Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) Payment Dates 2026

If you are a parent in Alberta, you have a financial advantage over almost every other province. While everyone gets the federal Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Alberta families also receive a generous provincial top-up called the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB).

This benefit is unique because it isn't just for "low income" families. It includes a specific "Working Component" designed to reward parents who work, meaning your benefit might actually increase if you earn employment income.

Live ACFB Tracker: Real-Time Countdown to Your Next 2026 Alberta Child & Family Deposit

This is the Official 2026 ACFB Payment Schedule, verified against Government of Alberta circulars. We break down the verified quarterly dates, the specific income thresholds for 2026, and the "Double Pay" months you need to mark on your calendar.

Living in Alberta?

Don't forget that you also qualify for the federal Carbon Rebate. Check the Canada Carbon Rebate Schedule to see when your fuel money arrives.

Official 2026 ACFB Payment Schedule

Save this table. The ACFB is paid four times a year, separately from the CCB.

The "Double Pay" Strategy:

Because the ACFB pays in Feb, May, Aug, and Nov, it perfectly alternates with the GST Credit (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct).

• Result: Low-income Alberta families receive a "Quarterly Boost" cheque almost every single month of the year (except March, June, September, and December... but those months have the Carbon Rebate!). Alberta essentially has the most consistent cash flow of any province.

Quick Answers: Common ACFB Questions

What are the ACFB payment dates for 2026?

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is paid quarterly on February 27, 2026, May 27, 2026, August 27, 2026, and November 27, 2026. These payments are issued separately from the federal Canada Child Benefit.

How much is the Alberta Child and Family Benefit 2026?

For the benefit period starting July 2025, the maximum base amount is approx. $1,499 for the first child and $749 for the second child. Families with working income can also receive the "Working Component" top-up of up to $767 for the first child.

Is the Alberta Child Benefit taxable?

No. The ACFB is a tax-free payment. You do not need to report it as income on your tax return. It is funded by the provincial government but administered by the CRA.

What income qualifies for Alberta Child Benefit?

To receive the Base Component, your family net income must be below $27,565 (for the full amount). The benefit is fully phased out once your income exceeds approx. $46,191. However, the Working Component kicks in once you earn more than $2,760 in employment income.

How Much Will I Get? (The 2 Components)

The ACFB is actually two benefits rolled into one cheque. The math is a bit complex, but here is the simplified breakdown for 2026.

Part 1: The Base Component

This is the "Basic" amount for having children.

• Who gets it: All eligible families with income under $27,565.
• First Child: ~$1,499 per year ($374/quarter).
• 2nd/3rd/4th Child: ~$749 per child per year ($187/quarter).
• Reduction: If you earn more than $27,565, this amount starts to shrink.

Part 2: The Working Component

This is the "Bonus" for having a job.

• Who gets it: Families who earned at least $2,760 from a job or business last year.
• First Child: ~$767 per year ($191/quarter).
• 2nd Child: ~$698 per year ($174/quarter).
• 3rd Child: ~$418 per year ($104/quarter).
• 4th Child: ~$138 per year ($34/quarter).

The "Sweet Spot":

If your family earns around $35,000, you are in the "Golden Zone." You likely qualify for:

1. Most of the Base Component.
2. The maximum Working Component.
3. The maximum Canada Workers Benefit.This combination can add thousands of dollars to your annual household income.

Eligibility: The "Alberta" Rule

The rules for ACFB are slightly stricter than the federal CCB.

1. Residency: You must be a resident of Alberta at the beginning of the payment month.
   • Example: If you move to BC on February 1st, you will not receive the February 27th ACFB payment (even though you lived in Alberta for most of the month).
2. Tax Filing: You must file your 2025 tax return. If you are late, your payments stop immediately in August.
3. Age: You must have a child under 18 living with you.

Lump Sum vs. Quarterly: Why Did I Get One Payment?

Just like the Ontario Trillium Benefit, the ACFB has a "Small Payment" rule.

The Rule:

If your total annual benefit is less than $10 per quarter, the government will not send you four tiny cheques.

• Instead, they might send you minimal lump sums or nothing at all if the calculation is too low.

Exceptions:

Unlike Ontario, Alberta generally tries to pay quarterly whenever possible. However, if your eligibility changes mid-year (e.g., your child turns 18 in April), your May payment will be adjusted or cancelled.

Reality: Deposit Times by Bank

The ACFB is issued by the CRA (on behalf of Alberta), so it follows the standard federal deposit rails.

• Tangerine / PC Financial: Expect the deposit around 10:30 PM ET on the night before the payment date (e.g., Thursday night for the Friday Feb 27 payment).
• RBC / TD / Scotiabank: Funds will clear between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM local time on payment morning.
• The Label: The deposit will usually appear on your bank statement as "Canada Fed" or "Fed-Prov / Terr". It rarely says "Alberta" explicitly, which confuses people.

Shared Custody: The 50/50 Split

Alberta follows the federal CRA rules for shared custody.

• The Split: If you share custody of your child (40% to 60% of the time), you get 50% of the ACFB amount you would qualify for if you had the child full-time.
• The Math:
  • Parent A (Low Income) gets 50% of the Max Benefit.
  • Parent B (High Income) gets 50% of Zero (or a very small amount).
• The Payment: You do not split one cheque. The CRA calculates your entitlement separately based on your specific income.

Detailed Guide: Calculation, Clawbacks & Troubleshooting

While knowing the ACFB payment dates is important, the most common frustration for Alberta parents is the amount. Why did it go down? Why did you get a letter saying you owe money?

Below is the "Street Reality" guide to the math behind your cheque and who to call when things go wrong.

How to Calculate Your ACFB (The "Working" Math)

Unlike the federal CCB, the Alberta benefit has a unique "Working Component" that rewards you for having a job. This can be confusing, so here is the simple breakdown of how the government calculates your 2026 entitlement.

Step 1: The Base Amount (For Everyone)

You get the full "Base Amount" (approx. $1,499 for the first child) if your family net income is below $27,565.

• The Clawback: Once you earn more than $27,565, this specific part of the benefit starts to shrink. It disappears completely if your income hits approx. $46,191.

Step 2: The Working Amount (For Earners)

This is the "bonus" cash. It kicks in once you show employment income of at least $2,760.

• The Growth: For every dollar you earn above $2,760, the government adds 15 cents to your benefit (up to the maximum of ~$767).
• The Clawback: Just like the base amount, this bonus eventually gets cut off. If your family income exceeds $46,191, the working component begins to reduce, usually reaching $0 around the $90,000 mark (depending on how many kids you have).

Street Reality: If you recently lost your job, your ACFB might actually drop next year. Why? Because you lost the "Working Component" bonus. This often shocks parents who assume "lower income = more benefits." In Alberta, that isn't always true.

ACFB vs. Federal CCB: Can You Get Both?

Newcomers to Alberta often ask if they have to choose between the provincial and federal cheques.

The Answer: No. You get both.

Strategy: Treat the Canada Child Benefit as your monthly "bill payer" (rent/groceries) and use the quarterly ACFB as your "seasonal" fund (back-to-school costs, winter clothes, holidays).

Retroactive Payments: Can I Claim Back Pay?

Did you forget to file your taxes last year? Or did you just move to Alberta and didn't apply right away? You haven't lost that money.

The "Automatic" Rule:

You do not need to file a special application for back pay.

1. File Your Taxes: As soon as you file your 2024 or 2025 tax return, the system triggers a review.
2. The Lookback: The CRA will automatically calculate any ACFB payments you missed for the last 3 years.
3. The Deposit: You will usually receive a separate lump-sum deposit labeled "Canada Fed" or "Fed - Prov/Terr" shortly after your Notice of Assessment arrives.

Moving to Alberta:

If you moved from Ontario or BC, you become eligible for the ACFB the month after you become a resident.

• Warning: You must update your address with the CRA immediately. If you delay updating your address by 6 months, you delay your cheques by 6 months (though you will eventually get it all back retroactively).

Who Do I Call? (Contact Numbers)

Because the benefit is "Alberta money" but "Federal computers," people often call the wrong number.

• Do NOT call: The Government of Alberta general line (310-0000). They cannot see your tax file.
• DO call: The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Benefits Line.

Official Phone Numbers:

• General Inquiries: 1-800-387-1193
• Specific Alberta Benefit Questions: 1-800-959-2809
• Wait Times: The best time to call is Tuesday to Thursday, early morning (8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Local Time). Mondays are historically the busiest days.

Why Did I Get a "Debt Letter"?

Receiving a letter saying you owe the government money is stressful. For the ACFB, this usually happens for one of two reasons:

1. Marital Status Change: You got married or moved in with a partner (Common Law), but didn't tell the CRA right away.
   • The Impact: The CRA adds your partner's income to yours. Suddenly, your "Family Income" is higher, and you weren't supposed to get the full benefit for the last 6 months. They will ask for that "overpayment" back.
2. Income Reassessment: Your employer amended your T4 slip, or the CRA audited your self-employment expenses. If your income goes up after a review, your benefits go down retroactively.

How to Pay it Back:

The CRA rarely asks for a cheque. Instead, they will usually keep your future GST Credits or tax refunds until the debt is paid off. This is called "offsetting."

Need More Income?

If your quarterly ACFB cheque isn't enough to cover your family's expenses, you may need to look for accessible, immediate work opportunities.

👉 Find Daily Pay Jobs at BetterPayJobs.ca

About the Author

Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z) is a Canadian labour market researcher and digital entrepreneur specializing in government benefit data and cost-of-living support. As the founder of CanadaPaymentDates.ca and BetterPayJobs.ca, Jeff helps newcomers, students, and workers navigate the Canadian social safety net—from tracking CRA payment schedules to finding entry-level work.

Sources

1. Government of Alberta: Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)
2. Canada Revenue Agency: Provincial and Territorial Programs
3. CRA Calculator: Child and Family Benefits Calculator

Note

Official 2026 payment dates and benefit amounts are determined by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provincial governments. While we strive to keep this information current, government policies and schedules are subject to change without notice. All data in this guide is verified against official CRA circulars at the time of publication and should be treated as an estimate. We recommend confirming the status of your personal file directly via CRA My Account or by calling the CRA benefit line at 1-800-387-1193.