How to Fill Out Form RC66 as a Grandparent in Canada

What Form RC66 Actually Is

Form RC66 — Canada Child Benefits Application — is the CRA's official form for anyone claiming the Canada Child Benefit, the Child Disability Benefit, and related provincial top-ups. For grandparents and relative caregivers, this is the gateway to transferring the CCB from a biological parent to you.

The form itself is six pages, but the important parts for kinship caregivers are concentrated in a few sections. Here's what each piece does and what to watch for.

Part 1: Your Personal Information

Fill in your legal name, date of birth, Social Insurance Number, and current mailing address. The address on this form becomes the address the CRA uses for all correspondence about child benefits, so make sure it's where you actually live and receive mail.

If you've recently moved the child into your home, use your current address — the one where the child now lives with you.

Part 2: Your Marital Status

The CRA needs this because the Canada Child Benefit is income-tested against both you and your cohabiting spouse or common-law partner. Mark your current marital status accurately. If you live with a partner, their SIN goes here too — the CRA uses both incomes to calculate your benefit.

A common mistake: grandparents who are widowed sometimes skip updating their marital status. If your spouse passed away, mark "widowed" and provide the date. This matters because a single-income household typically qualifies for a higher benefit.

Part 3: Information About the Child

Enter each child's full legal name, date of birth, sex, and SIN (if they have one). For children who've never had a SIN, leave it blank — but you'll need to provide proof of birth (birth certificate or hospital record) with your application.

You can list up to two children on the main form. If you're taking in three or more children, attach Form RC66-1 for the additional ones.

Part 5: The Section That Matters Most

Part 5 is "Change of Recipient" — the section the CRA uses when a child moves from one caregiver to another. This is where grandparents and relatives formally declare themselves as the new primary caregiver.

Enter the exact date the child started living with you. Be precise. The CRA uses this date to assess the eligible period, with automatic backdating up to 11 months and longer retroactive adjustments available with supporting evidence.

If the biological parent was previously receiving the CCB, this section triggers the CRA's validation process. They'll contact the parent to confirm the child no longer lives with them. If the parent doesn't respond within 30 days or can't prove ongoing residence, the CRA transfers the benefit to you.

Schedule RC66SCH: When You Need It (and When You Don't)

Schedule RC66SCH — Status in Canada and Income Information — causes widespread confusion. It is NOT required for most Canadian-born grandparents taking in a grandchild.

You need RC66SCH when you or your spouse or common-law partner:

• Moved to Canada or gained a relevant status
• Are registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
• Have a relevant residency change, such as returning to Canada after a 6-month absence

If your spouse or partner lived outside Canada during any part of the base year, check whether Form CTB9 is required; that situation is not a reason to file RC66SCH by itself.

If none of those apply, you generally do not need RC66SCH. Follow the current CRA form instructions for your situation.

Documents to Include

The CRA does not require the same documents with every RC66 submission. Relevant documents can support your application if the CRA asks for evidence; sending them upfront does not guarantee faster processing:

• Birth certificate or hospital record — if the child has never received the CCB or is over one year old
• Retroactive claim over 11 months — three Canadian-residency proofs and three primary-care proofs for each historical year requested
• Third-party care proof — school enrollment letter naming your address, medical records showing you as emergency contact, daycare registration

A signed waiver letter from a female spouse or common-law partner is required when a male caregiver living with her is the one filing (the CRA's statutory presumption favours the female cohabiting partner).

Online vs. Paper Submission

You can file through CRA My Account ("Apply for child benefits") or mail the paper form to your tax centre. Online processing takes about 8 weeks; paper processing takes up to 16 weeks.

For most grandparents, online is faster and gives you a confirmation number. If you need to submit multiple documents — court orders or multi-year proof packages — check CRA's current upload instructions before choosing an online or paper submission method.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong care start date — this is the most expensive error. Use the best supported date; if you're unsure, explain the uncertainty and include documents that establish the timeline.
• Forgetting your spouse's SIN — the CRA will hold your application until they have it.
• Submitting RC66SCH when it's not needed — check the current schedule instructions and include it only when your status or residency situation requires it.
• Not filing tax returns — both you and your spouse must file T1 returns each year; missing returns can suspend CCB payments starting in July until both are processed.

Our complete kinship caregiver guide includes a section-by-section RC66 walkthrough with annotated examples, plus fillable template letters for schools and doctors that serve as your third-party proof package.

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