Another government program that is available for parents in Canada is called the Canada Child Tax Benefit. This particular benefit is one of the few income-tested programs that actually has reasonable income limits so you can be fairly middle class and still get some cash out of this.
Eligibility for CCTB
- Child must be under 18 years of age.
- Primary caregiver must be a Canadian resident.
- Family net income must be less than approximately $102,000. Keep in mind that net income is AFTER any deductions such as RRSP contributions.
How to apply for the CCTB
The form for this benefit is called Form RC66 – Canada Child Benefits Application and can be downloaded from www.cra.gc.ca/forms or call 1-800-959-2221. Keep in mind that this application is the same one as for the UCCB (Universal child care benefit) so you only have to fill out this form once for both benefits.
Do I need proof of income to apply for the CCTB?
No you don’t. However the exception is if one of the parents became a new resident or returned as a resident of Canada in the last 2 years – or if you became a Canadian citizen in the last 12 months.
Do I need proof of birth to apply for the CCTB?
No, unless the child was born outside of Canada or was born in Canada and is one year of age or older.
How much will I get from CCTB?
Check out the CRA’s online calculator to find out how much your benefit will be. The benefit is a sliding scale so the more net family income you have, the smaller the benefit will be.
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This is the present situation with me and my child, daughter. She has turned 18 this year, she is enrolled in highschool, NorthPark Collegiate, Brantford, Ontario. Today is her first day, she is picked up for school by Lillian Miller Transportation each school day and returned. As I said she has turned 18 this year and its time for her to go on her own disability pension, she is in my custody, and I’m a recipient of a disabilty pension as well. You will find that when bring up my file that she has been with me for years, as she needs constant, uninterupted caring for aon a daily basis, geared to her schedules. So far she is included in my monthly pension allottment. She has her own bank account set up for the transfer. What has to happen for her to be put on her own or does she remain on my pension list with myself? I have not filed an income tax claim, yet. I have to find out what has to happen first. I wish to have the opportunity reserved to be able to say, no, if the house hold income is decreased because of the update. Ihave credit card obligations that has to be paid. Because of the lack of funding available to me and the total diregard from the disability office to ny concerns to house maintenance steps had to be taken so the house would not be damaged from rain. A new roof had to be installed at the cost of $10,000. plus, this past month. My concerns for the flooding of my basement went unheard although substantial damage was sustained and my high-efficiency furnance had to be replaced, and the lost furniture was thrown out because of water damage, allof ur clothes had to be replaced with no help from the ODSP Office. They have been notified of each instance at the time of occurrance, no help arrived from ODSP, again. That was because Ontario Hydro mistakenly turned off my hydro when they were sippose to turn off a neighbours trailer, I live in a house. I have that letter here somwhere as well. Don’t ask me to prove it unless you want to lend a hand in the search. There are so many times that I have been reduced in entitlement, but have not gained any help to the emergencies zi have suffered , alone. Give me the permission to write my own pension entitlement so as to cut out the prejudice I keep receive from the Brantford Disability Office.
Hi Graham, sorry to hear about your situation.
You should contact an accountant for your question since it is pretty specific and unfortunately I don’t know the answer.
Can a 16 year old student living without either of her parents receive her own tax credit as her mother is withholding it from her. It is a benefit of $200.00 monthly when the child can use the funds and in actual fact if the mother is not providing the 16 year child any financial assistance, is she not committing fraud? Please contact me via email ASAP
Thank you very much
Lisa – you should definitely call the government to get the best answers but my guesses are:
1) No, the child living on her own would not qualify for the CCTB – it is to help parents with costs associated with their kids. If you’re not a parent then no CCTB.
2) Yes, if you are not living with your mother then she shouldn’t be receiving CCTB. She also shouldn’t be receiving and giving it to you. The child has to be living with the parent.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/cctb/fq_qlfyng-eng.html#q4
I would try to get some help for your situation – if you need money then I’m guessing welfare might be an best option. Perhaps calling the local employment office would be an idea – they might be able to give you better info than I.
Hi i want to know if i can ask for cctb for my son,he is 11 years old.
I come to Canaba as a refugee before he was born,so he is a Canadian citizen but i just got aproved by the Immigration Canada recently.
Can i get the cctb payment for him dated some back or just from the time i become permanent residence?
Thank you in advance for your answer!
Anna, you should contact the appropriate government department with that questions.
Check out the cra website: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/cctb/
I am a 17 year old living on my own. My mother kicked me out at 14 years old and my mother and my father both refuse to support me or give me any money. I was wondering if i can get the person im living with to collect my child taxes . Would they have to take custudy of me or can they just collect it ?
i am 18 and am a canadian but i live in the uk with my guardian. we’re planning to come and live in canada but i was wondering if she will be able to claim cctb since she’s the one that takes care of me
I was born and raised a Canadian citizen. I married an American and have since also become an American citizen. My children and I are therefore both Canadian and American. We currently live in the USA and have at times lived overseas. A family member in a similar situation has told me recently that she qualified for the Canada Child Tax Credit. Is it possible that we qualify for this benefit even though we do not live in Canada?
Janice – here are the rules for eligibility.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/cctb/fq_qlfyng-eng.html#q4
You don’t have to be a citizen but you have to live here – kind of makes sense I think.
Just a question about childtax benefit, im wondering how much i will be getting a month, as me and my boyfriend are claiming common-law.
before taxes are taken off he make 77,000.00 this year. there was 21,000.00 taxes taken off. do they calculate how much u will get before taxes taken off, or after they are taken off. We have 3 children together.
before taxes are taking off ashley I have 4 children im also common law my income is a bit lower then yours but i recieve$ 1746,00 in total for cctb the universal child care and as of this month the cctb is going up another $91 per child,, but i would recomend that you call cctb direct their number is 1800 378-1193 they will be able to tell you exactly what you will recieve each month for your 3 children
if you totally have no income less then 20,000 you get $326 from CCTB and another $100 from UCTB
If my kids go overseas for a school year and come back would they still receive child benefits, both me and my wife files tax every year and both have own the house and have bank acc. and credit cards and d. licenses
We have 4 children and are receiving child tax benefit since last five years.Now we are planing to go back home for around 2 years due to some family reasons. Do we still be eligible to get CCTB and UCTB? We have active bank account and credit card transactions, besides, I will be visiting Canada after every six months due to my exams.
Qumar – I’m pretty sure it’s for Canadian residents only. You should check with the government though.
Lakcing any answers, this is what has transpired, reductions all around. Once the child turns 18 that must be the cut-off line. Although she continues to attend highschool for the special classes, she does not receive benefits for doing so. No straight answers. It seems that you have to have a person working on the inside for anyone to be satisfied that they are collecting all entitlements. I am still running into a wall on the ‘Respite Funds’, it’s getting close to 2 years of entitlement I losing. Someone must be running blocker on my funds entitlement just channelling the funds someway else, they have to be, every year they have to justify their funds, as I had started the amount, understand what I’m saying? I am saying I started getting Respite Care funds and once the yearly amount was set, they have to spend that much the following year or their funds will get cut back. Its better for them to spend everything, if they were to have money to send back then their alottment would be cut back that much the next year.
My husband and I were deemed non residents for 2006/2007 as we were living overseas. We moved back in January of 2008 and had our baby in June of 2008. I read the website and I’m still kind of unclear as to when we became eligible for the cctb and what tax year they calculate our benefits from…I’m kind of wondering if we are ineligible for 2008 as we were travelling in 2007 and had no income and were non-residents.
How long do i wait for my baby’s first Child Tax Benefit?
my child was born in canada but now we are not living in canada may we get child tax benefit
Hi, I am 17 and I live on my own. Both my parents refuse to pay child support or give me any money to support me. They kicked me out when I was 15, and I am currently still in high school. Is there any type of program or benefit that the government of Alberta can offer me so I can take care of myself while I go to school?
I am canadian citizen and my wife permenent resident of canada I have two kids. one baby have canadian citizen she have canadian passport. and second older son don’t have status of canada.I have applied sponsorship application in the CHC out side canada for my older son. My both kids was born out side canada.My both kids are living out side canada. they don’t come till yet. my wife is also living out side canada. because my older son application is in proccess at CHC. MY WIFE stuck out side canda.I am in canada I have job and file the income tax every year. can I get child tax benafit.
Aamir – I’m not sure if I completely understood your comment. I think you said that both of your kids are living outside of Canada? If that is the case then you can’t get the child tax benefit.
thank’s mike,
My both kids are living out side canada.one kids have canadian passport or citizenship.I am permently living in canada.I have job.or file income tax every year.and I finalcially support my family from here.my family depend me. In this situation, can I get cctb? please share me.
Aamir – according to the gov’t website the kids have to be living with you (in Canada) in order to get the CCTB.
I am a single mother and my daughter turns 18 in one month and is in her final year of high school. Her CCTB will be cut off, I am not on any other income support but don’t make enough money to loose the over $300 a month. Is there any other government funding available for this situation as she will be under my care for the remainder of the school year. Thank you.
Jennifer – you need to contact the government about any possible programs.
My suggestion is that your daughter should look for a job.
Hey, I am about to turn 18 soon. Will my mom still get the child tax credit because i am still in highschool? I heard that you still get the baby bonus if as long as your in highschool still…???
Brittany – there is no “high school” rule. If there was, some people would never graduate…
i am not a resident..i have 3mth old..i applied for refugee status ..am awaiting a decision on my case..i am still yet to obtain my work permit and temporary social.should i wait until i recieve my work permit and temp social to apply for child tax benefit?..or apply for it now?..how much would i get? am here since 2006 been working but not not jobs where tax is taking out ..if i apply now what should i should i say my status is?
Is the CCTB going up in October2009? and if so, how much?
I have a one year old son and a two year old daughter who i recently filed for. Will i get back pay for them?
thanks for your help
hi.. my ex-bf and i have recently separated…ever since our 2 and half daughter was born ive been getting her cctb & uctb on my account thru direct deposit.. now my ex has opened up a new account for her and wants to get the money.. would they transfer it to his bank account without my permision? i am the mother and i just have a part-time job… thanks.
I am disturbed by the amount of people leaving questions about entitlement who don’t even live in Canada! Canada provides this funding to help middle to low income families care for their children that LIVE in canada. It’s not a cash grab! If you don’t contribute to our country in the form of taxes, why should you receive a CHILD TAX BENEFIT?? This is not free money people, it is tax dollars and if you know someone who is receiving it who does not live in Canada then you should contact CCTB and let them know. They are committing fraud. Perhaps there would be more money for the poverty stricken families if people who were not entitled to this benefit were not taking from the ones who really need it! Many families with three or more children live on less that 20 000 a year. Are you seriously concerned about how much you can get making 70 000? Also, just so you know it is gross in the calculations and you will be receiving 245.00.
My daughter just had a baby and mailed her child tax credit forms last week and was wondering when she will be getting it. thanks
Dianne – it can take a long time to get the first payment but don’t worry – it will be retroactive so she will eventually get all the $$.
I filed my taxes in November for 2008 and I was curious on how long will it take to get the Child tax benift as well as the back pay from August??
Thanks
WHY IS IT THAT PPL WHO DO NOT EVEN LIVE IN CANADA THINK THEY CAN QUALIFIY FOT THIS ! WHERE IS THE COMON SENSE?!!
Hi I just gave birth to my daughter Oct 13. I am only 18 and I have never filed taxes as I have never really made an income, my boyfriend on the other hand has done his taxes, but I’m still considered the primary caregiver. Can I still apply for child tax benefits even if I’ve never done my taxes before,if so what does that change?
Thank you,
Rebecca