The rule in one sentence
When children live with each parent about equally (at least 40% of the time with each, in roughly the same home routine), each parent gets 50% of the CCB they would receive if the children lived with them full-time, calculated on their own adjusted family net income.
Worked example
You have two children aged 8 and 11, your household income is $55,000, and custody is shared.
- Full benefit on your income: $6,883 × 2 = $13,766 maximum − 13.5% × ($55,000 − $38,237) = $11,503 a year.
- Your half: $5,751 a year, or $479.29 a month.
- The other parent’s half is worked out separately on their own household income, so the two halves are usually different amounts.
Shared-custody amounts by income (two children aged 6–17)
| Your household income | Your half per year | Your half per month |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $6,883 | $573.58 |
| $40,000 | $6,764 | $563.67 |
| $55,000 | $5,751 | $479.29 |
| $70,000 | $4,739 | $394.92 |
| $85,000 | $3,811 | $317.55 |
| $100,000 | $3,383 | $281.93 |
| $130,000 | $2,528 | $210.68 |
What to do after a separation
- Tell the CRA your new marital status (online in My Account, form RC65, or by phone) — by the end of the month after the month you have been separated for 90 days.
- Apply for the CCB if the children now live with you part of the time — each parent applies; the CRA decides the split.
- From then on the benefit uses only your income (and a new partner’s, if you have one).
If the children mainly live with one parent (more than 60% of the time), that parent gets the full CCB and the other gets none. “Shared” is about where the child lives, not about who pays for what.
Quick reference: getting the CCB right
- Apply early. Apply when your child is born (usually through the provincial birth registration) or when a child comes to live with you. If you apply late, the CRA can usually still pay the months you missed, but it may ask for extra documents.
- File every year. Both you and your spouse or common-law partner must file a return, even with zero income, or payments stop in July.
- Report changes. Marital status, custody, address and a child leaving your care all change the amount; tell the CRA by the end of the following month.
- Payment day. The CCB is paid monthly, usually around the 20th, by direct deposit.
- Newcomers can qualify in their first year; the CRA asks for income from outside Canada for the base year.
How the figures were checked
The maximums ($8,157 and $6,883), thresholds ($38,237 and $82,847) and reduction rates are the CRA’s figures for the benefit year July 2026 to June 2027, based on 2025 income, cross-checked with the Government of Canada’s July 2026 announcement (family with children aged 5 and 9 on $65,000: about $11,430 a year). The calculator mirrors the CRA formula; your own notice may differ slightly if a child changes age group during the year or if the CRA uses a different income figure.
Remember that your province or territory may pay its own child benefit alongside the CCB, using the same application. Those amounts are not included here.
FAQ
How is the CCB split in shared custody?
Each parent gets 50% of the amount they would get with full custody, calculated on their own household income.
How much would I get with two kids aged 6–17 and $55,000 in shared custody?
About $5,751 a year, or $479.29 a month.
What counts as shared custody for the CRA?
The children live with each parent at least 40% of the time, on a fairly equal basis.
Sources (checked 5 November 2026): Canada Revenue Agency, “How we calculate your CCB” (July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, based on 2025 income); Environment and Climate Change Canada news release “Minister Dabrusin highlights increased Canada Child Benefit payments for families” (July 2026: $8,157 under 6, $6,883 aged 6–17, example $11,430); MoneySense CCB 2026 guide ($38,237 threshold, CDB $3,480); WealthNorth CCB calculator (reduction table, $82,847 threshold). CRA, “Shared custody and the Canada Child Benefit”.