The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) sometimes sends a letter asking you to prove information it uses for your benefits, such as your marital status, where you live, or who cares for your children. This is called a benefit review or validation. It’s routine, and you keep getting your benefits while the CRA reviews. But you must reply.
What it looks like and who sends it
The letter comes from the CRA, by mail or as online mail in your CRA account. It names the benefits being reviewed, often the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), and sometimes the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) and provincial benefits. It says:
- what the CRA wants to confirm
- the period under review, which can go back more than a year
- which documents to send, and by when
- where and how to send them, often with a fax number and mailing address
- a phone number to call
What it means in plain words
The CRA wants to make sure you’re getting the right amount. It reviews things like:
- Marital status: for example, whether you were single, married, common-law or separated during the period.
- Residency: whether you were a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- Primary caregiver: whether the children lived with you and you were mainly responsible for them.
- Status in Canada or a child’s proof of birth.
If you don’t reply, your child and family benefits may stop, and you may have to repay benefits already paid to you.
Do you need to act?
Yes. Reply by the date in the letter, and send documents that cover the whole period under review.
Exactly what to do
- Read the list of what’s needed. Send what the CRA asks for, not everything you own.
- Gather documents that show your name, address and dates. See the examples below.
- If you can’t get documents for marital status, send letters from two different people who know your situation, such as an employer, landlord, social worker, doctor or member of the clergy. Each letter needs their name and job, a statement that they know you didn’t live with your former partner during the separation, their address and phone number, and their signature.
- Translate if needed. Documents not in English or French need a translation along with a copy of the original.
- Send them using the CRA’s Submit documents online service in your CRA account, or by fax or mail to the number or address in the letter. Keep copies.
- Wait for an answer. The CRA says you should hear back no later than 45 days after it receives your documents. You can still send more documents later.
Documents the CRA accepts
- For marital status: a lease, rent receipts or landlord letter; mortgage or property tax bills; utility bills; insurance policies; a driver’s licence or vehicle registration (front and back); or a signed court order or separation agreement showing different addresses. To prove a change, the CRA gives the example of a lease with both names, followed by a lease dated after the separation in your name only.
- For residency: a lease or rent receipts, mortgage or property tax bills, utility bills, bank and credit card statements, health coverage, or a driver’s licence. You can also send form NR74 (entering Canada) or NR73 (leaving Canada).
- For children living with you: a letter from the school or daycare showing the child’s home address, or a letter from someone like a social worker, doctor, band council or shelter who knows the child lived with you.
If you’re leaving an abusive situation
You will never need to contact an abusive spouse or partner to get information for the CRA. If your situation makes documents hard to get, call the CRA. It has special help for people in abusive or violent situations.
If you need more time, or disagree
Call the number on the letter, or 1-800-387-1193, if you need a copy of the letter, can’t get a document, or need more time. If the review ends with a notice you disagree with, you can file a formal objection.
How to check it’s real
- The letter should also be in your CRA account. Sign in by typing canada.ca into your browser yourself.
- The CRA says it does contact people about reviews and may ask for documents, your SIN or your date of birth. That part is normal.
- It won’t ask for gift cards, crypto or your banking password, won’t threaten arrest, and won’t send a text with a link to upload documents.
Who to call
- CRA benefits line: 1-800-387-1193, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time, or the number on your letter.
- To report a scam: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 1-888-495-8501.