Canada Child Benefit Is Paying Out In January & Here's What You Need To Know About Getting Money

What is the Canada Child Benefit?

The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment that's made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years old.

It's administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

If you're wondering who can get the CCB, you need to meet all of the following conditions:

• you live with a child who is under 18 years old
• you are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
• you are a resident of Canada for tax purposes

Also, you or your spouse or common-law partner must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and has a valid permit, or registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act.

You should apply for the CCB as soon as any of the following happens:

• your child is born
• a child starts to live with you or returns to live with you after a temporary period with someone else
• you begin, end or change a shared custody arrangement
• you get custody of a child
• you or your spouse or common-law partner start to meet the eligibility conditions

You can apply through birth registration, online with CRA My Account or by mail.

Everyone is required to provide proof of birth when applying for the CCB — a new rule that was introduced on November 20, 2023.

How much money can you get from the Canada Child Benefit?

How much money you can get from the CCB depends on:

• the number of children in your care
• the age of your children
• your adjusted family net income, as reported in last year's tax return

If your adjusted family net income is under $34,863, you will get the maximum amount for each child and it will not be reduced.

Any reduction to the maximum benefit payment depends on your adjusted family net income and the number of children.

Payments gradually start decreasing when your adjusted family net income is over $34,863.

The maximum CCB payment amount is $619.75 per month for each child under six years old and $522.91 per month for each child from 6 to 17 years of age.

When is the Canada Child Benefit payment date in January 2024?

There are CCB payment dates in each month of the year.

Friday, January 19, 2024, is when the CCB is paid out this month.

However, you won't receive a monthly payment in January if your total benefit amount for the year is less than $240. You'll get a lump sum on the July payment date.

If you don't receive your CCB payment on the expected payment date, the CRA noted that you should wait five working days before contacting the agency.

If you've never received the CCB but have applied for the first time, you should receive your first payment within eight weeks of the CRA receiving your application online or within 11 weeks of the CRA receiving your application by mail.