Key takeaways
- Canada Child Benefit: up to $679.75 a month per child under 6 and $573.58 per child aged 6 to 17 (July 2026 to June 2027)
- The GST/HST credit is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB): up to $679 a year for a single person and $890 for a couple, plus $234 per child
- Newcomers apply with form RC151 (CGEB) and form RC66 (Canada Child Benefit) in their first year
- Temporary residents can get the Canada Child Benefit only after 18 months in Canada
- File a tax return every year, even with no income, to keep benefits coming
How benefits work in Canada
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays most family and low-income benefits. Payments are based on your family net income from your tax return. That is why filing a tax return every year matters, even if you earned nothing.
In your first year, the CRA does not have your income yet. So you send a short application with your income from before you came to Canada (your “world income”). After that, your yearly tax return keeps the benefits going. Payments go to your Canadian bank account by direct deposit.
Provinces add their own benefits on top. Many are paid automatically with the federal ones once you apply.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. It is the largest benefit most newcomer families get.
| Child’s age | Maximum per month | Maximum per year |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | $679.75 | $8,157 |
| 6 to 17 | $573.58 | $6,883 |
These are the amounts for July 2026 to June 2027. You get the full amount if your adjusted family net income is under $38,237. Above that, the payment goes down slowly, and faster above $82,847. Estimate yours with our benefit estimator.
Who can get it
You must live with the child, be mainly responsible for their care, and be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. You or your spouse must be a citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and has a valid permit in the 19th month. Refugee claimants with only a Refugee Protection Claimant Document cannot get the CCB yet.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit)
In July 2026, the GST/HST credit was renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). The rules are the same, but the amounts went up by 25% for 5 years (2026 to 2031). It is paid every three months to people with low and modest income.
For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is:
- $679 a year for a single person
- $890 a year for a married or common-law couple
- $234 a year for each child under 19
Read more in our Groceries and Essentials Benefit guide.
How newcomers apply
- Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and open a bank account.
- No children: apply for the CGEB with the online version of form RC151.
- With children: send form RC151 and form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) by mail to your tax centre, with proof of birth for each child. One application per household is enough. RC66 also signs you up for provincial child benefits. If you were not a resident for the whole previous year, the CRA also asks for your status and world income with schedule RC66SCH.
- Attach translations of documents that are not in English or French.
- Set up direct deposit and a CRA My Account so you can track payments.
- File a tax return every spring. See your first tax return and do I need to file?.
Some newborn registration forms in hospitals let you apply for the CCB at the same time as registering the birth. Ask at the hospital.
Other federal benefits
- Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). For people with no private dental insurance and adjusted family net income under $90,000. You must have filed a Canadian tax return for the previous year, so most newcomers qualify only after their first tax return.
- Canada Workers Benefit. A refundable tax credit for low-income workers, claimed on your tax return.
- Canada Disability Benefit and the Disability Tax Credit. For people with a severe disability. Apply through Service Canada and the CRA.
- Employment Insurance (EI). If you lose your job. See Job Bank and employment programs.
- Old Age Security (OAS). Most people need at least 10 years of residence in Canada after age 18. Some countries have social security agreements with Canada that can help.
Provincial and territorial benefits
Most provinces have child benefits and tax credits. Many are paid together with the CCB or the CGEB, so you do not apply separately. Examples:
- Ontario: Ontario Child Benefit and Ontario Trillium Benefit
- British Columbia: BC Family Benefit
- Alberta: Alberta Child and Family Benefit
- Quebec: Family allowance (paid by Retraite Québec, not the CRA) and the solidarity tax credit, claimed on the Quebec tax return
See the full list on the CRA provincial and territorial programs page. Provinces also run social assistance (for example Ontario Works or BC income assistance) for people with very low income. A settlement worker can help you check if you qualify.
When are benefits paid?
Once you are approved, payments arrive by direct deposit:
- Canada Child Benefit: every month, usually around the 20th.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: four times a year, usually in early July, October, January and April.
- Provincial benefits: often paid with the CCB or the CGEB, but some have their own dates.
Your first payment can take a few months after you apply. When it arrives, it usually includes the months you were owed since you became eligible. Check the payment dates in your CRA My Account.
Will benefits affect my immigration status?
Tax benefits like the CCB and CGEB do not affect permanent residence or citizenship. They are rights you earn by living here and filing taxes.
One important exception: if you were sponsored by a family member and you receive provincial social assistance during the sponsorship period, your sponsor may have to repay it. This does not apply to the CCB or the CGEB. If you are a sponsored person, ask a settlement worker or legal clinic before applying for social assistance.
Only claim benefits you qualify for. If the CRA overpays you, you will have to pay it back.