Apply for CCB through CRA; BC Family Benefit automatic
Moved to BC
Update address with CRA; reassessment automatic
New immigrant
Apply for CCB; BC benefit assessed automatically
Custody change
Notify CRA of change in living arrangements
You do not apply directly to BC for this benefit — it’s administered through the federal CCB system.
Combined Benefits Example
Benefit
2 Children (Under 6)
Annual Total
Canada Child Benefit
$7,787 × 2
$15,574
BC Family Benefit
$1,750 × 2
$3,500
Total
—
$19,074
Maximum amounts at lowest income threshold.
Payment Schedule
Payment Month
For Benefit Year
July 20
First payment of new benefit year
August 20 - June 20
Monthly payments
Payments are combined with the Canada Child Benefit in a single deposit.
Other BC Family Benefits
Benefit
What It Provides
BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit
Replaced by BC Family Benefit (2020)
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
Reduced daycare fees
BC Training and Education Savings Grant
$1,200 RESP grant for BC children
BC Autism Funding
Support for children with autism
BC Training and Education Savings Grant
Feature
Details
Amount
$1,200 one-time
Eligibility
BC resident children born 2006 or later
Deadline
Must apply before child turns 9
Where
Deposited into child’s RESP
BC Family Benefit and the 2023 enhanced supplement
The BC government introduced a temporary Enhanced BC Family Benefit in early 2023, paying triple the normal benefit amount for three months to help families with the rising cost of living. While that specific enhancement has ended, BC has periodically adjusted the BCFB upward — always tied to July benefit year renewals.
For the current benefit year (July 2025 – June 2026), the flat $1,750 per child rate applies, with no age-based distinction. Unlike the federal CCB (which pays more for children under 6), the BCFB uses a single rate for all children under 18.
How BCFB integrates with the CCB
The BC Family Benefit is administered by CRA alongside the federal Canada Child Benefit. You do not apply separately — once you are registered for the CCB, you are automatically assessed for BCFB.
Key integration points:
Same payment date: BCFB arrives in the same deposit as the CCB on the 20th of each month
Same income test: both use your combined family net income from the previous tax return
Same requirement: both require annual tax filing by both parents
One place to update: address and banking changes at CRA update both programs simultaneously
If you receive one but not the other unexpectedly (for example, CCB but no BCFB), verify your BC residency is correctly recorded in My CRA Account — CRA uses your province of residence from your tax return.
When to expect the first BCFB payment
Scenario
First BCFB payment
New baby registered at birth
Within 4–8 weeks of provincial birth registration (if CCB registration box checked)
Applied via My CRA Account
Usually 8 weeks after application
Applied via RC66 (mail)
Usually 11 weeks after application
New resident to BC mid-year
Starting from the next month after updating province in My CRA Account
Supplement for children with disabilities
BC offers a modest additional supplement within the BCFB structure for families with children who have significant disabilities:
Supplement
Details
Child Disability Benefit (federal)
Up to ~$3,173/year per eligible child (federal, paid with CCB)
BC supplement for disability
Varies — confirm with CRA as eligibility mirrors federal Child Disability Benefit
The federal Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is the more significant payment for families with disabled children — administered by CRA and paid monthly with the CCB and BCFB. To access both the CDB and any BC supplement, ensure the child has an approved Disability Tax Credit Certificate (T2201) on file with CRA.