Canada Child Benefit Estimator (2026–27)
Estimate your monthly Canada Child Benefit, see how income may reduce it, and understand what to verify before you build a family budget around the payment.
See the CCB formula, 2026–27 constants and model boundaries
Federal calculation sequence
Annual maximum = children under 6 × $8,157 + children aged 6–17 × $6,883. The calculator then subtracts the CRA income reduction for the selected child count. A shared-custody selection applies 50% to the federal estimate for all children entered.
Monthly planning amount = annual estimate ÷ 12. Values are calculated with full precision and displayed to the nearest dollar. When the monthly amount is below $20, the result is presented as an annual lump-sum check.
Constants and model identity
Model: NH-CCB-2026.07. Benefit period: July 2026 to June 2027. Base year: 2025 AFNI. AFNI thresholds: $38,237 and $82,847. Source review: July 22, 2026.
Included in the estimate
Federal CCB maximums by age group, the official one/two/three/four-plus-child reduction bands, shared-custody 50% planning treatment, an income-change scenario, the age-6 transition and budget-gap coverage.
CRA still decides
Eligibility, mixed custody arrangements, exact payment timing, retroactive changes, Child Disability Benefit, provincial or territorial programs, tax-filing status and the official benefit notice are outside this dollar estimate.
Build the family profile CRA uses
Enter 2025 adjusted family net income, child age groups and any custody flag that can change the 2026–27 federal estimate.
Values on this page are set for the July 2026 to June 2027 Canada Child Benefit period: $8,157/year per child under 6, $6,883/year per child aged 6 to 17, with AFNI thresholds at $38,237 and $82,847.
CCB is income-tested, so a higher AFNI can reduce the payment even when family costs rise.
A child turning 6 can lower the maximum layer before income reduction is applied.
Use CRA My Account for the official payment schedule, custody details, and eligibility status.
Worked example: where the $840 monthly estimate comes from
This crawlable calculation trail uses the same 2026–27 constants and reduction branch as the live calculator: $75,000 AFNI, one child under 6, one child aged 6–17 and no shared-custody adjustment.
| Component | Amount | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Under-6 maximum | $8,157 | One eligible child uses the higher 2026–27 annual maximum. |
| Age 6–17 maximum | $6,883 | One eligible child uses the older-child annual maximum. |
| Maximum before income reduction | $15,040 | Both age-group maximums are added before AFNI is tested. |
| AFNI reduction | −$4,963 | Two-child first-band rate: ($75,000 − $38,237) × 13.5%. |
| Estimated federal CCB | $10,077/year | About $839.75 per month, displayed as $840. |
Boundary to remember: if one younger child moves into the 6–17 band, this example falls by about $1,274 per year before any future income change. Example only — CRA determines the official payment.
Where your estimated CCB comes from
This table separates family inputs, maximum support, income reduction, estimated benefit, and CRA verification points.
| Component | Amount | Note |
|---|
See when income and age change CCB
These charts explain why the estimate changes – not just what the final number is.
BenefitFlow™ Income Reduction Curve
Shows how the estimated CCB changes as adjusted family net income rises.
After Calculate, your AFNI position will be marked so you can see whether income is the main pressure point.
Child Age Mix Impact
Compares the maximum support layer created by younger children versus children aged 6 to 17.
The chart will highlight the difference between the under-6 and 6-17 federal maximum layers.
Income Change Scenario
Compares the current estimate with the estimate after your entered income change.
Use this to plan around a possible monthly increase or decrease in the next benefit year.
Stress-test next year’s CCB
Compare the current estimate with a next-year income scenario and a child age-transition warning.
Based on your current adjusted family net income and child age mix.
Shows how your monthly estimate may change if income rises or falls.
Planning difference between the current estimate and the income-change scenario.
Approximate maximum-layer difference if one child moves from under 6 to the 6-17 group.
Turn AFNI and child ages into a usable CCB estimate
Start with adjusted family net income, not gross pay. CRA begins AFNI with line 23600 for you and your spouse or common-law partner, when applicable, then adjusts for specified UCCB and RDSP amounts. A household earning $75,000 gross may therefore have a different AFNI.
Then enter children by age group. The under-6 layer matters because the federal maximum is higher before the child turns 6. A family with one toddler and one school-age child will not have the same maximum layer as a family with two school-age children, even if income is identical.
Use the income-change field for practical planning. A raise, second income, parental-leave change, RRSP deduction, or job loss can change the next benefit year after the relevant tax return is assessed. The scenario does not replace CRA, but it helps you avoid building a family budget around a payment that may move.
Estimate the monthly amount. Compare it with rent, groceries, childcare, and the budget gap you entered.
Check what drove the result. The federal formula is driven by AFNI, eligible child count and the two child-age bands.
Verify before depending on it. CRA My Account is the source for official payment dates, shared custody, disability benefit, and eligibility details.
Decide how much CCB is safe to place in the monthly budget
The monthly number is best treated as a family support layer, not as guaranteed income. A strong estimate can help cover groceries, school costs, diapers, clothing, or part of childcare. A reduced estimate tells you income is already eating into the maximum amount.
The most useful question is not only “how much will I get?” It is whether the payment is large enough to change your monthly cash-flow decision. If the estimate covers most of your budget gap, the benefit may reduce pressure. If it covers only a small share, you still need a separate plan.
Why income changes can change payments
CCB is income-tested. Once adjusted family net income passes the first reduction threshold, the benefit starts to phase down. The rate of reduction depends on the number of children and whether income passes the higher threshold.
A raise can still be good for the household, but the cash-flow gain may be smaller than the raise looks on paper if after-tax income rises while CCB falls. That is why comparing CCB with the Salary After Tax Calculator Canada is often useful.
Set a safe monthly CCB budget
Use the CCB estimate as one layer in your family budget. It should support the plan, not carry the entire plan.
If the estimate covers a large part of your budget gap, assign it to stable needs first: groceries, childcare, school costs, or emergency savings.
If income is reducing the amount, test a next-year scenario before increasing fixed commitments like car payments or rent.
If custody, disability, marital status, or province add-ons apply, treat this result as a starting point and verify with CRA directly.
Three CCB changes families can miss
One toddler, one school-age child, middle income
At $75,000 AFNI, one child under 6 and one aged 6–17 produce the verified worked example of about $840 per month. Income has already removed about $4,963 per year, so an income-change scenario matters before adding a fixed expense.
Child turns 6 during the benefit year
The maximum support layer drops when a child moves from the under-6 category to the 6-17 category. Families often miss this because the change feels like a birthday detail, but it can matter for annual planning.
Shared custody or disability details
A basic estimate can be misleading if shared custody or child disability benefit applies. In that case, the decision is not “spend the estimate”; it is “use this as a rough planning number, then confirm the official CRA amount.”
CCB inputs that overstate or understate the result
- Using gross income instead of AFNI. Gross salary can make the estimate look too low or too high because CCB is tied to adjusted family net income.
- Ignoring the second parent’s income. For couples, family income matters. Looking only at one paycheque can overstate the expected benefit.
- Forgetting age groups. A child under 6 and a child aged 6-17 do not create the same maximum federal layer.
- Treating the estimate as official. CRA eligibility, filing status, custody, disability, and province programs can change the final payment.
- Building fixed expenses around a temporary amount. A benefit can change after tax filing, separation, a raise, or a child aging into the next bracket.
How the 2026–27 federal CCB estimate is calculated
The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families with children under 18. The estimate starts with the federal maximum amount for each child age group, then applies an income-based reduction using adjusted family net income.
For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit period, this page uses updateable CRA-based constants in the JavaScript: $8,157 per year for each child under 6, $6,883 per year for each child aged 6 to 17, a first AFNI threshold of $38,237, and a second threshold of $82,847. The formula first builds the maximum annual support layer, then subtracts the estimated reduction based on AFNI and number of children.
2026–27 federal CCB calculation sequence
Estimated annual CCB = maximum support by child age group – estimated income reduction
Estimated monthly CCB = estimated annual CCB / 12
Example: if a family has one child under 6 and one child aged 6 to 17, the calculator adds both maximum layers before income reduction. If adjusted family net income is above the first threshold, the estimate is reduced. If income is above the second threshold, the higher-income reduction layer also applies.
Shared custody, child disability benefit, and provincial or territorial add-ons can affect official payments. This page flags those situations clearly because a clean planning estimate is better than pretending to know CRA-specific details that may depend on eligibility, documentation, or the family file.
What this CCB model includes — and what CRA still decides
Federal CCB maximums by child age group for July 2026 to June 2027, adjusted family net income, income reduction bands, shared-custody planning adjustment, income-change scenario, annual lump-sum warning, and age-transition warning.
Official CRA eligibility, exact payment schedule, child disability benefit approval, province or territory benefit formulas, retroactive changes, custody disputes, and tax filing issues.
Monthly family budget planning, income-change stress testing, and understanding why the payment may be reduced.
This page is updated for the July 2026 to June 2027 CCB period, but CRA My Account should still be used for the official payment amount, benefit notice, marital status, custody rules, disability benefit details, and provincial or territorial programs. You can also compare this planning estimate with the official CRA child and family benefits calculator.
The three inputs that determine federal CCB
Federal CCB is calculated from adjusted family net income, the number of eligible children, and whether each child is under 6 or aged 6 to 17. Province or territory can matter for related programs, but this page keeps those amounts outside the federal dollar estimate.
Families often search for “how much CCB for one child” or “how much CCB for two children,” but the answer changes quickly once income is included. Two families with the same number of children can receive very different monthly payments if one household has much higher adjusted family net income.
The most practical way to read the result is to compare the monthly estimate with your actual budget. If the estimate is close to your childcare bill or grocery gap, it may be meaningful support. If it is small compared with the gap, the family budget still needs a stronger plan. You can compare after-tax income with the Salary After Tax Calculator Canada or check savings resilience with the Emergency Fund Planner Canada.
CCB after a raise, second income, or lower income year
A higher income does not mean the family is worse off, but it can reduce CCB. That is why a raise should be viewed through two lenses: after-tax pay and benefit change. A household may still come out ahead, but the monthly improvement may be smaller than the gross raise suggests.
The opposite can happen during parental leave, job loss, reduced hours, or a lower-income year. The next benefit year may show a higher CCB estimate, but families should avoid assuming the change immediately. CRA recalculates CCB each July from the previous year’s AFNI and can recalculate when family information changes.
If your income change is connected to overtime, the Overtime Tax Impact Calculator Canada can help estimate the paycheque side of the decision. If RRSP deductions may change taxable or net-income planning, compare with the RRSP Tax Refund Calculator Canada.
Questions that can change your official CCB payment
Practical answers for families using CCB as part of monthly cash-flow planning.
No. It is a planning estimate built around the federal CCB calculation structure and updated for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit period. CRA decides official eligibility, payment amounts, shared custody treatment, disability benefit details, provincial or territorial programs, and benefit notices.
Use adjusted family net income. CRA starts with your line 23600 family net income plus your spouse or common-law partner’s line 23600 amount when applicable, subtracts specified UCCB and RDSP income, and adds specified repayments. Gross salary is not AFNI.
CCB is income-tested. After adjusted family net income passes the reduction threshold, the benefit starts to phase down. The reduction rate depends on income level and number of eligible children.
Yes. The federal maximum amount is higher for children under 6 than for children aged 6 to 17. When a child moves into the older age group, the maximum layer can be lower before income reduction is applied.
Shared custody can change official payment treatment. This calculator uses a cautious 50% planning view when shared custody is selected, but CRA should be checked for the official family-file result.
The main result focuses on the federal CCB estimate. Province and territory programs are handled as notes unless they can be modeled safely. This avoids showing a precise-looking number that may not apply to every family.
Yes. CCB is commonly recalculated using tax information for the relevant benefit year. Changes in income, marital status, custody, eligibility, and CRA records can change future payments.