Canada Child Benefit for Grandparents in Nova Scotia

The Canada Child Benefit is the single largest payment most grandparents raising a grandchild will receive — up to $679.75 per month for a child under 6 and $573.58 for a child aged 6–17 (July 2026 rates). You don't need a court order to claim it. You do need to prove you're the primary caregiver.

How to Apply

Submit Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) to the CRA. You can file through CRA My Account online or mail the paper form to your regional tax centre. The form asks for the child's information, your information, and the date you became the primary caregiver.

Along with the form, include a written statement explaining when the child came to live with you and the circumstances. Keep it factual — dates, not emotions.

Transferring CCB From a Parent

When a grandchild moves in, the birth parent often continues receiving the CCB by direct deposit. The CRA won't transfer the benefit automatically — you have to apply. And you don't need the parent's consent or cooperation to do it.

If the parent refuses to notify the CRA or disputes the change, the CRA opens an administrative review and may ask both sides for evidence. This is where your proof of care matters.

What Counts as Proof of Care

If the parent refuses to notify the CRA or disputes the change, submit at least two independent, third-party documents confirming your primary care:

• A letter from the child's school (principal or guidance counsellor) stating you are registered as the primary contact and daily caregiver
• A letter from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or public health nurse confirming the child lives with you full-time
• Letters from a landlord, religious leader, or community agency worker attesting to your caregiving role

A court order is strong evidence but not required. School and medical records are examples of third-party evidence; the CRA decides based on the evidence for your situation.

Processing Time and Retroactive Payments

Standard processing for a paper RC66 with a care transfer takes 8 to 16 weeks. During the review period, payments to the previous recipient may be paused.

The CRA can backdate CCB payments for up to 10 years, as long as you can prove continuous primary care for the claimed period. For the retroactive claim to work, you and your spouse or partner must have filed tax returns for every year you're claiming. Back payments arrive as a single tax-free lump sum — for a grandparent who has been caring for a child for two or three years without claiming, this can be thousands of dollars.

The Nova Scotia Child Benefit Comes Automatically

Once you're registered with the CRA as the primary caregiver, the Nova Scotia Child Benefit (NSCB) is calculated and paid automatically — up to $127.08 per month per child for families with adjusted net income under $26,000. No separate provincial application is needed.

Important Tax Filing Requirement

Both you and your spouse or common-law partner must file Canadian income tax returns every year. The CRA uses your tax returns to calculate your CCB and NSCB amounts. Even if your income is zero or only pension income, file the return.

The Nova Scotia kinship financial help guide includes step-by-step instructions for the RC66 application, a proof-of-care document checklist, and a template for the written statement — everything you need to get the transfer moving without hiring a professional.

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