Two payments, two schedules, one tax return that controls both.
The short answer: the Canada Child Benefit is paid monthly by the federal government, with a maximum of $8,157 per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17 for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year. The Alberta Child and Family Benefit arrives quarterly in August, November, February and May, worth up to $1,529 a year for one child in the base component plus up to $782 in the working component. You do not need to apply separately for the ACFB; the CRA automatically assesses eligible families. To continue receiving the CCB and related provincial benefits, you and your spouse or common-law partner must file a tax return every year, even if one of you had no income.
Here is what an Alberta family actually receives, and how it interacts with child care costs.
What an Alberta Family Actually Receives: CCB Plus ACFB Combined
Rough picture for a two-child family with children under six, on a lower- to middle-income:
| Benefit | Frequency | Maximum for 1 child | Maximum for 2 children |
| Canada Child Benefit, under 6 | Monthly | $8,157 a year | $16,314 a year |
| ACFB base component | Quarterly | $1,529 a year | $2,293 a year |
| ACFB working component | Quarterly | $782 a year | $1,494 a year |
Those are maximums. Your actual amount depends on factors including adjusted family net income, the number and ages of eligible children, and the specific rules for each benefit. The CCB and ACFB are tax-free benefits. The CCB for July 2026 to June 2027 is calculated using your 2025 adjusted family net income, which is why a change in income in one year can affect your payments in the following benefit year.
Canada Child Benefit: Amounts, Income Thresholds and Payment Dates
For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, the maximums are:
| Child’s age | Maximum per year | Maximum per month |
| Under 6 | $8,157 | $679.75 |
| 6 to 17 | $6,883 | $573.58 |
Reduction starts once adjusted family net income passes $38,237. Below that, eligible families receive the full amount.
| Number of children | Reduction between $38,237 and $82,847 | Above $82,847 |
| 1 | 7 percent | $3,123 plus 3.2 percent |
| 2 | 13.5 percent | $6,022 plus 5.7 percent |
| 3 | 19 percent | $8,476 plus 8 percent |
| 4 or more | 23 percent | $10,260 plus 9.5 percent |
The exact calculation depends on the number of eligible children and your adjusted family net income. For example, with two eligible children, the reduction between $38,237 and $82,847 is 13.5 percent of the income above $38,237. Above $82,847, the calculation uses a fixed reduction plus an additional percentage of income above that threshold.
CCB is paid monthly. If your annual entitlement is very small, the CRA may combine payments and issue them less frequently.
Our two main childcare services include flexible drop in daycare and dependable Regular hours daycare in Calgary for busy families.
Alberta Child and Family Benefit: Base and Working Components Explained
The ACFB has two parts, and understanding the difference helps explain why some families see their payments change when their employment income changes.
The base component goes to lower-income families with children under 18, regardless of whether anyone is employed. Maximums for July 2026 to June 2027:
| Number of children | Base component |
| 1 | $1,529 |
| 2 | $2,293 |
| 3 | $3,057 |
| 4 or more | $3,821 |
The working component is linked to family employment income. It begins to phase in once family employment income exceeds $2,760.
| Number of children | Working component |
| 1 | $782 |
| 2 | $1,494 |
| 3 | $1,920 |
| 4 or more | $2,061 |
The base component begins to decrease once family net income exceeds $28,116. The working component and combined benefit have additional income thresholds, with benefit amounts reduced once family net income exceeds $47,115.
The practical effect is that a family moving into employment income may see its working component increase while other parts of the ACFB change. The actual result depends on family income and circumstances, so use Alberta’s current child and family benefits calculator for an estimate.
ACFB Payment Dates and How the Quarterly Schedule Works
The ACFB is paid four times a year, in August, November, February and May. It arrives separately from your CCB, although both are administered through the CRA.
If your quarterly entitlement is under $10, the CRA may combine payments and pay you less frequently.
Two practical notes. Budget for four larger payments rather than twelve smaller ones, because an ACFB payment in August can be useful for back-to-school expenses but may not arrive in time to cover October costs. If a payment does not arrive when expected, check your CRA account and payment information before contacting the CRA.
Do You Need to Apply? How the CRA Calculates and Pays Automatically
Mostly, no.
For the CCB, you must apply if you are not already receiving it. Depending on your circumstances, you can apply through Alberta’s birth registration, CRA My Account, or form RC66. Once you have applied, your eligibility is reassessed each year based on your tax information.
For the ACFB, there is no separate application. Eligible Alberta families are assessed automatically through the tax system.
What you must do, every year: file a tax return. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they must also file, even if one of you had no income. This allows the CRA to calculate and continue the CCB and related provincial benefits.
Why Filing Taxes Every Year Is What Keeps the Money Coming
The CRA recalculates your benefits using the tax information for the relevant base year. For the July 2026 to June 2027 CCB period, for example, the calculation uses your 2025 adjusted family net income.
The pattern that catches families out:
- One partner has no income and thinks there is nothing to file
2. One or both returns are not filed
3. Payments continue temporarily based on the previous assessment
4. The next benefit-year calculation cannot be completed correctly
5. Payments may stop, change or be delayed until the CRA receives the required information
Fixing it starts with filing the missing returns and responding to any CRA requests. The CRA can then reassess your benefits based on the updated information. The timing and amount of any retroactive payment depend on your circumstances and the applicable benefit rules, so do not assume that every missed payment will automatically be restored for a particular number of years.
File both returns on time every year, even if income was zero. It is one of the simplest ways to avoid an interruption in benefits.
We offer daycare programs in Calgary for different age groups, including:
Beyond Benefits: $15 a Day Fees and the Affordability Grant
Benefits are only half the picture. The other half is what you pay out.
Since April 2025, Alberta has used a flat parent fee structure for eligible licensed childcare programs that receive affordability funding. For eligible daycare and family day home programs serving children up to kindergarten age, the current parent fees are:
| Care level | Hours per month | Monthly fee per child |
| Full time | 100 or more | $326.25 |
| Part time | 50 to 99 | $230 |
This applies when the program receives affordability funding, and the child and attendance meet the current eligibility requirements. Not every childcare program automatically receives affordability funding, so always ask whether a program has an Affordability Grant agreement in place.
Optional extras, such as meals, transportation, field trips, specialized classes, supplies, and extended or overnight care, can be charged in addition to the parent fee when they meet Alberta’s rules. Participation must be voluntary.
Out-of-school care is not eligible for affordability funding under the federal-provincial agreement. However, eligible families with children in full-time kindergarten through Grade 6 may qualify for the separate Child Care Subsidy Program.
The Child Care Subsidy: Income Bands and How to Apply
The Child Care Subsidy is a separate program from the affordability funding and has its own eligibility rules.
For example, families with children in full-time kindergarten through Grade 6 who attend a licensed program outside regular school hours may be eligible if household gross income is under $90,000 and the other eligibility requirements are met. Subsidy rates depend on factors including family income, the child’s grade, the type of childcare program and the number of hours attended.
This is important when budgeting for childcare: do not assume that the standard subsidy reduces the monthly fee for a toddler or preschool-age child simply because the family receives the CCB or ACFB. Different funding rules cover different childcare programs and age groups.
How to apply. Apply through the Alberta Childcare Family Portal using an Alberta.ca Account. You will provide the required information and consent for the relevant income verification. Questions can be directed to the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1 877 644 9992.
Apply as soon as you know you need eligible subsidized care. Check Alberta’s current eligibility rules and application guidance before assuming that a particular childcare arrangement qualifies.
A Worked Example: What Child Care Really Costs After Everything
Take a Calgary family with two children, one aged two in full-time licensed daycare and one aged seven in after-school care.
The two children may fall under different childcare funding rules, so it is important not to treat the family as if one subsidy automatically applies to both.
| Line | Amount per month |
| Daycare, full time, affordability agreement in place | $326.25 |
| After-school care | Varies by operator |
| Child care subsidy for the school-age child, if eligible | Depends on family income, hours and program |
| CCB | Depends on both children’s ages and family income |
| ACFB | Depends on family income and number of children; paid quarterly |
For this example, the two-year-old’s full-time daycare fee can be $326.25 per month if the program receives affordability funding and the child meets the current eligibility requirements. The seven-year-old’s after-school care does not receive the same affordability funding. Still, the family may qualify for the separate Child Care Subsidy Program if the child, program, hours and household income meet the requirements.
The CCB and ACFB are separate household benefits. Their actual amounts depend on the family’s income and circumstances, so using the maximum figures in this example would overstate what many families actually receive.
The best approach is to calculate the childcare fee, applicable funding, and household benefits separately, then review the combined monthly and annual picture.
Want help understanding your childcare cost? Give us your children’s ages, the days you need and your rough household income, and Clever Daycare can explain the childcare fees that apply at our programs, the affordability funding we participate in, and which Alberta resources you can use to check whether you may qualify for additional support. Government agencies determine final eligibility and benefit amounts.
When Income, Custody or Family Size Changes
Tell the CRA promptly. These changes can affect your benefits.
- A new baby. Register the birth and consent to share information with the CRA, or apply through CRA My Account or the appropriate application form.
- A change in marital status. Report it to the CRA within the required timeframe. If you are separated, special rules apply, including a 90-day separation period before you can report the change.
- A custody change. Shared custody can affect how the CCB is divided between parents. If both parents are eligible and the child lives with each parent on an approximately equal basis, each parent may receive 50% of the amount they would have received if they had full custody.
- A move out of Alberta. Your eligibility for the ACFB may change because it is an Alberta provincial benefit. The CCB has separate federal eligibility and residency rules.
- A big income change. Benefits are generally calculated using the previous tax year’s information for the current benefit year, so a major income change may not immediately change your CCB payment.
- A child turning 18. The CCB generally ends with the payment for the month the child turns 18.
Common Reasons a Payment Stops or Drops
| Reason | What to do |
| A tax return was not filed by you or your partner | File both, as soon as possible |
| Your income rose last year | Check your latest benefit calculation |
| Marital status changed and was not reported | Report it to the CRA |
| The CRA asked for documents and got no reply | Check CRA My Account and your mail |
| A child turned 6 or 18 | Check the applicable age-based benefit amount |
| You moved out of Alberta | Check your eligibility for provincial benefits |
| An overpayment is being recovered | Review the CRA notice and payment adjustment |
| Direct deposit details changed | Update them in CRA My Account |
Set up CRA My Account if you do not have it. It can show your benefit information, payment dates, notices and other details that can help explain why a payment changed.
We currently provide daycare services in three main Calgary locations:
FAQ: Child Benefits in Alberta
How much is the Canada Child Benefit?
Up to $8,157 per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17 for July 2026 to June 2027, with amounts reduced as adjusted family net income rises above $38,237.
When is the ACFB paid?
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit is paid four times a year, generally in August, November, February and May.
Do I have to apply for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit?
No separate application is required. Eligible families are assessed automatically through the tax system.
Are these benefits taxable?
No. The CCB and ACFB are tax-free benefits.
Why did my payment stop in July?
A missing tax return is one possible reason. Check whether you and your spouse or common-law partner filed the required returns, and check CRA My Account for notices, outstanding requests or changes to your benefit calculation.
Can I get benefits and the child care subsidy at the same time?
They are separate programs with different eligibility rules. Receiving the CCB or ACFB does not by itself determine whether you qualify for the Child Care Subsidy. Check the current Alberta subsidy requirements for your child’s age, program and household circumstances.
What happens with shared custody?
In an eligible shared-custody arrangement, each parent may receive 50% of the amount they would have received with full custody. The CRA determines eligibility based on the custody arrangement and other requirements.
How do I check what I am supposed to receive?
Log in to CRA My Account to view your benefit information, calculations, notices and payment details. You can also use the CRA child and family benefits calculator to estimate what you may be entitled to.
My payment is late, what now?
Check CRA My Account first for notices, payment information or requests for documents. Also check your direct deposit information. If the issue is not explained there, contact the CRA.
Do these benefits affect my child care subsidy?
The ACFB is a separate benefit from the Child Care Subsidy, and Alberta has stated that the ACFB does not reduce Child Care Subsidy or certain other provincial supports. Eligibility and interactions can change, so check the current Alberta rules for your specific situation.
Find Out What Child Care Would Cost Your Family
Numbers on a page are useful. Your actual number is more useful.
Clever Daycare runs licensed programs in Calgary at Glamorgan, University District, and Aspen, covering infants through kindergarten, with regular hours plus drop-in, evening, and weekend care. Come in, tell us your situation, and we can explain our current childcare fees, affordability funding, and optional charges, and point you to Alberta resources to help you estimate any additional financial support you may qualify for.
Book a tour or call 403 474 4157. Just planning? Join the waitlist while you work out the finances.
This article is general information, not financial or tax advice. Benefit amounts, eligibility rules and childcare funding arrangements can change. Confirm your own situation with the Canada Revenue Agency, Alberta.ca or a qualified advisor.
