arrangement.
• After you tell the CRA about other changes that could affect your benefit.

Marriage, separation, and new partners

If your marital status changes, tell the CRA by the end of the month after the change. Your CCB is then recalculated using your new family income, starting the month after the change. The CRA’s own example describes a single parent who marries in September 2026. Their payments are recalculated using both partners’ 2025 incomes, starting with the October 2026 payment. For separation, the CRA says not to report it until you have been separated for more than 90 consecutive days.

Shared custody

If the CRA considers you to have shared custody, each parent receives 50% of what they would get with full custody. Each parent’s half is calculated on their own AFNI. The CRA does not split payments using other percentages.

Overpayments

If a recalculation shows you were paid too much, the CRA sends a notice. It may keep all or part of future CCB payments, tax refunds, or Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments until the amount is repaid. Reporting changes promptly is the best way to avoid a large repayment later.

How to Make Sure Your Family Gets the Full Benefit

Most missed CCB money comes from paperwork, not eligibility. These steps protect your payments:

1. Both partners file a tax return every year, even with no income. The CRA says this is required to keep getting the CCB. A missing return from either partner can stop payments.
2. File on time. The July recalculation uses the returns already on file. Filing late can delay or interrupt payments.
3. Check your notice in CRA My Account. Confirm the number of children, their birth dates, and your marital status are correct.
4. Report changes quickly. Births, custody changes, moves, and changes in marital status should be reported through My Account or by phone at 1-800-387-1193.
5. Apply for the disability tax credit if your child may qualify. Once approved, the child disability benefit is calculated automatically for the current and two previous CCB payment periods.

Put the benefit to work

CCB payments are not taxable and do not have to be reported as income. For families under the threshold, the benefit is often essential for groceries, rent, and childcare. If some of it can be set aside, a small cash cushion helps; our guide on building an emergency fund in Canada explains how. Families saving for education can also direct part of the benefit into an RESP; see how RESP contribution room works to learn how government grants can add to what you put in.

The CRA’s Canada Child Benefit page has eligibility rules, the benefits calculator, and links to each province’s related programs.

Key Takeaways

• For July 2026 to June 2027, the full CCB goes to families with 2025 AFNI under $38,237; the older $36,502 figure applied to 2024-25.
• Maximums are $8,157 a year per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17, up to $160 and $135 more than last year.
• Mark the fall dates: September 18, October 20, November 20, and December 11, 2026.
• Above $38,237, one-child families lose 7% of income over the threshold; the rate rises to 23% for four or more children.
• Report a marriage, separation of more than 90 days, or custody change promptly; payments are recalculated from the following month.
• Both partners must file a tax return every year, even with zero income, to keep payments flowing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CCB income threshold for 2026-27?

The threshold is $38,237 of adjusted family net income for 2025. Below that, you get the maximum amount for every eligible child with no reduction. Above it, the benefit is reduced gradually based on your income and the number of children.

How much is the Canada Child Benefit per child in 2026?

For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) for each child under 6. For each child aged 6 to 17, it is $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month). Families with higher incomes receive less.

When does the CCB get recalculated?

The CRA recalculates the CCB every July using your previous year’s tax returns. It also recalculates after a tax reassessment, a change in marital status, a change in the number of children in your care, or any other change you report. Changes usually take effect the month after they happen.

Why did my CCB payment drop in July 2026?

Most likely because your 2025 family income was higher than your 2024 income. July payments switch to the new base year, so a raise or new income in 2025 lowers your benefit from July 2026. A change in marital status or number of children can also cause a drop.

Do I have to file taxes to get the CCB if I have no income?

Yes, you and your spouse or common-law partner must each file a return every year, even with no income. The CRA uses those returns to calculate your benefit. Without them, payments can stop.

Conclusion

The Canada Child Benefit recalculation for 2026-27 is good news for lower-income families: under $38,237 of 2025 family income, you receive the full $8,157 per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17, paid monthly through June 2027. Keep both tax returns filed, report changes quickly, and check your CRA notice so nothing slows your payments. Before the October 20 deposit, log in to My Account and confirm your children, marital status, and payment amount are correct.