CGEB payments are scheduled for July 5, October 5, January 5, and April 5. If your deposit hasn't arrived, the cause is almost always one of six predictable issues — and most can be fixed without ever calling the CRA. This guide walks you through the diagnosis in order, from most common to least common.

Step 1 — Wait the Right Amount of Time

Direct deposits typically land on the scheduled day, but can take 1–3 business days. Paper cheques are mailed the day before and can take up to 10 business days. Don't escalate before the wait window has passed.

• Direct deposit: wait 5 business days past the scheduled date.
• Paper cheque: wait 10 business days past the scheduled date.

Step 2 — Confirm You're Actually Eligible

Run through the basic checklist:

• Are you a Canadian tax resident as of the first day of the payment month?
• Are you 19+, OR have a spouse/partner, OR are a parent?
• Did you (or your spouse) file a 2025 tax return?
• Is your adjusted family net income below the complete phase-out (varies by family size)?

If any answer is "no," you may not be eligible for that quarter. Use our eligibility checker to confirm.

Step 3 — Check Your Tax Return Status

The single most common reason for a late CGEB is an unfiled or late-processed 2025 return. Log into CRA My Account and check:

• Tax returns → 2025 return: status should be "Assessed" with a Notice of Assessment date before the payment date.
• If status is "In progress," your CGEB will arrive 2–8 weeks after assessment.
• If you haven't filed yet — file immediately. Your benefit will start with the next quarterly cycle after assessment, with retroactive amounts for any missed quarters.

Step 4 — Verify Direct Deposit Details

Direct deposit failures are the second-most-common cause. Inside CRA My Account, go to Profile → Direct Deposit and confirm:

• The transit, institution, and account numbers match your current account exactly.
• The account is still open. Closed bank accounts cause CRA payments to bounce back; the CRA then reissues a paper cheque to your mailing address (which adds 2–4 weeks).
• If you recently switched banks, update direct deposit at least 10 business days before the next payment date.

Step 5 — Check Your Mailing Address

If a cheque was mailed and you've moved, it may be sitting at your old address. In CRA My Account, go to Profile → Address and confirm:

• Your current mailing address is correct, including unit/apartment number.
• Your phone number is current — the CRA may call about returned mail.

Cheques returned by Canada Post are held by the CRA. Once you update your address, request reissue through CRA My Account or by phone.

Step 6 — Check for Debt Offsets

If you owe the CRA, ESDC, or another federal department, your CGEB can be applied against the debt before being paid out. In CRA My Account:

• Open Accounts and payments → Statement of Account.
• Look for a line item dated near your CGEB payment date with a description like "Benefit applied to balance."
• If you see one, your CGEB was used to reduce your debt — that's not a missing payment, it's a transfer.

Step 7 — Check for Marital Status or Custody Changes

Major life changes that trigger a CGEB recalculation:

• Marriage, common-law, separation, or divorce.
• Custody changes affecting children.
• Death of a spouse.
• Becoming a non-resident or leaving Canada for an extended period.

If any of these happened and you didn't notify the CRA within the required 30-day window, your benefit may be paused while they reassess. Update your status in CRA My Account → Personal information.

Step 8 — Confirm It's Not a Reduced Payment

Sometimes the CGEB did arrive, but it was much smaller than expected. Common causes:

• Your 2025 income increased, pushing you into phase-out.
• Your spouse's income increased.
• You crossed the family-type boundary (e.g. a child turned 19 mid-year).
• You moved provinces and provincial top-ups changed.

Recalculate your expected amount with our GST/HST Credit / CGEB calculator using your 2025 figures.

When (and How) to Call the CRA

If you've worked through steps 1–8 and the issue isn't resolved, call:

• Individual benefits enquiries: 1-800-387-1193 (English) / 1-800-387-1194 (French).
• Best time: 8:00–9:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday — wait times are shortest.
• Have ready: SIN, full address, last year's Notice of Assessment number, the exact payment date in question.

Quick Reference Table

Action Steps

1. Wait 5 business days (direct deposit) or 10 (cheque) before escalating.
2. Log into CRA My Account and check return status, direct deposit, address, and statement of account.
3. Use our eligibility checker to confirm you should be receiving CGEB this quarter.
4. If everything looks correct and the payment is still missing, call 1-800-387-1193.
5. Watch out for CGEB scam texts — never click links pretending to "release" your benefit.

Source: Canada Revenue Agency — Benefit payment dates and Resolving issues with CRA benefit payments (canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits).