May 2025 Canada child tax benefit payment date is coming soon. Here’s how to avoid potential delays if Canada Post workers go on strike

The May Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments are set to come out soon.

The CCB is a tax-free child benefit monthly payment, sometimes referred to as the baby bonus or child tax, meant to help eligible families with the costs of raising children under the age of 18.

To continue getting the Canada Child Benefit, you need to file your taxes.

Will the potential Canada Post strike impact my payment?

In a May 13 statement, Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu said the Crown corporation has informed CUPW that a temporary pause in discussions is necessary after several days of discussions without meaningful progress.

“We are aware of possible job action at Canada Post,” the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) said on their benefit webpage, which will be updated to share any impact to benefit and credit payments as soon as more details are available.

A May 22 deadline looms for a possible resumption of the Canada Post strike.

The CRA says you can sign up to receive payments by direct deposit that are sent straight to your bank account.

Trending

Canada Post and DHL Express employees could both go on strike soon — here’s what to know about key dates

• Mike Pearson

Child tax benefit payments for May 2025

CCB payments arrive on Tuesday, May 20.

Among other things, the CCB is based on the number of children, marital status and income.

The CCB is recalculated every July based on a family’s adjusted net income for the previous year, with families with an adjusted net income under $36,502 eligible for the maximum amount for each child.

Other payments that come out in May include the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB), Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and the Veteran Disability Pension. 

How much is the Canada Child Benefit?

• The base amount for each child under the age of six is $7,787 per year.
• For children between six and 17, the amount is $6,570 per child.
• You can receive an additional $3,173 per year if your child qualifies for the child disability benefit.

Calculate what you will receive by using the government’s child and family benefits calculator.

Canada Child Benefit dates for 2025

• Jan. 20
• Feb. 20
• March 20
• April 17
• May 20
• June 20
• July 18
• Aug. 20
• Sept. 19
• Oct. 20
• Nov. 20
• Dec. 12

When to apply

You should apply for the CCB as soon as any of the following situations apply.

• Your child is born (birth registration).
• A child starts to live with you or returns to live with you after a temporary period of living with someone else.
• You begin, end or change a shared-custody arrangement.
• You get custody of a child.
• You, your spouse or common-law partner meet the eligibility conditions.

How to apply

You can apply for the CCB when you register the birth of your newborn.

If you didn’t apply for the CCB when you registered your child’s birth, you can register and apply online using My Account on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Fill out and sign what’s called a Form RC66, Canada Child Benefit application, and mail it to your tax centre.

Who is eligible?

To get the CCB, you must meet certain conditions including: living with the child, the child must be under 18 years of age, and you must be the person primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child.

See the full eligibility requirements to find out if you’re eligible for the benefit.

You cannot get the CCB for a foster child for any month in which children’s special allowances (CSA) are payable.

You may get the CCB if you live with and care for a child under a kinship or close relationship program from the governments of Canada, a province, a territory or an Indigenous governing body, as long as CSA are not payable for that child.

For more information, check out the details on children’s special allowances.

Ways to sign up

Online — My Account portal

If you are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Account, you can manage your tax affairs online, which includes signing up for direct deposit or changing your account information.

You can also see if you have any uncashed cheques that are older than six months.

Mobile application

To start or update direct deposit information, use MyCRA.

By phone

To sign up for direct deposit or to change your account information, call CRA at 1-800-959-8281. You will need the following information:

• social insurance number
• name and current address, including postal code
• date of birth
• most recent income tax and benefit return, and information about the most recent payments you received from the CRA
• banking information: three-digit financial institution number, five-digit transit number and your account number

Through your financial institution

This includes banks, credit unions and trust companies.

Once you provide consent, your CRA direct deposit information will be updated the following business day. Check your financial institution’s website for information on how to sign up.

What if I don’t receive my payment?

If you do not receive your payment by May 27, can check its status using My Account. The CRA says they can’t provide any other information about these payments before May 27.

If you receive the CCB and have a Canadian bank account, you can sign up for direct deposit rather than waiting for the cheque to be mailed.