The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, replacing the GST/HST credit, provides quarterly tax-free payments to eligible low- and modest-income Canadians.
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Canadians will receive the next quarterly payment of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit next week, a federal program that replaced the GST/HST credit starting in July.
The benefit is automatic for people who file taxes. According to the program’s structure described by the federal government, there is no separate application process; eligibility is determined based on information submitted with the previous year’s tax return.
The benefit is intended to help individuals and families with low and modest incomes and, under the redesigned approach, is expected to increase payment amounts by 25% over the next five years while keeping the core eligibility and payment structure similar to the former GST/HST credit.
The amount a household can receive is recalculated every July using information from the previous year’s tax filing. Payment levels depend on adjusted family net income, marital status, and the number of eligible children under age 19, including whether they qualify through the Canada child benefit (CCB), the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), or both.
For the period from July 2026 to June 2027, the federal government lists maximum annual totals of $679 for a single individual and $890 for a married or common-law couple. It also states that up to $234 per eligible child under 19 may be added to those maximums.
For Canadians tracking expected support, the practical impact is that the benefit continues on a quarterly schedule and, beginning with the July 2026–June 2027 benefit year, reflects higher caps than the GST/HST credit would have under the previous framework.
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