Life changes and the Canada Child Benefit

The CCB is calculated from your life as the CRA understands it. When life changes and the CRA does not hear about it, the usual result is an overpayment notice months later. Report changes promptly through CRA My Account.

Changes that trigger a recalculation

• Marital status: marriage, separation, divorce, or a new common-law union. On a new union there is one payment on the new AFNI — see the how to apply page for the repayment rule on separate payments.
• Number of eligible children: a birth, a child turning 18, or a child leaving your care.
• Moving: a new address, and a move between provinces (provincial programs differ — see provincial benefits).
• Custody: any change in where the child lives, especially across the 40% shared-custody line.
• Death of a child: eligibility continues for 6 months after the child's death if you are otherwise eligible, including for the CDB and listed provincial programs.

CRA reviews and questionnaires

The CRA reviews claims and may send questionnaires asking you to confirm the child lives with you and that you are primarily responsible for their care. If you do not answer, payments can stop. A review letter is not an accusation — but ignoring it is treated as a reason to pause payment until the file is confirmed.

Sources

CRA publication T4114(E) Rev. 26, "When your benefit is recalculated" and related sections: canada.ca — T4114.