RC66 Form for Kinship Caregivers in BC: What to Submit

Why Form RC66 Matters for Kinship Caregivers

CRA Form RC66 (Canada Child Benefits Application) is the single form that unlocks both the Canada Child Benefit and the BC Family Benefit. If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative raising a child in British Columbia, this form is how you tell the CRA that the child now lives with you and you are the primary caregiver.

The form itself is straightforward — personal details, the child's information, your marital status, and your banking details for direct deposit. The hard part for kinship caregivers is the proof. The CRA may ask for evidence that you are providing primary care, especially when there is no formal order or the parent does not agree that you have taken over care.

The Evidence Package

The CRA evaluates primary caregiver status based on who supervises the child daily, arranges health care, manages school and daycare, and handles meals and daily routines. To prove this, attach as many of these as you can gather:

• School letter: A signed letter from the principal, teacher, or guidance counsellor confirming you are listed as the child's primary contact and pick-up person
• Medical letter: A letter from the child's doctor, dentist, or health care provider confirming you bring the child to appointments
• Social worker letter: A letter from an MCFD social worker, Delegated Indigenous Agency worker, or community organisation attesting to the living arrangement
• Daycare receipts: Enrolment forms or receipts showing you as the payer
• Court order or EFP agreement: A copy of any legal document establishing the care arrangement and its start date

Include the strongest records you have from people directly involved in the child's care. The CRA may request additional information. If the child moved in during a crisis and you do not have formal documents yet, explain the timeline and attach available records, such as utility bills or a lease showing your address.

Common Mistakes That Delay Processing

Filing without a tax return on record. Both you and your spouse or common-law partner must have filed a T1 income tax return for the prior year, even if neither of you earned income. The CRA cannot calculate your benefit amount without your Adjusted Family Net Income.

Waiting to apply. The RC66 asks for the date the child began living with you. The CRA can pay up to 11 months of retroactive benefits from the date it receives your application. If you delay filing by a year, you may lose months of benefits beyond that limit.

Leaving prior caregiver information incomplete. If the parent was previously receiving the CCB for this child, provide that information when RC66 asks about the previous caregiver. When a parent and relative both claim the child for the same period, the CRA may review the competing claims with both parties.

Processing Timeline

The CRA typically processes RC66 applications in 8–11 weeks. You will receive a CCB Notice confirming your entitlement, followed by combined monthly payments (CCB plus BC Family Benefit) around the 20th of each month.

If the parent disputes your claim, expect a questionnaire from the CRA's Child Benefits Rulings Division. The decision rests on physical evidence of care, not on who filed first or who holds legal guardianship.

Keeping Your File Organised

The BC kinship financial help guide includes a CRA evidence checklist cross-referenced to the RC66 sections, plus a document tracker for logging every letter, receipt, and form submission with dates — so nothing falls through the cracks during the 8–11 week wait.

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