Several federal credits and benefits will be paid to eligible Canadians in October 2026, including Canada Groceries and Essentials, the Canada Workers Benefit and Old Age Security.
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The Government of Canada is scheduled to send several credits and benefits to eligible recipients in October 2026, with the Canada Groceries and Essentials benefit set for the month’s first payment.
For the Canada Groceries and Essentials benefit, the GST/HST credit has been rebranded, with the federal government saying the new benefit offers higher payment amounts while keeping the eligibility and structure of the GST/HST credit. The benefit amount is recalculated every July based on information from a previous year’s tax return. For the period from July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum annual amounts are listed as $679 for single individuals, $890 for those married or in a common-law partnership, and $234 for each eligible child under age 19. The next payment for this benefit is scheduled for October 5, 2026.
The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is described as a refundable tax credit to help individuals and families who are working and earning a low income. The CWB is said to include a basic amount and a disability supplement. Payments are scheduled for October 9, 2026.
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a monthly payment administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), intended to help families support the costs of raising children. Maximum annual payments are listed as up to $7,997, and CCB payments are scheduled for October 20, 2026.
The Canada Disability Benefit is also described as a monthly payment, administered by Service Canada. The benefit is said to provide direct financial support to people with disabilities aged 18 to 64 who are approved for the disability tax credit and have filed their federal income tax return, and who are Canadian residents for income tax filing purposes. The maximum monthly amount listed is $204.20, with payments scheduled for October 15, 2026.
For retirees, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pensions are scheduled for October 28, 2026. The CPP is described as a monthly, taxable benefit that replaces part of income when retiring and continues each month for life. The maximum CPP retirement pension listed for someone aged 65 is $1,507.65 per month.
Old Age Security (OAS) payments are also scheduled for October 28, 2026. OAS is described as a monthly payment for people 65 and older, with Service Canada automatically enrolling eligible applicants as long as sufficient information is available. Maximum monthly amounts are listed as $751.05 for ages 65 to 74, with an income threshold for 2024 of less than $148,451, and $827.17 for ages 75 and over, with an income threshold for 2024 of less than $154,196.
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