What is the Quebec Family Allowance?

The Quebec Family Allowance (Allocation famille) is a tax-free benefit paid by Retraite Québec to families with dependant children under 18. It replaces the federal Canada Child Benefit for Quebec residents.

How is the Quebec Family Allowance different from the Canada Child Benefit?

Quebec families receive the Quebec Family Allowance instead of the provincial portion of child benefits. You still receive the federal CCB, but Quebec has its own program with different amounts and eligibility rules administered by Retraite Québec.

How do I apply for the Quebec Family Allowance?

Register your child through Retraite Québec (not CRA). For children born in Quebec, registration is automatic through the hospital. For newcomers or custody changes, apply directly through Retraite Québec.

How much is the Quebec Family Allowance per child?

The base amount varies by family income and number of children. For a family with one child, the maximum annual benefit is approximately $2,782. For two children, total benefits increase to roughly $4,034. Amounts decrease as family income rises, with a reduction rate of approximately 4–8% above the income threshold.

Can I receive both the Quebec Family Allowance and Canada Child Benefit?

Yes. Quebec families receive both the federal Canada Child Benefit (CCB) from CRA and the Quebec Family Allowance from Retraite Québec. They are separate programs with different application processes. The CCB is applied for through CRA when you file taxes or register a newborn, while the Quebec benefit comes automatically via Retraite Québec.

Quebec Family Allowance 2026: Amounts, Eligibility & Payment Dates

Quebec Family Allowance Overview

Feature	Details
Administered by	Retraite Québec
Eligibility	Quebec families with children under 18
Tax status	Tax-free
Payment frequency	Monthly or quarterly option
Separate from	Canada Child Benefit (you receive both)

Payment Amounts (2026)

Base Amounts by Number of Children

Number of Children	Annual Maximum	Monthly Maximum
1st child	$2,782	$231.83
2nd child	$1,391	$115.92
3rd child	$1,391	$115.92
4th+ child	$2,086	$173.83

Supplements

Supplement	Annual Amount
Single-parent supplement	$1,006 per family
Handicapped child supplement	$2,592 per child

Income Reduction

Family Net Income	Reduction Rate
Under threshold	Full benefit
Above threshold	4% reduction on income above

Example Calculations

Family Type	Income	Children	Annual Benefit
Couple	$50,000	2	~$4,000
Single parent	$40,000	1	~$3,500
Couple	$80,000	3	~$4,200

Estimates — use Retraite Québec calculator for exact amounts.

Eligibility Requirements

Requirement	Details
Residency	Must reside in Quebec
Child custody	Child must live with you
Child age	Under 18
Tax return	Must file Quebec tax return annually
Status	Canadian citizen, PR, or eligible temporary status

How to Apply

For Children Born in Quebec

Step	Action
1	Hospital automatically sends birth registration
2	Retraite Québec assesses eligibility
3	First payment within weeks of birth

For Newcomers or Custody Changes

Step	Action
1	Complete form “Application for Family Allowance”
2	Submit to Retraite Québec online or by mail
3	Include required documents (proof of custody, residency)

Payment Schedule

Option	Details
Monthly	Payment on 1st of each month
Quarterly	Payment every 3 months (choose this option if preferred)

Payments can be received by direct deposit or cheque.

Combined Benefits for Quebec Families

Benefit Source	Approximate Annual (2 children)
Federal CCB	$12,000-15,000
Quebec Family Allowance	$4,000-5,500
Total	$16,000-20,500

Maximum amounts for lower-income families.

Other Quebec Family Programs

Program	What It Provides
Reduced-Contribution Childcare	$8.70/day subsidized daycare
Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP)	Maternity/paternity leave benefits
Quebec Education Savings Incentive (QESI)	10-20% RESP matching (up to $3,600 lifetime)
Childcare Tax Credit	Non-refundable credit for childcare expenses
Family Housing Benefit	Help with rent for low-income families

Quebec Education Savings Incentive (QESI)

Feature	Details
Matching rate	10% of RESP contributions (20% for low-income)
Maximum per year	$250 ($500 with carry-forward)
Lifetime maximum	$3,600 per child
Income threshold	Higher match for families under $48,535

How the income reduction formula works

The Quebec Family Allowance reduces by 4% of family net income above the threshold once income exceeds a certain level. The threshold for the income reduction depends on the number of children and family situation.

Unlike the federal CCB, which has different reduction rates for different income bands, the QFA reduction is a straightforward 4% of the excess — making it easier to estimate:

Example: couple with 2 children, family net income of $60,000, threshold at $52,000:

Excess income: $60,000 − $52,000 = $8,000
Reduction: $8,000 × 4% = $320/year
Maximum QFA for 2 children: $2,782 + $1,391 = $4,173
Net QFA: $4,173 − $320 = $3,853/year

For higher incomes, the QFA approaches a minimum floor — it does not reduce to zero as the federal CCB does at very high incomes. There is a minimum payment that continues even for higher-income families.

Custody changes and the QFA

If you and your child’s other parent separate or there is a change in who the child primarily lives with:

Notify Retraite Québec immediately by calling 1-800-667-9625 or through the online portal
Payments are assigned to the person with primary custody (the parent where the child lives more than 50% of the time)
If custody is shared equally (50/50), each parent receives 50% of the family allowance for each child
Failure to notify can result in overpayments — Retraite Québec will recover these through future payment reductions

Moving out of Quebec: if you leave Quebec, your eligibility ends. Notify Retraite Québec and apply for the federal CCB alone (you were already receiving both; only the QFA stops).

Quebec Family Allowance vs. Canada Child Benefit: how they interact

Feature	CCB (Federal)	QFA (Quebec)
Administered by	CRA	Retraite Québec
Tax status	Tax-free	Tax-free
Application	Via CRA (RC66 or birth reg.)	Automatic for births in Quebec; RC66-1 for others
Income test	Prior year T1 net income	Prior year TP-1 net income
Payment dates	20th of each month	1st of each month (or quarterly)
Both receivable	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

You receive both benefits simultaneously — the CCB is deposited on the 20th by CRA, and the QFA on the 1st by Retraite Québec. They are separate programs and do not reduce each other.