Canada Child Benefit Payments Changing in July 2026: What Families Need to Know

If you receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), your monthly payments will increase starting July 2026 — but only if you file your 2025 taxes. Fail to file, and your payments could stop entirely.

Here’s what every Canadian family needs to know right now.

Key Impact: More Money — But Only If You File

Starting July 2026, the maximum annual CCB payment will increase:

For children under 6: From $7,997 to $8,157 — that’s an extra $160 per year per child
For children aged 6 to 17: From $6,748 to $6,883 — an extra $135 per year per child

These new rates apply from July 2026 through June 2027.

But here’s the catch: The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recalculates your CCB each July based on your 2025 tax return. If you or your spouse haven’t filed your 2025 taxes by July 2026, your payments could stop completely.

Who Is Affected

All families currently receiving CCB — your payment amount will change in July 2026
Families who haven’t filed their 2025 taxes — you risk losing payments entirely
Families with tax-exempt income or no income — you still must file to keep receiving CCB
Families whose marital status or number of children has changed — these changes also affect your benefit

What You Should Do

File your 2025 taxes as soon as possible — even if you missed the April 30 deadline. The CRA needs your 2025 income to calculate your new CCB rate starting July 2026.
Use the government’s child and family benefits calculator — estimate your new monthly payment before July arrives.
Check your CRA My Account — make sure your marital status and number of children are up to date. These details affect your benefit amount.
Mark your calendar — the June 2026 CCB payment will be deposited on Friday, June 19, 2026. The new rates start with the July payment.
Don’t assume you’re exempt — even if you have no income or your income is tax-exempt, you must still file a tax return to keep receiving CCB.

Bottom Line

The Canada Child Benefit is going up in July 2026 — by up to $160 per year per child. But this increase only happens if you file your 2025 taxes. If you don’t file, your payments could stop entirely. File now, check your CRA My Account, and use the benefits calculator to see your new amount. Don’t risk losing this important support for your family.