Final Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments of 2026 go out Monday, Oct. 5

The Story

Eligible Canadians can expect the final Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) payments this year to go out on Monday, Oct. 5.

The tax-free benefit is replacing the GST/HST credit this year and is paid quarterly to individuals and families with low and modest incomes to help manage rising costs of everyday essentials.

Payments that went out in July, and the one scheduled for Oct. 5, are based on adjusted family net income from the recipient’s 2025 tax return.

The CRA determines eligibility and the amount based on tax-return information, so people do not need to apply separately. To qualify, individuals must have filed their latest tax return, be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes, meet family net income thresholds, and be at least 19 years old or under 19 and either have or had a spouse or common-law partner, or be a parent living with their child.

For the period from July 2026 to June 2027, the CRA says eligible Canadians could receive up to $679 if single, $890 if married or in a common-law partnership, and $234 for each eligible child under 19.

The amount is recalculated every July based on information from the previous year’s tax returns, and quarterly payments are scheduled to increase by 25 per cent for five years from 2026 to 2031.