Quick Answer
The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is a tax-free monthly top-up paid alongside the Canada Child Benefit to families of children under 18 with an approved Disability Tax Credit. For 2025-2026, the maximum is approximately $3,411 per year per child ($284 per month). The benefit is income-tested and reduced for higher-income families. No separate application is needed once your child has DTC approval and you receive CCB.
What Is the Child Disability Benefit?
The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is a federal tax-free monthly payment administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. It supplements the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for families raising a child under 18 who has been approved for the Disability Tax Credit. The benefit is meant to recognise the additional costs of caring for a child with a severe and prolonged impairment.
For complete details, see the official Child Disability Benefit page on canada.ca.
2026 Child Disability Benefit Amounts
- Maximum annual benefit: approximately $3,411 per child per year
- Maximum monthly benefit: approximately $284 per child per month
- Income testing: reduced for families with adjusted family net income above approximately $79,087
- Reduction rate: 3.2% above the threshold for one child, 5.7% for two or more
Amounts are indexed annually for inflation and updated by the CRA each July when the benefit year resets.
Who Qualifies for the CDB?
To receive the Child Disability Benefit, three things must be in place:
- The child is under 18 at the start of the month for which the benefit is paid
- The child has an approved Disability Tax Credit on file with CRA (via Form T2201)
- The family is receiving the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for that child
If all three conditions are met, the CDB is automatically added to your monthly CCB payment. No separate application form is required.
How DTC Approval Unlocks the CDB
The Disability Tax Credit is the gateway benefit. Once a child is approved for the DTC, several other federal and provincial benefits become accessible:
- Child Disability Benefit (this page)
- Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
- Disability Tax Credit itself (transferable to a supporting parent)
- Provincial child disability supplements (varies by province)
Apply for the DTC first using Form T2201. Once approved, the CDB and other benefits flow automatically or with minimal additional steps.
Retroactive CDB Payments
If your child's DTC is approved for prior years, you may be eligible for retroactive CDB payments going back up to 10 years. The CRA will recalculate prior years automatically once DTC approval is granted retroactively. This can result in a substantial lump-sum payment, sometimes $20,000-$30,000 for families with long-standing severe disability who were not aware of the benefit.
Income Testing in Detail
The CDB phases out gradually for higher-income families. For 2025-2026:
- Family net income below $79,087: full benefit of $3,411 per child
- Family net income $79,087 to approximately $185,000: graduated reduction
- Family net income above approximately $185,000: partial benefit may still apply depending on number of disabled children
Use the CRA's Child and Family Benefits Calculator to estimate your exact amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Once your child is approved for the DTC and you are receiving the Canada Child Benefit, the CDB is added automatically to your monthly payment. The CRA recalculates the benefit each July at the start of the new benefit year.
The CDB stops the month your child turns 18. From age 18 onward, the disabled adult may qualify for the Canada Disability Benefit (working-age adults) and continue accumulating RDSP grants and bonds.
Yes. The CRA can recalculate prior years' CDB once the DTC is approved retroactively. The maximum retroactive period is generally 10 years. This is one of the largest sources of lump-sum payments in the DTC ecosystem for families with severely disabled children.
No. The CDB is tax-free and does not count as income for other federal or provincial benefits. It does not reduce welfare, ODSP, AISH, or other social assistance payments.