How to Prove Primary Caregiver to CRA for a Grandchild

Why CRA Needs Proof

When you submit Form RC66 to claim the Canada Child Benefit for a grandchild, the CRA doesn't just take your word that you're the primary caregiver. They apply a specific test: who supervises the child's daily activities, arranges their health care, and manages their day-to-day needs? If the parent was previously receiving the CCB, the CRA needs evidence that care has shifted to you.

Provide clear evidence of the child's living arrangements and your daily caregiving. When a parent and relative both claim the child for the same period, CRA's Child Benefits Rulings Division may review the competing claims by questionnaire.

The Evidence CRA Accepts

CRA evaluates primary caregiver status based on physical care evidence, not legal custody documents. You can hold no court order at all and still qualify, as long as the child demonstrably lives with you and you handle their daily care. The acceptable evidence categories are:

Third-party letters:

• A signed letter from the child's school principal, teacher, or guidance counsellor confirming you are the primary contact and the child lives at your address
• A letter from a licensed physician, dentist, or other health care provider stating you bring the child to appointments
• A letter from an MCFD or ICFSA social worker, community agency worker, or religious leader attesting to the child's living arrangement

Institutional documentation:

• Daycare receipts or registration forms listing you as the payer and contact
• Extracurricular activity registrations (sports, music, clubs) in your name
• School enrollment forms showing your address

Residential proof:

• Utility bills at your address
• Lease or mortgage documents
• Bank statements showing your residential address

Legal documents (supporting but not required):

• EFP Section 8 agreement
• FLA guardianship order
• Interim or temporary custody order
• A signed letter from the parent confirming the child lives with you

How to Write a Strong Third-Party Letter

These letters can help document the child's care through people who interact with them independently. When asking a teacher or doctor to write one, give them a simple brief:

The letter can state the professional's name and title, confirm that the child lives at your address, describe the school communications or medical appointments you handle, and include the date the arrangement began if they know it.

Ask the professional to include the details they can verify and keep a copy. CRA may request additional information if it needs to assess the application.

What Happens After You Submit

CRA typically processes an RC66 application within 8 to 11 weeks. You'll receive a CCB Notice confirming approval and the monthly amount. Payments are retroactive up to 11 months before the date CRA received your application, so filing promptly matters.

If CRA asks for additional detail about the care arrangement, answer every question specifically and include any additional evidence you've gathered since the initial filing.

When the Parent Disputes

If the biological parent also claims the child for the same period, CRA initiates a competing-claims review. It evaluates both parties' evidence and makes a determination based on physical care and responsibility. In shared-custody situations where the child lives between 40% and 60% of the time with each caregiver, CRA divides the benefit equally.

Third-party documentation from schools and health care providers can help show who handles the child's day-to-day care.

Building Your Evidence File

Start collecting evidence the day the child moves in. A school enrollment form you file in September becomes supporting evidence for an RC66 you submit in October. Medical appointment receipts, daycare invoices, and activity registrations all build the file over time.

The BC Kinship Financial Help Guide includes a CRA benefit transfer checklist and document-gathering worksheet designed specifically for grandparent and relative caregivers building an RC66 evidence package.

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