$7,437 Child Benefit Per Child in Canada: Who Qualify and How To Claim In March? The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a payment that is paid monthly to provide monetary aid to eligible families with the expenses of raising children under 18 years of age. This benefit is only for the financial security of children to decrease the economic burden on families with low or moderate income. If you’d like to learn about the $7,437 child benefit in Canada, its eligibility criteria, and how to claim it in March, keep reading the article.
$7,437 Child Benefit Per Child in Canada
The child benefit in Canada is a payment provided to eligible families to assist them in covering the cost of raising a child or children under the age of 18. It is not a taxable income and you need not file it in your income tax return. This payment is provided monthly for families that have children and are not able to pay for their expenses due to a low source of income. The amount of child benefit is adjusted every year to pace with inflation and increasing costs of living and to provide flexibility to parents to spend funds where they think the requirement is greatest.
This $7,437 payment is tax-free and by applying to it, you also register your children for the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, the Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR). The main objective of this payment is to reduce the financial pressure on parents and guardians all over Canada. The amount will be based on various factors, such as your marital status, income threshold, number and age of children, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- Citizenship and Residency: You must be either a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada according to the rules set by the government for tax purposes. You are regarded as a resident of Canada when you build enough residential ties in Canada.
- Child Criteria: You must live with the child, who must be under the age of 18. You must be the primary caregiver and responsible for the upbringing of the child.
- Legal Status: You or your spouse or common-law partner must be any of the following:
- a Canadian citizen
- a permanent resident
- a protected person
- a temporary resident
- a person who has registered or is eligible to register under the Indian Act
How to Claim in March?
To claim the benefit in March, you have to apply for the CCB. It is a very simple process. Just follow the steps given below:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the official website of the CRA-Canada Revenue Agency.
- Fill Out the Application: After visiting the website, find the online Canada child benefits application form under “Apply for child benefits” in My Account.
Provide the information about you, your child, and your family’s income. - Gather Your Documents: Gather all the necessary documents, including:
- your and your child’s social insurance numbers (SINs)
- your child’s birth certificate or adoption papers
- your family’s tax information
- Submit and Wait: You can submit your application through the CRA website online or you can mail it. It is advised to submit the form online, as it is faster.
After submitting your application, the CRA will review it. They’ll check to make sure you qualify for the CCB based on your information. The payment will automatically start if you are approved. The first payment can take up to eight weeks to receive from the date when you apply.
Payment Amount
The amount of your CBB benefit is calculated through various factors, such as:
- The number of children you have
- Your family’s adjusted net income
- Whether your child is eligible to get the child disability benefit
- Your residence and whether you are eligible for provincial benefits
- Your marital status
The maximum amount that can be received by the families from the Canada child benefit based on the 2022 tax returns:
- $7,437 per year or $619.75/month for each child under the age of 6
- $6,275 per year or $522.92/month for each child aged 6 to 17
- You may get an additional $3,173 per year if your child qualifies for the Child Disability Benefit.
Payment Dates
The payment dates for Canada Child Benefit (CCB) are scheduled by CRA as follows:
| Month | Payment Dates |
| January | 20 March 2025 |
| February | 20 February 2025 |
| March | 20 March 2025 |
| April | 17 April 2025 |
| May | 20 May 2025 |
| June | 20 June 2025 |
| July | 18 July 2025 |
| August | 20 August 2025 |
| September | 19 September 2025 |
| October | 20 October 2025 |
| November | 20 November 2025 |
| December | 12 December 2025 |
The first payment will be provided to you:
- within 8 weeks of CRA receiving your application online
- within 11 weeks of CRA receiving your application by mail