CCB Grandparent Application: How to Transfer Canada Child Benefit to a Relative Caregiver

When a grandparent or relative takes in a child, the Canada Child Benefit often keeps flowing to the biological parent's bank account — sometimes for months. The CCB is worth up to $7,787 per year for a child under 6 and $6,570 for a child aged 6–17. Transferring it to the person who is actually raising the child requires a specific process with CRA, and the biological parent's cooperation is not required.

The Application

To claim the CCB as a relative caregiver, file CRA Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application). If you or your spouse were born outside Canada or recently gained status, also file Form RC66SCH (Status in Canada and Income Information).

You can submit through CRA My Account online or by paper mail to your CRA Tax Centre. Do not use a shared login — CRA security rules prohibit it.

The critical part is not the form itself but the supporting documentation. CRA determines who receives the CCB based on who passes the Primary Responsibility Test — the person who primarily handles the child's day-to-day care, nurture, medical supervision, and school administration. A court order helps but is not required. Physical residence and actual daily care are what matter.

Proof of Care Documents

Attach at least two independent, third-party documents that prove the child lives with you and you are providing care:

• School or daycare enrollment forms signed by you, showing your address
• Medical records or a letter from the child's doctor or dentist confirming you accompany the child to appointments
• A letter from a social worker, landlord, First Nations Band Authority, or religious leader confirming the living arrangement
• A PSI court order or CLA 2020 parenting order (if you have one)

Use at least two independent third-party documents. Include dates and details showing when the child began living with you, the care you provide, and your address so the evidence establishes the period of primary responsibility.

When the Biological Parent Will Not Cooperate

If the biological parent refuses to notify CRA and continues claiming the CCB, you can still file your own RC66. CRA will initiate a competing claim review — they send questionnaires to both you and the parent, and your third-party proof determines the effective transfer date.

This review can take time, but it does not require the parent's agreement. CRA decides based on the evidence. If the parent was receiving CCB payments during a period when the child was actually living with you, CRA recovers the overpayment directly from the parent's future tax refunds or credits.

Backdating

CRA permits valid CCB payments to be backdated up to six years from the application date if you provide third-party proof of primary responsibility for those periods. If you have cared for a child for two years before applying, you can request retroactive payments for that period; CRA must still confirm your eligibility.

The current maximum for a child under 6 is $7,787 per year. The total retroactive amount depends on the child's age, the applicable rates, and CRA's eligibility decision for each period.

Provincial Interactions in Saskatchewan

If the child is under a PSI order in Saskatchewan, the CCB is off the table. The Ministry of Social Services claims the federal Children's Special Allowance for children in PSI care, which blocks the caregiver from receiving CCB for that child. In exchange, the caregiver receives PSI maintenance at the foster care rate.

For informal arrangements and private parenting orders under The Children's Law Act, 2020, the CCB is the primary federal support. It is non-taxable and excluded from all provincial means tests — it does not reduce Saskatchewan Income Support, the Saskatchewan Employment Incentive, or SAID.

Common Mistakes

1. Not filing because you think you need a court order first. You do not. Physical care and proof of responsibility are enough.
2. Filing RC66 without RC66SCH when required. CRA may request the missing schedule, delaying processing.
3. Waiting for the parent to "sign off." The parent's agreement is not needed. File your RC66 and let CRA sort the competing claim.
4. Weak documentation. A single letter does not meet the two-document threshold. Use independent sources such as schools, medical clinics, or social workers, and include dates that show the period of care.

The Saskatchewan Kinship Financial Help Guide includes the full CCB application walkthrough for kinship caregivers, including how to assemble the proof-of-care portfolio and what to do when CRA initiates a competing claim review.

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