Using CRA My Account to Apply for the CCB as a Grandparent

Applying for the Canada Child Benefit online through CRA My Account has a shorter service standard than applying by mail — 8 weeks instead of 11 for a complete paper application. For grandparents and kinship caregivers who are already covering a child's expenses out of pocket, those extra three weeks matter.

Setting Up CRA My Account

If you've never used CRA My Account, you'll need to register before you can apply online. There are three ways to sign in:

Sign-In Partner: Use your participating bank or credit union login. First-time registration may still require identity validation. Document verification can provide immediate full access; if you choose a CRA security code by mail, you have limited access until you enter it.

CRA user ID and password: Create an account directly with the CRA. After initial registration, you may validate your identity with the document verification service or request a security code by mail. Your access is limited until you complete identity validation.

Provincial digital ID: CRA currently accepts the BC Services Card and Alberta.ca Account as provincial sign-in options.

Once you're logged in, you have access to your tax information, benefit status, direct deposit settings, and the online application for child benefits.

Applying for the CCB Online

Inside CRA My Account, navigate to "Apply for child benefits" under the Benefits and credits section. The online application walks you through the same information as the paper Form RC66, but in a guided format:

1. Your personal information — name, SIN, address, marital status. This should be pre-populated from your tax profile.
2. The child's information — full name, date of birth, gender, SIN (if the child has one), and your relationship to the child.
3. Care start date — the date the child began living with you full-time. This determines how far back your benefit is calculated.
4. Previous claimant information — if someone else was receiving the CCB for this child (usually the biological parent), you'll indicate that a change of recipient is needed.
5. Shared custody declaration — whether the child lives with you full-time or alternates between two households.

The application itself does not include an upload step. If the CRA asks for proof of primary care or other supporting documents, use the Submit documents feature in CRA My Account or follow the instructions in the CRA's request. Having your evidence ready before you apply means you can respond promptly rather than scrambling to collect school letters and medical records.

What CRA My Account Shows After You Apply

Once your application is submitted, CRA My Account becomes your tracking dashboard:

• Application status — whether your claim is received, under review, or approved
• Payment schedule — once approved, a calendar of upcoming payment dates and amounts
• Benefit calculation — the breakdown of your CCB entitlement based on the number of children, their ages, and your household income
• Letters and notices — some CRA correspondence appears online before the paper copy reaches your mailbox

Check back periodically after submitting your application. If the CRA sends a validation request for additional documentation, it may appear in your account before the letter arrives by mail. Responding quickly keeps the processing timeline as short as possible.

Things Grandparents Should Know About the Online Application

You're applying as yourself, not on behalf of the parent. The CCB goes to the person who is primarily responsible for the child's care. When you apply through your own CRA My Account, you're telling the CRA that you are now that person. This isn't stealing the benefit from the parent — it's reporting the factual change in who is caring for the child.

Your spouse or partner's tax return needs to be filed too. The CRA calculates the CCB using the combined Adjusted Family Net Income of you and your cohabiting spouse or common-law partner. If either return is missing, your application stalls. If your partner hasn't filed, a CVITP tax clinic can help for free.

The female-parent presumption still applies. If the child's female parent lives with the child and another parent, the CRA generally presumes that the female parent is primarily responsible. If the other parent is primarily responsible, the CRA requires a signed letter from the female parent with Form RC66. A female spouse or partner who is not the child's parent is not presumed responsible just by living with you.

You can update your direct deposit at the same time. While you're in CRA My Account, make sure your direct deposit banking information is current. This ensures your first CCB payment arrives electronically rather than as a mailed cheque.

When Paper Is Still Necessary

A few situations may require the paper Form RC66:

• If you can't access CRA My Account or complete identity verification
• If Service Canada will not issue a SIN to you or your spouse or common-law partner, include a note and supporting identity documents with paper Form RC66
• If you apply for more than two children on paper, include Form RC66-1 for the additional children

Even when you apply on paper, you can still use CRA My Account to track the application status and see when the first payment is scheduled.

After Approval

Once approved, the CCB arrives monthly on the 20th. CRA My Account shows the exact amount for each payment date, broken down by child. If circumstances change — the child moves, your marital status changes, or another child joins your household — update the information through CRA My Account immediately. Delays in reporting changes can result in overpayments that the CRA will claw back later.

For the full picture of what you're entitled to as a kinship caregiver — including the CCB, the Child Disability Benefit, the Canada Learning Bond, and provincial supports — our complete guide lays out every step in order.

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