You may be able to claim the amount for an eligible dependant if, at any time in the year, you supported an eligible dependant and met certain conditions.

You cannot claim this amount if you claimed an amount for the year on line 30300 of your return.

Who can claim this amount

Answer these 2 questions to find out if you can claim the amount for an eligible dependant.

You can claim this amount if, at any time in the year, you supported an eligible dependant and their net income (line 23600 or estimate if they are not filing) was less than:

If you did not claim an amount on line 30300 of your return, you may claim the amount for one eligible dependant if, at any time in the year, you met all the following conditions:

The dependant must also be related to you by blood, marriage, common-law partnership, or adoption. At the time you were supporting them and living with them, they must have been one of the following:

Notes

If your dependant normally lives with you when they are not attending school, the CRA considers them to live with you for the purposes of this amount.

A child is not required to live in Canada, but they must have lived with you. For example, you were a deemed resident living outside Canada with your child.

When you cannot claim this amount

You cannot claim this amount if any of the following applies:

Child support payments

You cannot claim this amount for a child you paid child support for in 2025, except if:   

For more information, go to support payments.

Note

If it benefits you, you may choose not to claim an amount at line 30400line 30425 or line 31800 and instead claim your support payments on line 22000.

How to complete your tax return

  1. Make sure your eligible dependant's net income is less than your basic personal amount (plus $2,687 if they were dependent on you because of a mental or physical infirmity).
  2. Complete Schedule 5, Amounts for Spouse or Common-Law Partner and Dependants.
  3. Claim the corresponding provincial or territorial non-refundable tax credit that you may be entitled to on line 58160 of your provincial or territorial Form 428

Notes

If you were a single parent on December 31, 2025, and chose to report the full UCCB lump-sum on your dependant's return, include this amount in their net income.

Special rules apply if you were bankrupt, or immigrated to or emigrated from Canada during the year. Contact the CRA for details.

Canada caregiver amount

If your eligible dependant has a mental or physical infirmity, you may also be able to claim the amounts below.

For dependants 18 years of age or older

You may claim up to $8,601 on line 30425.

For dependants under 18 years of age

You may claim one of the following:

A child includes a person who is:

Note

To qualify, the eligible dependant must need significantly more help with personal needs and care than others the same age for a long and continuous period of indefinite duration.

Claims made by more than one person

You cannot split this amount.

Once claimed for a dependant 18 years of age or older, no one else can claim an amount on line 30400 or line 30425 for that dependant.

If you share custody but cannot agree on who will claim the amount, neither of you can claim the amount.

Supporting documents

The CRA may request a signed statement from a medical practitioner showing:

You do not need this statement if the CRA already has an approved Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, for the specified period. 

Did you know...

If your dependant had an infirmity, see Guide RC4064, Disability-Related Information, for other amounts you may be able to claim.

Forms and publications

Related topics

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2026-01-20