How Refugee Families Can Apply for the Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families raising children under 18. The amount depends mainly on family income, the number of children, and their ages. For a newly arrived refugee family, the application process can involve immigration documents, tax information, and proof that the children live with the applicant.
Eligibility depends on the family’s legal status in Canada and residence history. A protected person may qualify once the other requirements are met. A refugee claimant or another temporary resident may need to meet a specific residence period before receiving the benefit.
Check Your Eligibility Before Applying
To receive the CCB, an applicant generally must live with a child under 18, be primarily responsible for that child’s care and upbringing, and be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. The person applying should also have an eligible immigration status.
Eligible statuses can include Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, and protected-person status. A temporary resident, which may include some refugee claimants, generally must have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month. Immigration documents should be checked carefully because a work permit, visitor record, refugee claimant document, or other permit may have different effects.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) normally pays the CCB to the parent or guardian who is primarily responsible for the children. If parents live together, either parent may apply, although the CRA may assess which person has primary responsibility.
Gather Documents For The Application
The main application is Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application. Families may also need Form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information, especially when the applicant or spouse is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or when the family has recently arrived.
Useful documents can include:
- Immigration papers showing the applicant’s status and entry date
- Social Insurance Numbers, where available
- Birth certificates, hospital records, passports, or other proof of each child’s identity
- Custody, guardianship, or care documents when applicable
- A marriage or common-law partnership date
- Direct-deposit banking information
- Income details from Canada and any foreign income
Documents that are not in English or French may require an acceptable translation. Families should keep copies of everything submitted. If a child was born in Canada, provincial birth registration may sometimes trigger an automatic benefit application, but refugee families should not rely on that process unless they receive confirmation.
Complete The CRA Forms Carefully
RC66 asks for information about the applicant, spouse or partner, children, living arrangements, and immigration status. The form should list every child living with the family, including the date each child began living in Canada. If the parents share custody, that arrangement should be described accurately because it can affect payment eligibility.
RC66SCH requests information about status in Canada and income. Newcomers may need to report income earned outside Canada before arriving, even if that income was not taxable in Canada. The CRA uses worldwide family income to calculate the CCB, so incomplete income information can lead to delays, overpayments, or a later reassessment.
A Social Insurance Number is helpful for tax and benefit administration. If an applicant or child does not yet have one, the family should ask Service Canada about eligibility and provide the identifiers requested by the CRA. Immigration documents should use the same names and dates shown on the forms wherever possible.
Submit The Application And Track It
Families can apply through the CRA’s online services when they have access to a CRA account and the required identification. Those who cannot apply online can complete RC66 and RC66SCH and mail them to the CRA address shown in the form instructions. Community settlement agencies, tax clinics, and refugee-support organizations may help applicants understand the forms, but the information should be reviewed before submission.
The CRA may contact the family for more evidence. A request can involve proof of residence, immigration status, a child’s identity, custody arrangements, or income. Responding by the stated deadline helps prevent the application from being closed or delayed.
CCB payments are generally issued monthly. The benefit year runs from July to June, and the amount is recalculated using the family’s adjusted net income from the previous tax year. The first payment may take time while the CRA verifies the application and documents.
| Family situation | Key issue to review | Possible supporting evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Protected person with children | Legal status and primary responsibility | Protected-person documentation, child identity records |
| Refugee claimant | Residence period and valid permit requirements | Refugee claimant document, permits, entry records |
| Recently arrived family | Worldwide income before and after arrival | Foreign income records, tax information, dates of arrival |
| Shared custody arrangement | Whether each parent cares for the child about equally | Custody agreement, court order, care schedule |
| Child living with a guardian | Legal responsibility and household residence | Guardianship or care documents |
Keep The Benefit Information Up To Date
The CRA should be told promptly about changes that may affect entitlement. These include a new address, a change in marital or common-law status, a child moving into or out of the home, changes in custody, immigration-status updates, and changes to direct-deposit details.
Every adult in the family may need to file a Canadian income tax return each year, even when income is low or zero. Filing allows the CRA to recalculate the CCB for the next benefit year. A spouse or partner’s return may also be required because the CRA assesses family income.
Families managing several programs should keep their records together. Information about CPP when moving abroad can be useful for households that include relatives receiving pensions outside Canada, while CCB eligibility itself is based on the child’s household and the family’s Canadian tax situation.
Practical Steps For A Smoother Claim
- Confirm the applicant’s immigration category and residence history before sending the forms.
- Collect identity, custody, immigration, and income documents for every family member.
- Report worldwide income and arrival dates accurately, even when foreign income was not taxed in Canada.
- Apply for or confirm Social Insurance Numbers and keep CRA correspondence in one folder.
- File annual tax returns and report household or custody changes as soon as they occur.
A refugee family that is unsure about disability-related supports may also review this disability tax credit guide, since the Disability Tax Credit is separate from the CCB and has its own certification requirements.
Start by checking the family’s immigration status, gathering the children’s identity records, and completing the CRA forms with consistent information. Submit the application through the available CRA channel, respond quickly to document requests, and keep filing tax returns so eligible payments can continue.