Could the child in my care receive a CPP children's benefit?
A child may qualify for a monthly CPP benefit because of a parent's disability or death. Kinship caregivers should check this separately from CCB, GACP and the CPP death benefit.
Part of our Financial Help resource series. See the main Financial Help guide for PEI programs, household costs and related caregiver resources. Following a guided route? Return to the Money & practical-needs route.
Information reviewed September 2026. Benefit amounts, tax thresholds and program rules can change, so use the linked official source for current eligibility and amounts.
There are two common routes to eligibility.
Parent receives CPP disability
A dependent child of someone receiving CPP disability or a CPP post-retirement disability benefit may qualify for a monthly children's benefit.
Parent has died
A dependent child of a deceased CPP contributor may qualify if the deceased parent met the CPP contribution requirements.
Who receives the payment when the child is under 18?
Current Service Canada guidance says that when a child lives apart from a disabled contributor, the person or agency with decision-making responsibility and care of the child may receive the benefit on the child's behalf. For a deceased contributor, the benefit for a child under 18 is generally paid to the person or agency with decision-making responsibility and care of the child.
This makes the benefit particularly important to check when a grandparent or other kinship caregiver has taken over the child's day-to-day care.
Current monthly amounts, July to September 2026.
Under 18 or full-time student age 18 to 25
$307.81 per month under the current CPP maximum-benefit table.
Part-time student age 18 to 25
$153.91 per month under the current CPP maximum-benefit table.
CPP amounts can change. Use the current Service Canada table when applying or budgeting.
Students age 18 to 25 receive the payment directly.
Eligible young people age 18 to 25 who attend a recognized school or university full-time or part-time can receive the benefit directly. School attendance rules and renewal requirements apply.
The child can receive more than one children's benefit in limited circumstances.
Service Canada says a child can be paid a maximum of two CPP children's benefits, for example where more than one qualifying contributor situation applies.
The tax treatment is easy to misunderstand.
CRA says CPP children's benefits paid for a child are considered the child's income even when the payment was received by the caregiver on the child's behalf. Keep the T4A(P) slip and make sure the amount is reported on the correct person's return.
CRA: Tax treatment of CPP children's benefits
Do not confuse this with the CPP death benefit.
The CPP death benefit is a separate one-time payment connected to the deceased contributor's estate or other eligible person. The children's benefit is a recurring monthly benefit for an eligible dependent child.
Official starting points
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