Canada Revenue Agency · Verified July 2026
Canada child benefit payment dates 2026
A tax-free monthly payment to help with the cost of raising children under 18. The amount depends on your family net income, how many children you have, and their ages — so it changes each July when the CRA recalculates from your latest tax return.
All 2026 Canada child benefit payment dates
Every date the Canada Revenue Agency has published for 2026. Payments land on the date shown by direct deposit; a mailed cheque takes a few days longer.
| Month | Day | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| January | Tuesday | |
| February | Friday | |
| March | Friday | |
| April | Monday | |
| May | Wednesday | |
| June | Friday | |
| July | Monday | |
| August | Thursday | |
| September | Friday | |
| October | Tuesday | |
| November | Friday | |
| December | Friday |
Related provincial and territorial child benefits are usually combined into this same payment, so one deposit can cover several programs.
If your Canada child benefit payment doesn’t arrive
Wait 5 business days from the payment date before getting in touch with the Canada Revenue Agency about a missing payment. Weekends and statutory holidays don’t count toward that.
Before you call, check your online account — the payment status is usually shown there, along with the address and bank details on file. An out-of-date direct deposit account is the most common reason a payment goes missing.
If the payment stopped altogether rather than arriving late, an unfiled tax return is the usual cause. Entitlement is recalculated from your latest return, so a missed filing pauses payments until you catch up.
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Other 2026 payment dates
Common questions about the Canada child benefit
When is the Canada child benefit paid in 2026?
12 Canada child benefit payments are issued in 2026, starting Tuesday, January 20, 2026 and ending Friday, December 11, 2026. The full list is: January 20, February 20, March 20, April 20, May 20, June 19, July 20, August 20, September 18, October 20, November 20, December 11.
Who gets the Canada child benefit?
Parents and guardians of children under 18. A tax-free monthly payment to help with the cost of raising children under 18. The amount depends on your family net income, how many children you have, and their ages — so it changes each July when the CRA recalculates from your latest tax return.
My Canada child benefit payment is late — what should I do?
Wait 5 business days from the payment date before contacting the Canada Revenue Agency. Direct deposit normally arrives on the date itself; a mailed cheque takes longer. Checking your online account is usually faster than calling.
Sources
- Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — the official 2026 schedule these dates are copied from.
- Canada child benefit — eligibility, amounts, and how to apply.
Last checked in July 2026. Nothing on this page is estimated: if a date isn’t on the official calendar, it isn’t here. canada.ca is the authority if the government amends a date. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
Looking for a different benefit? See every 2026 benefit payment date.