B.C. family benefit

Last updated on June 27, 2025

The B.C. family benefit provides a tax-free monthly payment to families with children under the age of 18.

Budget 2025 approved the continuation of the B.C. family benefit payments for 6 months following the death of a child for deaths that occurred after 2024.

The B.C. family benefit bonus payments ended in June 2025. The B.C. family benefit returns to its regular amounts beginning in July 2025.

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About the benefit

The B.C. family benefit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the Province.

Each month, eligible families with children under the age of 18 receive the benefit payment as a combined payment with the Canada child benefit.

How to apply for the benefit

To receive the B.C. family benefit, you (and your spouse or common-law partner) must file a T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return.   

If your child is registered for the Canada child benefit, they're automatically registered for the B.C. family benefit. No action is required.

If your child is not registered for the Canada child benefit, you need to apply for the Canada child benefit.

The CRA uses the information from your Canada child benefit registration to determine your eligibility for the B.C. family benefit. 

If you’re eligible, the amount of the payment is calculated automatically by the CRA based on information from the personal tax returns you (and your spouse or common-law partner) have filed.

If you move to B.C., your eligibility for the B.C. family benefit will be determined once you update your information with CRA. If you move outside B.C., make sure you advise the CRA as soon as possible to avoid any potential benefit overpayment that you will be required to repay. 

Maximum annual benefit amount 

For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit period

The B.C. family benefit bonus payments ended in June 2025. The B.C. family benefit returns to its regular amounts beginning in July 2025.

The maximum annual benefit you may receive is:

  • $1,750 for your first child
  • $1,100 for your second child
  • $900 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is less than $29,526, you'll receive the maximum annual benefit. 

If your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is between $29,526 and $94,483, you'll receive a reduced amount of at least:

  • $775 for your first child
  • $750 for your second child
  • $725 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is more than $94,483, you'll receive a reduced amount up to:

  • $775 for your first child
  • $750 for your second child
  • $725 for each additional child

These amounts are reduced by 4 percent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $94,483 until they are reduced to zero.

Supplement for single parents 

Low-income single parent families will receive an annual supplement of up to $500 per family, if at the beginning of the month:

  • You’re receiving a B.C. family benefit payment for that month
  • You’re not the cohabitating spouse or common-law partner of another person

If your adjusted family net income is more than $29,526, your supplement will be reduced as part of the overall calculation of your B.C. family benefit.

Calculate your benefit amount

Your B.C. family benefit is based on your family composition and your adjusted family net income.

Your annual B.C. family benefit is the total maximum amount allowed for each child in your family reduced by 4 percent of the amount that your adjusted family net income exceeds the threshold.

Adjusted family net income threshold amounts
Base year (tax return) Benefit period Maximum benefit received if income less than Reduced benefit with guaranteed minimum amount if income between  Reduced benefit (no guaranteed minimum amount) if income more than
2024 July 2025 to June 2026 $29,526 $29,526 and $94,483 $94,483

Your monthly benefit amount is the annual B.C. family benefit amount divided by 12. 

To find out your estimated monthly benefit amount, use the federal child and family benefits calculator

Families with shared custody

If you share custody of a child with another person, you'll receive half the amount you'd receive for the child if you had full custody of that child. 

Previous threshold amounts

The adjusted family net income threshold amounts are indexed to inflation each year. 

Adjusted family net income threshold amounts
Base year (tax return) Benefit period Maximum benefit received if income less than Reduced benefit with guaranteed minimum amount if income between Reduced benefit (no guaranteed minimum amount) if income more than
2023 July 2024 to June 2025 $35,902 $35,902 and $114,887 $114,887
2022 July 2023 to June 2024 $27,354 $27,354 and $87,533 $87,533
2021 July 2022 to June 2023 $25,806 $25,806 and $82,578 $82,578
2020 July 2021 to June 2022 $25,275 $25,275 and $80,880 $80,880
2019 October 2020 to June 2021 $25,000 $25,000 and $80,000 $80,000

Previous benefit amounts 

 

July 2024 to June 2025 benefit period

Eligible families receive a B.C. family benefit bonus with their monthly B.C. family benefit payment for the July 2024 to June 2025 benefit period.

For the July 2024 to June 2025 benefit period, the maximum annual benefit, including the B.C. family benefit bonus payments, are:

  • $2,188 for your first child
  • $1,375 for your second child
  • $1,125 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2023 tax year is less than $35,902, you'll receive the maximum annual benefit. 

If your adjusted family net income for the 2023 tax year is between $35,902 and $114,887, you'll receive a reduced amount of at least:

  • $969 for your first child
  • $937 for your second child
  • $906 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2023 tax year is more than $114,887, you'll receive a reduced amount up to:

  • $969 for your first child
  • $937 for your second child
  • $906 for each additional child

These amounts are reduced by 4 percent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $114,887 until they are reduced to zero.

The B.C. family benefit payment amounts return to the usual levels for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit period.

 

July 2023 to June 2024 benefit period

For the July 2023 to June 2024 benefit period, the maximum annual benefit amounts are:

  • $1,750 for your first child
  • $1,100 for your second child
  • $900 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2022 tax year is less than $27,354, you'll receive the maximum annual benefit. 

If your adjusted family net income for the 2022 tax year is between $27,354 and $87,533, you'll receive a reduced amount of at least: 

  • $775 for your first child
  • $750 for your second child
  • $725 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2022 tax year is more than $87,533, you'll receive a reduced amount up to:

  • $775 for your first child
  • $750 for your second child
  • $725 for each additional child

These amounts are reduced by 4 percent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $87,533 until they are reduced to zero.

 

July 2022 to June 2023 benefit period

July 2022 to June 2023 (not including January 2023 to March 2023)

For the July 2022 to June 2023 benefit period (not including January 2023 to March 2023), the maximum annual benefit amounts for the nine months are:

  • $1,312.50 for your first child
  • $825 for your second child
  • $675 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2021 tax year is less than $25,806, you'll receive the maximum annual benefit.

If your adjusted family net income for the 2021 tax year is between $25,806 and $82,578, you'll receive a reduced amount of at least:

  • $581.25 for your first child
  • $562.50 for your second child
  • $543.75 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2021 tax year is more than $82,578, you'll receive a reduced amount up to:

  • $581.25 for your first child
  • $562.50 for your second child
  • $543.75 for each additional child

These amounts are reduced by 4 percent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $82,578 until they are reduced to zero.


Temporary enhanced monthly benefit for January 2023 to March 2023

The B.C. government provided a temporary benefit enhancement of up to $175 per child for the period January 2023 to March 2023 (up to $58.33 per month). 

For eligible families with an adjusted family net income between $25,806 and $82,578, the minimum enhancement is $150 per child ($50 per month). 

  • The enhancement was combined with your regular monthly benefit amounts into one monthly payment for January 2023, February 2023 and March 2023
  • You may receive the January 2023, February 2023 and March 2023 benefit payments even if you do not receive the B.C. family benefit for other months because of your family net income 

Recalculating your benefit amount with the enhanced amounts

The maximum monthly benefit amount B.C. families may receive for January 2023, February 2023 and March 2023, including the temporary benefit enhancement is:

  • $191.66 per month for your first child
  • $141.67 per month for your second child
  • $125 per month for each additional child

Net income: $25,806 or less

If your adjusted family net income for the 2021 taxation year is $25,806 or less, you’ll receive the maximum enhanced benefit amount.

Net income: $25,806 to $82,578

If your adjusted family net income for the 2021 taxation year is more than $25,806 but less than $82,578, the monthly enhanced benefit for January to March 2023 is reduced by 0.33% (1/300th) of the portion of adjusted family net income over $25,806. However, you’ll receive a minimum of:

  • $108.33 per month for your first child
  • $106.67 per month for your second child
  • $105 per month for each additional child

Net income: $82,578 or higher

If your adjusted family net income for the 2021 taxation year is $82,578 or more, the maximum benefit you can receive is:

  • $108.33 per month for your first child
  • $106.67 per month for your second child
  • $105 per month for each additional child

Those amounts are reduced by 0.33% (1/300th) of the portion of adjusted family net income over $82,578 until it's reduced to zero.

Note: The federal child and family benefits calculator has not been updated to reflect the three-month enhancement of the benefits. 

 

July 2021 to June 2022 benefit period

For the July 2021 to June 2022 benefit period, the maximum annual benefit amounts are:

  • $1,750 for your first child
  • $1,100 for your second child
  • $900 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2020 tax year is less than $25,275, you'll receive the maximum annual benefit. 

If your adjusted family net income for the 2020 tax year is between $25,275 and $80,880, you'll receive a reduced amount of at least: 

  • $775 for your first child
  • $750 for your second child
  • $725 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2020 tax year is more than $80,880, you'll receive a reduced amount up to:

  • $775 for your first child
  • $750 for your second child
  • $725 for each additional child

These amounts are reduced by 4 percent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $80,880 until they are reduced to zero.

 

October 2020 to June 2021 benefit period

For the October 2020 to June 2021 benefit period, the maximum annual benefit amounts for the nine months are:

  • $1,312.50 for your first child
  • $825 for your second child
  • $675 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2019 tax year is less than $25,000, you'll receive the maximum annual benefit. 

If your adjusted family net income for the 2019 tax year is between $25,000 and $80,000, you'll receive a reduced amount of at least: 

  • $581.25 for your first child
  • $562.50 for your second child
  • $543.75 for each additional child

If your adjusted family net income for the 2019 tax year is more than $80,000, you'll receive a reduced amount up to:

  • $581.25 for your first child
  • $562.50 for your second child
  • $543.75 for each additional child

These amounts are reduced by 4 percent of the portion of adjusted family net income over $80,000 until they are reduced to zero.

 Legislation

The following legislation applies to the B.C. family benefit. 

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