Life-event guide · Household change
Separation and divorce benefits guide
When you separate or divorce, household income, custody arrangements, and living situations can change. This guide lists government benefits, tax credits, and services you may need to review. It is not legal advice.
Separation can change Canada Child Benefit payments, GST/HST credit amounts, provincial child benefits, childcare subsidies, housing help, and tax filing. Use the steps below to see what to review for your new household.
This is not an eligibility test
Last reviewed: August 2026
Tailor this guide
Legal aid, family justice, and childcare subsidy links below match your province or territory.
Provincial legal aid and childcare subsidy links update with your province. Child benefit sections appear when children are involved.
Your situation
Child benefit and custody sections adjust when children are involved.
Start here
What to do first
Work through these steps in order. Each links to the section with official resources.
Update CRA marital status
Notify CRA when you separate, divorce, or reconcile. Status affects benefit payments.
Recheck benefits
CCB, GST/HST credit, and provincial top-ups may change with your new household.
Review child arrangements
Shared custody and living arrangements affect CCB and childcare subsidies.
Check housing and essentials
Rent help, shelter contacts, and municipal programs if your living situation changed.
Find legal and family justice help
Official provincial resources for legal aid, courts, and publicly funded mediation.
Review taxes and credits
Eligible dependant, child care expenses, and marital status on your tax return.
Benefits that may change
These federal programs may be recalculated when household income, marital status, or custody changes. Amounts can go up or down depending on your situation.
- Federal (CRA)May recalculate
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
CRA may adjust CCB when marital status, custody, or household income changes. Payments are based on last year's tax return and current family details.
What to know
- Update CRA when custody or living arrangements change
- Shared custody has specific rules about who receives payments
- Provincial child benefits often follow the same household picture
- Federal (CRA)Household-based
GST/HST credit
This quarterly credit is based on household income and family size. A change from coupled to single status may change the amount CRA pays.
What to know
- Usually assessed from your tax return
- Marital status on your return affects the calculation
- Update direct deposit and address in CRA My Account
- Federal (CRA)Time-sensitive
Update marital status with CRA
Tell CRA when you separate, divorce, or reconcile. Benefit payments and tax credits use your marital status as of a specific date each year.
What to know
- Separation date matters for benefit calculations
- Update through CRA My Account or by phone
- Also update address and direct deposit if they changed
- Federal (CRA)Tax credit
Amount for an eligible dependant
A non-refundable tax credit for single parents supporting a child when another parent does not claim the child. Rules depend on custody and support payments.
What to know
- Cannot be claimed if you pay child support for the child
- Only one person can claim per dependant
- Filed on your annual tax return
- Federal (CRA)Tax deduction
Child care expenses deduction
The parent with lower net income usually claims child care expenses. After separation, who can claim may change based on custody and who pays for care.
What to know
- Receipts from eligible providers are required
- Provincial childcare subsidies are separate programs
- Quebec uses a separate refundable credit system
Children and shared custody
Child benefit amounts depend on where the child lives and the care arrangement. MyEligible does not determine custody. Review official rules and update CRA when arrangements change.
If children are involved, focus on where they live and who provides care. The blocks below cover shared-custody CCB rules and childcare subsidy nuance without repeating the full CCB overview above.
CCB shared custody rules
When a child lives with each parent at least 40% of the time, each parent may receive half the CCB they would get if the child lived with them full time.
Read shared custody rulesWhat to know
- Based on actual care arrangement, not court orders alone
- Both parents must apply or update their information
- Rules differ from sole custody situations
Child care expenses and provincial subsidy
Federal child care expense deductions and provincial fee subsidies are separate. After separation, who can claim and who qualifies for subsidy may change.
Read child care expense rulesWhat to know
- The lower-income parent usually claims federal child care expenses
- Provincial childcare subsidy uses its own income and custody rules
- Quebec uses a separate refundable credit system
Local childcare subsidy
Provincial fee subsidy programs in Ontario are separate from federal CCB. Income and custody details affect eligibility.
Ontario child care fee subsidy
Fee subsidy for eligible families using licensed child care. Income and custody details affect eligibility.
Essentials
Housing and essentials
If income dropped or you need a new place to live, local housing help, rent assistance, and 211 referrals may apply.
When to check housing help
- Your household income dropped after separating
- You need a new place to live or temporary shelter
- You need local rent, transit, or municipal fee help quickly
Housing and essentials navigator
Search your province and city for rent banks, shelter contacts, transit passes, and municipal fee assistance.
Official pathways
Legal help and family justice
Publicly funded legal aid, family court information, and mediation services vary by province. These links go to official government resources only.
Legal Aid Ontario
Free or low-cost legal help for eligible residents in family, criminal, immigration, and housing matters.
Ontario family justice services
Information on separation, divorce, child support, and court processes from the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Taxes and CRA updates
Marital status, dependants, and address changes can affect benefit payments and tax credits. Update CRA when your situation changes.
Update marital status with CRA
Federal (CRA)Tell CRA your separation date. Status as of a specific date each year drives benefit calculations.
Amount for an eligible dependant
Federal (CRA)A non-refundable credit for single parents when another parent does not claim the child. Rules depend on custody and support.
Child care expenses deduction
Federal (CRA)Who can claim child care expenses may change after separation based on custody and who pays for care.
Check benefits for your new household
Rerun the quiz with your updated marital status, income, and children to see federal and provincial programs that may apply.
Common questions
Official sources
Last reviewed for this tool: 2026-08-13. Amounts may change.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · 2026-08-13