Child Disability Benefit
The Child Disability Benefit pays up to $3,480 a year per child for July 2026 to June 2027. Who qualifies, income reductions, back payments and what DTC approval gets you.
The short version
- The Child Disability Benefit pays up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month) for each child under 18 who qualifies for the disability tax credit, for July 2026 to June 2027.
- It's paid with the Canada child benefit, tax-free. There's no separate application: once the child's disability tax credit is approved and you get the CCB, it starts.
- It shrinks once adjusted family net income passes $82,847, by 3.2% of the excess for one eligible child or 5.7% for two or more. Most middle-income families get the full amount.
- When approval is new, CRA pays back automatically for the current and two previous benefit years. Older years can be requested.
- The hard part is the disability tax credit form, T2201, which a medical practitioner certifies. Approval also opens the door to the credit itself and the RDSP grants.
Child Disability Benefit
The Child Disability Benefit is one of the better-kept secrets in the benefit system, mostly because it hides behind another form. Parents hear "disability tax credit", think it's a small credit on a tax return, and never apply. But the approval is the key that opens several doors at once: a monthly payment, a tax credit worth thousands, and government money for a savings plan. If your child has a long-term condition that markedly limits daily life, this page is worth ten minutes.
Who Qualifies
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| You get the Canada child benefit for the child | See Canada child benefit |
| The child is approved for the disability tax credit | A medical practitioner certifies form T2201, and CRA approves it |
| The child is under 18 | The CDB stops at 18; the disability tax credit can continue |
The disability tax credit test is about impairment in daily functions such as walking, speaking, hearing, dressing, feeding, mental functions, or life-sustaining therapy, lasting at least 12 months. It's not about a specific diagnosis. Many children with autism, ADHD with significant limits, type 1 diabetes requiring daily therapy, or significant developmental delays qualify; many with the same diagnosis don't. Details: disability tax credit.
Not sure your child would qualify?
Describe your child's daily limits and age, your province and family income. The assistant explains how the disability tax credit test applies, what the CDB and back payments could be worth, and what to ask the doctor.
How Much You Get (July 2026 to June 2027)
| Adjusted family net income | One eligible child | Two eligible children |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $82,847 | $3,480 | $6,960 |
| $100,000 | about $2,931 | about $5,982 |
| $150,000 | about $1,331 | about $3,132 |
| About $191,600 and up | $0 | $0 by about $204,950 |
Paid monthly with the CCB, on the dates on benefit payment dates. In shared custody, each parent gets half, based on their own family income; see shared custody and the CCB.
Back Payments: Often the Big Number
When the disability tax credit is approved, CRA usually backdates it to when the condition started, up to 10 years. For the CDB, CRA automatically recalculates the current benefit year and the two before. For earlier years, ask CRA in writing. On top of that, the disability tax credit itself can be transferred to a parent and claimed back through past returns, often worth a few thousand dollars a year; see retroactive disability tax credit.
What the Approval Gets You
- Child Disability Benefit: up to $3,480 a year per child.
- The disability tax credit and its supplement for children, usually transferred to a parent, which lowers the parent's tax.
- RDSP eligibility: grants of up to $3,500 a year and bonds of up to $1,000 a year for lower-income families, with no contribution needed for the bond.
- Higher limits on the child care expense deduction for an eligible child.
- Caregiver and medical credits for costs you pay: medical expenses and the caregiver credit.
Mistakes Parents Make
- Assuming a diagnosis is enough, or not enough. The form is about daily limits. Bring specific examples of how long things take.
- Not filing returns. Both parents must file every year or the CCB and CDB stop; see why benefits stop.
- Paying a company 30% of the refund to file the T2201. The form is free; the doctor may charge for filling it in.
- Forgetting the end date. Some approvals expire, and CRA asks for a new form. Watch for the letter.
Child Disability Benefit Questions
How much is the Child Disability Benefit for 2026-2027?
Up to $3,480 a year, or $290 a month, for each eligible child from July 2026 to June 2027. It is reduced when adjusted family net income is over $82,847.
How do I apply for the Child Disability Benefit?
You don’t apply separately. If you receive the Canada child benefit and your child is approved for the disability tax credit through form T2201, CRA adds the CDB automatically.
Is the Child Disability Benefit taxable?
No. Like the Canada child benefit, it is tax-free and does not need to be reported as income.
Can I get Child Disability Benefit back payments?
Yes. When the disability tax credit is approved for past years, CRA automatically recalculates the current and two previous benefit years. You can ask in writing for earlier years.
Which conditions qualify for the Child Disability Benefit?
There is no list of diagnoses. The child must qualify for the disability tax credit, which depends on a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, certified by a medical practitioner and approved by CRA.
Sources: CRA, Child disability benefit; CRA, Disability tax credit. Checked October 2026. Reduced amounts are our estimates from CRA's published threshold and rates. Conditions named as examples may or may not qualify in a given case. RDSP grant and bond amounts are lifetime-limited and income-tested; check with your RDSP provider.
Last reviewed October 5, 2026 against CRA and Government of Canada sources. How we check our facts.