Alberta Child Benefit Calculator 2026: Max Payments and Income Thresholds

For parents in Wild Rose Country, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) is a critical quarterly "top-up" to the federal Canada Child Benefit (CCB). Unlike the monthly CCB, the ACFB arrives four times a year and is specifically designed to support low-to-middle-income families in Alberta.

In 2026, the ACFB remains indexed to inflation, meaning the payment amounts have increased to help families keep up with the rising cost of groceries and housing. Because the benefit is split into two parts—a Base Component and a Working Component—calculating your exact total can be tricky.

This is the Official 2026 ACFB Guide. We provide the maximum payment tables, the income "clawback" thresholds for 2026, and a manual calculator to help you predict your next quarterly deposit.

Alberta Child Benefit Calculator 2026: Calculate Your Max Payments & Income Limits

stimate your 2026 Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) with our updated provincial calculator. Find the maximum base and working component amounts, new income thresholds for 2026, and confirmed quarterly payment dates. See how much your Alberta family qualifies for in just two clicks.

Quick Answers: ACFB 2026

How much is the Alberta Child and Family Benefit in 2026?

For the current benefit year, a family with one child can receive a maximum of $2,266 per year ($1,499 from the base component and $767 from the working component). Families with four or more children can receive a maximum of $5,656 per year.

When are the ACFB payment dates for 2026?

The ACFB is paid quarterly, usually in the last week of the month. The confirmed 2026 dates are:

• February 27, 2026
• May 27, 2026
• August 27, 2026
• November 27, 2026

Is the Alberta child benefit paid monthly?

No. While the federal CCB arrives every month, the Alberta provincial benefit is paid only four times a year. If your total annual benefit is less than $10 per quarter, the CRA may combine your payments into one lump sum.

2026 ACFB Maximum Payment Table

These amounts apply to the benefit period from July 2025 to June 2026, based on your 2024 tax return.

How the Calculator Works: Two Parts Explained

Part 1: The Base Component (For Everyone)

You are eligible for this amount even if you have $0 employment income, as long as your family net income is below the threshold.

• The Threshold: In 2026, your base component starts to decrease once your adjusted family net income exceeds $27,565.
• The Phase-out: It is fully phased out once your income reaches approx. $46,191.

Part 2: The Working Component (For Workers)

This is an extra "bonus" for families who are currently in the workforce.

• The Floor: You must earn at least $2,760 in employment income to start receiving this part.
• The Growth: For every dollar you earn over $2,760, the working component increases at a rate of 15% until you hit the maximum listed in the table above.
• The Clawback: Like the base component, this also begins to decrease once your family income exceeds $46,191.

The "Manual Calculator" Strategy

If you want to estimate your quarterly payment for the February or May 2026 deposits, follow these steps:

1. Find your Income: Look at Line 23600 of your 2024 tax return (and your spouse's).
2. Determine your "Base": If your income is under $27,565, take the "Base Component" from the table above and divide it by 4.
3. Add the "Work": If you earned over $2,760 but your total income is under $46,191, take the "Working Component" from the table and divide by 4.
4. Total: The sum of these two is your quarterly deposit.

Note for Newcomers: If you arrived in Alberta in 2025 on a Work Permit, you are eligible for the ACFB the moment you become a resident. However, you must file your first tax return to trigger the payments.

Alberta Child Benefit Clawback: The "Large Family" Math

While a single-child family can easily estimate their payments, families with three or more children face a different set of reduction rates that can make their "Net Pay" difficult to predict. The Alberta government uses a "stepped" system where the benefit for the first child is the highest, and subsequent children receive a slightly smaller amount.

For a family with 3 children in 2026:

• Maximum Base Component: $2,997 per year.
• The First Tier: If your family income is $35,000, you are roughly $7,435 over the base threshold ($27,565).
• The Result: Your benefit is reduced by a set percentage. However, because you have three children, the income level where your benefit hits zero is much higher (approx. $46,191) than it would be for a family with only one child.

This means that in Alberta, larger families are "protected" for longer as their income rises, ensuring that those with the highest expenses keep more of their provincial support during the 2026 cost-of-living crisis.

Unlocking the Working Component: The "15% Growth" Rule

Many parents are confused as to why their ACFB cheque is smaller than their neighbor’s, even if they have the same number of children. The secret lies in the Working Component. Unlike the federal CCB, which only goes down as you earn more, the Alberta Working Component actually goes up as you start working, before it eventually starts to drop.

How the "Phase-In" Works:

1. The Floor: You must earn at least $2,760 in family employment income to qualify for a single cent of this component.
2. The Growth: For every dollar you earn above $2,760, your benefit grows by 15%.
3. The Peak: You continue to gain more money until you hit the maximum (e.g., $767 for one child).
4. The Plateau: You keep that maximum amount until your family income reaches $46,191.

ACFB vs. the "Carbon Tax" Replacement

With the cancellation of the federal carbon rebate in 2025, Alberta families are looking for ways to fill the gap in their quarterly budget. The ACFB is now the only major quarterly payment left for many Albertans.

• The Strategy: While the Carbon Rebate provided a flat amount regardless of work, the ACFB rewards those who are actively in the workforce.
• The Impact: If you lost your $225 quarterly Carbon Rebate, you can "earn it back" by ensuring you meet the ACFB Working Component threshold. For a family of two children, the Working Component alone can provide up to **$1,465 per year**, which more than replaces the lost carbon tax cheques.

Reporting "AISH" and "Income Support" to the ACFB

If you are receiving Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) or provincial Income Support, there is good news for 2026: These payments do not reduce your Alberta Child Benefit.

• Non-Taxable Income: Because AISH and Income Support are not considered "taxable employment income," they do not count toward the $46,191 clawback threshold.
• The "Base" Guarantee: You will always receive the Maximum Base Component ($1,499 for the first child) regardless of your AISH amount.
• The Working Component Gap: However, because AISH is not "employment income," it does not help you reach the $2,760 floor for the Working Component. You would still need a small amount of "earned wages" (like a part-time job) to trigger that extra $767.

Retroactive ACFB for "Landing" Newcomers

If you moved to Alberta from outside of Canada on a Work Permit in late 2025, you are likely owed Back-Pay.

Unlike the federal government, which sometimes requires a 18-month residency for certain credits, Alberta allows you to claim the ACFB for every quarter you were a resident of the province.

• The Trigger: Filing your first Canadian tax return in 2026.
• The Payout: Once the CRA processes your return, they will see your "Alberta Residency" date and issue a lump-sum payment for the February and May quarters you missed.

What if my ACFB payment is "Under $10"?

If your calculated benefit is very small (less than $10 per quarter), the Alberta government will not send you a cheque every three months. Instead, they will:

1. Consolidate: They add all four quarters together.
2. Lump-Sum: They pay you the total (e.g., $35) once per year, usually in August.

If you were expecting a payment on February 27, 2026, but it didn't arrive, check your CRA My Account to see if your entitlement was too low for a quarterly deposit.

Why Your 2026 Payments Might Change

The "July Recalculation"

Your February and May 2026 payments are based on your 2024 taxes. Your August and November 2026 payments will be based on your 2025 taxes. If you got a raise in 2025, expect your August payment to be slightly lower.

The Inflation Adjustment (July 2026)

In July 2026, the Alberta government will adjust the thresholds again.

• The Prediction: The "Base Threshold" is expected to rise from $27,565 to approx. **$28,300**. This is good news—it means you can earn more money before the government starts "clawing back" your benefit.

Shared Custody

If you share custody of your children 50/50, both you and the other parent will receive 50% of the ACFB you are entitled to based on your respective incomes.

Related Alberta Benefits to Claim in 2026

If you qualify for the ACFB, you should also ensure you are receiving these "Hidden" Alberta supports:

• Alberta Child Health Benefit: Provides free dental, vision, and prescription drugs for children in low-income families.
• Alberta Adult Health Benefit: Similar support for parents on high-cost medications.
• The $430 Rent Rebate: If you are a renter in Alberta, check our Emergency Rent Bank Guide to see if you qualify for the 2026 housing top-up.

Need to Increase Your Income?

While the ACFB provides a great quarterly boost, it is designed for lower and middle-income families. If your household income is rising and you are looking for high-paying roles that don't disqualify you from all benefits:

👉 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

• Government of Alberta: Alberta Child and Family Benefit Overview
• Canada Revenue Agency: ACFB payment amounts and thresholds 2026
• Alberta Supports: Contact for Benefit Enquiries

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.