Here’s how the B.C. Family Benefit is changing in July | Daily Hive

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While the B.C. Family Benefit bonus was nice while it lasted, parents in the province should be aware of changes to the amount their families will receive starting this month.

The B.C. Family Benefit provides a tax-free monthly payment to families with children under 18 years of age. The bonus was an add-on to that benefit, running from July 2024 through June 2025.

This means that the payments will be adjusted to return to normal amounts.

Here’s what the B.C. Family Benefit amounts used to be with the bonus

As a refresher, from July 2024 to July 2025, the B.C. Family Benefit bonus offered a 25 per cent increase in payments for eligible families with children under 18 years of age. According to the province, the bonus provided families with an average boost of $445 over 12 months.

The income threshold was $35,902, and families with net income less than that amount (based on their 2023 tax return) would receive:

$2,188 for their first child
$1,375 for their second child
$1,125 for each additional child

Families with a net income below $114,887 were guaranteed the minimum amounts of:

$969 for their first child
$937 for their second child
$906 for each additional child

How are the amounts changing?

Not only are the benefit amounts changing for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit period due to the bonus no longer being in place, but the income threshold has also been lowered, as it is indexed to inflation each year.

Government of B.C.

According to the province, the amounts are the following for the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit period:

The maximum annual benefit an eligible family can receive is:

$1,750 for your first child
$1,100 for your second child
$900 for each additional child

If you have an adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year of less than $29,526, you’ll receive the maximum annual benefit.

However, if your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is between $29,526 and $94,48m you will be eligible for a reduced amount of:

$775 for your first child
$750 for your second child
$725 for each additional child

The above reduced amounts also apply if your adjusted family net income for the 2024 tax year is more than $94,483.

How to receive the benefit

Receiving the benefit doesn’t come with complicated steps.

You and your spouse or common-law partner must file a T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return.

Your child should also be registered for the Canada Child Benefit, which means they will also be automatically registered for the B.C. Family Benefit.

If you haven’t registered for the Canada Child Benefit, you can do so online.

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