How to Get the Child Disability Benefit After Your Child Is Approved for the Disability Tax Credit
Learn how the Child Disability Benefit starts after a child is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, when no separate application is needed, 2026 payment amounts, income reductions and how CRA calculates retroactive CDB payments.
CA Canada
Benefits & Support ~ 11 min read
18 FAQ
Updated 2026-08-27
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If you already receive the Canada Child Benefit for a child who has been approved for the Disability Tax Credit, you do not submit a separate Child Disability Benefit application. The CRA calculates the CDB automatically. For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum CDB is $3,480 per eligible child, or $290 per month, and begins to be reduced when adjusted family net income exceeds $82,847. When you receive the CDB for the first time, the CRA automatically calculates entitlement for the current and two previous benefit years. If the child's DTC eligibility goes back further, you must send a written request to your CRA tax centre for CDB amounts relating to earlier benefit years.
What you need
- You must be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for the child.
- The child must be under age 18 for the CDB payment period.
- The child must be eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
- DTC eligibility requires the CRA to approve Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, for the child.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must continue filing income tax and benefit returns every year so the CRA can calculate income-tested benefit payments.
- Keep your marital status, address, custody and other personal information current with the CRA because changes can affect benefit payments.
- For CDB entitlement earlier than the current and two previous benefit years, send a written request to your CRA tax centre.
Eligibility
The Child Disability Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment for families caring for a child under age 18 who has a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions.
There are two core eligibility conditions: you must be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for the child, and the child must be eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
A child is considered eligible for the DTC after a medical practitioner certifies the applicable impairment information on Form T2201 and the Canada Revenue Agency approves the child's DTC eligibility.
If you are already receiving the CCB for a child who becomes eligible for the DTC, the CRA states that you do not need to apply separately for the Child Disability Benefit. It is calculated automatically.
How to do it
- Confirm that the CRA has approved the child's Disability Tax Credit eligibility.
- Confirm that you are already eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for that child.
- Do not submit a separate CDB application if both conditions are already met. The CRA will calculate the Child Disability Benefit automatically.
- Check your CRA account under Benefits and credits to review your CCB payment information and upcoming payment amounts.
- Review the CRA's calculation when the CDB is added. The amount depends on the number of DTC-eligible children and your adjusted family net income.
- If this is the first time you are receiving the CDB, allow the CRA to calculate the current and two previous benefit years automatically.
- If the child's approved DTC period reaches further back than those benefit years, send a written request to your CRA tax centre asking the CRA to calculate CDB entitlement for the earlier applicable periods.
- Continue filing your tax return every year. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they must also file annually so the CRA can calculate ongoing benefits.
- Keep your family and personal information current with the CRA to avoid incorrect, delayed or interrupted payments.
Do you have to apply separately for the Child Disability Benefit?
No, not if you are already receiving the Canada Child Benefit for a child who is approved for the Disability Tax Credit. The Canada Revenue Agency calculates the Child Disability Benefit automatically once both eligibility conditions are met.
This is different from applying for the Disability Tax Credit itself. DTC eligibility is established through Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate. The CDB is the monthly child benefit that can follow after the CRA approves the child's DTC and you are eligible for the CCB.
Who qualifies for the Child Disability Benefit?
To receive the CDB:
- you must be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit;
- your child must be eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
The CDB is intended for families caring for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions.
What does DTC-approved mean for the Child Disability Benefit?
A child becomes eligible for the Disability Tax Credit when the CRA approves the child's DTC eligibility after reviewing Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate.
A medical practitioner completes the medical portion of the DTC process and certifies the relevant effects of the impairment. The CRA makes the final decision on DTC eligibility.
Once the child is approved and the parent or caregiver is eligible for the CCB, a separate CDB application is generally unnecessary.
How much is the Child Disability Benefit in 2026?
For the benefit period from July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum Child Disability Benefit is:
- $3,480 per year for each DTC-eligible child;
- $290 per month for each DTC-eligible child.
These amounts are based on the family's 2025 adjusted family net income.
What income level starts reducing the CDB?
For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum CDB begins to be reduced when adjusted family net income is greater than $82,847.
The CRA applies different reduction rates depending on the number of children eligible for the benefit:
- for a family with one CDB-eligible child, the reduction is 3.2% of adjusted family net income over $82,847;
- for a family with two or more CDB-eligible children, the reduction is 5.7% of adjusted family net income over $82,847.
The CRA recalculates the CDB every July using adjusted family net income from the previous tax year.
Child Disability Benefit amounts for July 2026 to June 2027
| Adjusted family net income | One eligible child | Two eligible children | Three eligible children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $82,847 | $290 per month | $580 per month | $870 per month |
| $100,000 | $244.25 per month | $498.52 per month | $788.52 per month |
| $125,000 | $177.59 per month | $379.77 per month | $669.77 per month |
| $150,000 | $110.92 per month | $261.02 per month | $551.02 per month |
The exact amount depends on your adjusted family net income and the number of children eligible for the CDB. Use the CRA calculation for your actual entitlement.
Is the Child Disability Benefit taxable?
No. The CRA describes the Child Disability Benefit as a tax-free monthly payment.
It is an additional child benefit and is not the same as the Disability Tax Credit claimed on an income tax return.
How are Child Disability Benefit payments made?
The Child Disability Benefit is included with the Canada Child Benefit payment rather than normally being issued through a separate monthly payment system.
The CRA generally pays the CCB monthly. For 2026, scheduled CCB payment dates include:
- January 20, 2026;
- February 20, 2026;
- March 20, 2026;
- April 20, 2026;
- May 20, 2026;
- June 19, 2026;
- July 20, 2026;
- August 20, 2026;
- September 18, 2026;
- October 20, 2026;
- November 20, 2026;
- December 11, 2026.
You can check upcoming CCB payment dates and amounts through your CRA account.
Will the CRA pay the Child Disability Benefit retroactively after DTC approval?
Yes, where the child was eligible during earlier periods. When you receive the Child Disability Benefit for the first time, the CRA automatically calculates your entitlement for the current benefit year and the two previous benefit years.
A benefit year runs from July of one year through June of the following year.
The retroactive calculation is therefore based on benefit years, not simply a fixed number of calendar months from the date the DTC was approved.
What if the child's DTC approval goes back more than two previous benefit years?
The automatic calculation does not cover every older year indefinitely.
If the child's DTC eligibility applies to periods before the current and two previous benefit years, the CRA instructs you to send a written request to your tax centre for those earlier CDB periods.
This is particularly important when a DTC approval letter recognizes that the child's impairment began several years before the CRA approved Form T2201.
What should you include in a request for older CDB payments?
The CRA's current CDB page directs taxpayers to send a written request to their tax centre for benefit years older than those recalculated automatically. The official page does not prescribe a separate CDB application form for this request.
Your request should clearly identify the taxpayer and the child and state that you are asking the CRA to review Child Disability Benefit entitlement for earlier benefit years covered by the child's approved DTC period.
Use the CRA's current tax-centre contact information when sending correspondence and follow any instructions in the child's DTC approval notice or subsequent CRA correspondence.
Do you need to amend previous tax returns to receive retroactive CDB?
The CDB retroactive calculation is a child-benefit calculation and is separate from changing past income tax returns to claim the Disability Tax Credit itself.
The CRA states that it automatically calculates the current and two previous CDB benefit years when you receive the CDB for the first time. For older CDB periods, the CRA asks for a written request.
Changing past tax returns to claim or transfer the Disability Tax Credit is a separate tax procedure and should not be confused with requesting older Child Disability Benefit payments.
What if you receive the CCB but the CDB does not appear?
First confirm that the CRA has actually approved the child's Disability Tax Credit and check the approved eligibility period.
Then review the Benefits and credits information in your CRA account. Your CCB section shows payment information and can help you determine whether the child's disability eligibility has been reflected in your benefit calculation.
If the DTC is approved and you remain CCB-eligible but the expected CDB has not been calculated, contact the CRA about the Child Disability Benefit.
What if you are not receiving the Canada Child Benefit?
DTC approval by itself does not create eligibility for the Child Disability Benefit. You must also be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for the child.
If you should be receiving the CCB but have never applied, complete the appropriate CCB application process. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply through birth registration, your CRA account or Form RC66.
Once CCB eligibility and the child's DTC eligibility are established, the CRA can determine CDB entitlement.
Can you apply for the Canada Child Benefit online?
Yes. If you did not apply through the birth-registration process, you can apply for the CCB through your CRA account when eligible.
In your CRA account:
- choose your Individual account;
- open Benefits and credits;
- find Child information;
- select Add;
- complete the account, child and application information;
- submit any additional documents if the CRA requests them.
If you cannot use the available online methods, Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, can be mailed to the CRA with any required supporting documents.
How long does it take to receive the CDB after DTC approval?
The CRA does not publish a separate fixed processing standard specifically for the automatic CDB calculation following DTC approval.
The CRA must have both the child's approved DTC eligibility and your CCB eligibility before it can calculate the Child Disability Benefit.
You can monitor benefit information in your CRA account. If you are waiting on a separate CCB application, the CRA provides a progress tracker and current processing-time information based on the method used to apply.
How does adjusted family net income affect the CDB?
The Child Disability Benefit is income-tested. Each July, the CRA recalculates the payment based on adjusted family net income from the previous tax year.
For example:
- payments from July 2025 to June 2026 are based on adjusted family net income from the 2024 tax return;
- payments from July 2026 to June 2027 are based on adjusted family net income from the 2025 tax return.
If you have a spouse or common-law partner, the family-income calculation can include their income as required under the CCB rules.
Do both parents receive the full CDB in shared custody?
Because the CDB is included with the CCB, the CRA's shared-custody rules affect the payment.
Under the CCB shared-custody rules, each eligible parent receives 50% of the amount they would have received if the child lived with them full time, calculated using that parent's own adjusted family net income.
The CRA does not divide shared-custody benefits using a different percentage merely because the parents agree to another arrangement.
What happens when the child turns 18?
The Child Disability Benefit is for families caring for an eligible child under age 18.
The CCB rules state that for a child turning 18 during a month, the final CCB payment is made for that month. CDB entitlement is tied to the child's CCB and DTC eligibility, so the child benefit does not continue as a CDB after the child ages out of the CCB.
An adult who has a disability may have access to different federal disability programs, but those are separate benefits with separate eligibility and application rules.
Do you have to file taxes every year to keep receiving the CDB?
Yes. To continue receiving the Child Disability Benefit, you must continue to qualify for the CCB and your child must remain eligible for the DTC.
The CRA requires you to file your income tax and benefit return on time every year, even if you had no income or your income was tax exempt.
If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they must also file their return every year so the CRA has the information needed to calculate your benefits.
What personal changes should you tell the CRA about?
Keep your CRA personal information current because changes can affect the CCB and CDB calculation.
Relevant changes can include:
- marital status;
- address;
- custody arrangements;
- a child leaving your care;
- other changes that affect CCB eligibility.
Child Disability Benefit checklist after DTC approval
- Confirm the child's DTC has been approved by the CRA.
- Check the DTC eligibility period shown by the CRA.
- Confirm that you receive or are eligible for the CCB for the child.
- Do not submit a separate CDB application if both conditions are already met.
- Check your CRA account for updated CCB and CDB payment information.
- For July 2026 to June 2027, compare your calculation with the maximum $290 per month per eligible child and the applicable income reduction.
- Expect the CRA to automatically review the current and two previous benefit years when you receive the CDB for the first time.
- If DTC eligibility reaches further back, send a written request to your CRA tax centre for older CDB benefit years.
- File your tax return every year.
- Make sure your spouse or common-law partner also files every year when applicable.
- Keep your family, custody and contact information current with the CRA.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for the Child Disability Benefit after my child's DTC is approved?
No if you are already eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for that child. The CRA states that the Child Disability Benefit is calculated automatically when the child is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
How much is the Child Disability Benefit in 2026?
For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum Child Disability Benefit is $3,480 per year, or $290 per month, for each child eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
What income reduces the Child Disability Benefit in 2026?
For July 2026 to June 2027, the CDB starts being reduced when adjusted family net income exceeds $82,847.
How is the CDB reduced if I have one child with a disability?
For July 2026 to June 2027, a family with one CDB-eligible child has its maximum benefit reduced by 3.2% of adjusted family net income above $82,847.
How is the CDB reduced if I have two children eligible for the DTC?
For families with two or more CDB-eligible children, the reduction for July 2026 to June 2027 is 5.7% of adjusted family net income above $82,847.
Will the CRA automatically pay retroactive Child Disability Benefit amounts?
When you receive the CDB for the first time, the CRA automatically calculates entitlement for the current and two previous benefit years.
What if my child's DTC was approved for more than two previous benefit years?
For CDB benefit years earlier than the current and two previous benefit years, the CRA instructs you to send a written request to your tax centre.
How far back can the Child Disability Benefit be paid?
The CRA automatically reviews the current and two previous benefit years when CDB is first established. If the child's DTC eligibility applies to earlier periods, you must request a review of those older benefit years in writing from your CRA tax centre.
Is the Child Disability Benefit taxable?
No. The CRA describes the Child Disability Benefit as a tax-free monthly payment.
Is the Child Disability Benefit the same as the Disability Tax Credit?
No. The DTC is a tax credit for a person whom the CRA has approved as eligible. The Child Disability Benefit is a separate tax-free monthly benefit for eligible CCB families caring for a child who is eligible for the DTC.
Do I need to amend old tax returns to get retroactive CDB payments?
The CRA automatically calculates the current and two previous CDB benefit years when you first receive the benefit. For earlier CDB periods, the CRA directs you to send a written request to your tax centre. Amending a tax return for the Disability Tax Credit is a separate tax procedure.
What if my child is DTC-approved but I do not receive the Canada Child Benefit?
You must also be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit to receive the CDB. If you should qualify for the CCB but have not applied, use the CRA's CCB application process.
How do I check whether the Child Disability Benefit has been added?
Sign in to your CRA account and review Benefits and credits and your Canada Child Benefit information. Your account can show upcoming payment dates and amounts.
When is the Child Disability Benefit paid?
The CDB is included with the Canada Child Benefit, which the CRA normally pays monthly according to the published CCB payment schedule.
How long does it take to get the CDB after DTC approval?
The CRA does not publish a separate fixed processing time specifically for the automatic CDB calculation after DTC approval. Both DTC eligibility and CCB eligibility must be established before the CDB can be calculated.
Do I need to file taxes every year to keep receiving the CDB?
Yes. The CRA requires you and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, to file tax returns every year so it can calculate ongoing CCB and CDB payments.
Does the Child Disability Benefit stop when my child turns 18?
The CDB is for families caring for an eligible child under 18 and is tied to Canada Child Benefit eligibility. It does not continue as a Child Disability Benefit after the child ages out of the CCB.
How does shared custody affect the Child Disability Benefit?
The CDB is included with the CCB. Under the CRA's shared-custody rules, each eligible parent generally receives 50% of the amount they would have received if the child lived with them full time, calculated using that parent's own adjusted family net income.
Official sources
Child disability benefitCDB guideline table effective July 2026 to June 2027Canada Child Benefit guideHow much you can get from the Canada Child BenefitCanada Child Benefit payment datesHow to apply for the Canada Child BenefitRelated procedures
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