Government Benefits June 11, 2026 · Updated June 11, 2026

Ontario Child Benefit 2026: Amounts, Payment Dates, and Eligibility

Q: How much is the Ontario Child Benefit in 2026?

The OCB pays up to $1,607 per child per year, or $133.92 per month. This maximum applies when your adjusted family net income is $23,044 or less. The benefit reduces by 2.5 cents for every dollar above $23,044 and phases out entirely at approximately $87,000 for a family with one child.

Q: When does the Ontario Child Benefit pay in 2026?

The OCB is deposited on the same day as the Canada Child Benefit — around the 20th of each month. The 2026 CCB/OCB dates are January 20, February 20, March 20, April 20, May 20, June 19, July 20, August 20, September 18, October 20, November 20, and December 11.

Q: Do I need to apply separately for the Ontario Child Benefit?

No. The CRA calculates your OCB entitlement automatically when you file your income tax return. The same payment that delivers your Canada Child Benefit each month includes your OCB amount. You must file a return every year, even if you had no income, for the CRA to calculate and issue the benefit.

Q: Does the Ontario Child Benefit affect Ontario Works or ODSP?

No. The Ontario Child Benefit is fully exempt from Ontario Works and ODSP income calculations. Receiving the OCB does not reduce your social assistance payments.

Q: What is the difference between the Ontario Child Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a federal program paying up to $7,997/year per child under 6 and $6,748/year per child aged 6–17. The Ontario Child Benefit is a provincial top-up for Ontario residents, paying up to $1,607/year per child regardless of age under 18. They are paid together in one monthly deposit but are separate calculations.

The Ontario Child Benefit pays up to $1,607/year ($133.92/month) per child for low-income families.

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Key Takeaways

The OCB pays up to $1,607/year ($133.92/month) per child for families with net income below $23,044.
It is paid on the same date as the Canada Child Benefit — no separate application needed beyond filing your tax return.
The benefit phases out above $23,044 and reaches zero at approximately $87,000 for one child.
Families on Ontario Works or ODSP receive the OCB automatically and it does not reduce their social assistance.

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The Ontario Child Benefit pays up to $1,607 a year ($133.92/month) per child for Ontario families with low or moderate incomes. It is paid monthly alongside the Canada Child Benefit in a single deposit — no separate application is needed. All figures here are from the Ontario government’s Ontario Child Benefit page.

2026 Payment Dates

The OCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency and paid on the same date as the Canada Child Benefit. The 2026 payment dates are:

Month	2026 payment date
January	January 20
February	February 20
March	March 20
April	April 20
May	May 20
June	June 19
July	July 20
August	August 20
September	September 18
October	October 20
November	November 20
December	December 11

Your bank statement may show the combined CCB and OCB as a single “Canada FED” or “Canada Child Benefit” deposit. To see how much of it is the OCB specifically, log in to CRA My Account and look at the benefit payment details.

How Much the OCB Pays

Family net income	OCB per child per year	Per month
$23,044 or less	$1,607 (maximum)	$133.92
$30,000	$1,432	$119.33
$40,000	$1,182	$98.50
$50,000	$932	$77.67
$60,000	$682	$56.83
$70,000	$432	$36.00
$80,000	$182	$15.17
~$87,244	$0 (phase-out complete)	—

The reduction rate is 2.5 cents per dollar of family net income above $23,044. For families with two children, the phase-out threshold is approximately $110,000; for three children, approximately $134,000. These figures are from the Ontario Child Benefit page on ontario.ca.

Eligibility

To receive the Ontario Child Benefit you must:

be an Ontario resident
have a child under 18 in your care
file a federal income tax return each year (both spouses, if applicable)
be eligible for the federal Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Because the OCB uses the same eligibility criteria as the CCB, you are automatically assessed for both when the CRA processes your tax return. There is no form to complete and no separate application.

The OCB on Ontario Works and ODSP

Families receiving Ontario Works or ODSP also receive the Ontario Child Benefit. The OCB is exempt income under both programs — it does not reduce the amount of social assistance you receive. Ontario Works and ODSP recipients with children should ensure they are filing their tax return every year to receive the OCB, which can add over $1,600 per child annually to household income that has no effect on OW or ODSP amounts.

How the OCB Compares to the Federal CCB

The Ontario Child Benefit is modest compared to the federal CCB, but it adds a meaningful top-up:

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Benefit	2025–26 maximum per child	Paid by
Canada Child Benefit (under 6)	$7,997/year	Federal (CRA)
Canada Child Benefit (6–17)	$6,748/year	Federal (CRA)
Ontario Child Benefit (under 18)	$1,607/year	Provincial (via CRA)

A single-parent family with one child under 6 and a net income below $23,044 could receive up to $9,604 per year ($800/month) in combined CCB and OCB.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Ontario Child Benefit in 2026?

When does the Ontario Child Benefit pay in 2026?

Do I need to apply separately for the Ontario Child Benefit?

Does the Ontario Child Benefit affect Ontario Works or ODSP?

What is the difference between the Ontario Child Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit?