If you used to get the GST/HST credit, you may have noticed a new name on your payment. Since July 2026, it is called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, and for the next few years it pays more than before.
At Friendship House in Brantford, we know how much a quarterly payment can matter when groceries and rent keep going up. This guide explains the benefit in plain language, using information from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Quick answer
What is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit?
It is a tax-free payment the CRA makes 4 times a year to individuals and families with low and modest incomes. It replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026, with the same rules and a 25% higher amount. For July 2026 to June 2027 you could get up to $679 if single, $890 for a couple, plus $234 for each child under 19. Most people do not need to apply; you just file your taxes each year.
What changed in July 2026
The CRA’s Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit page (opens in a new tab) says the benefit replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. Under the new name, eligibility, the payment calculation and the structure are the same.
The main difference is the amount. The CRA says there was a 25% increase in July 2026, and it will stay in place for 5 years, from 2026 to 2031. Any provincial or territorial amounts are now included in the same payment.
Who qualifies
You are eligible if you meet all of these conditions, according to the CRA:
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes in the month before a payment and at the start of the month it is paid.
- You are at least 19 years old, or you are younger and have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner, or are (or were) a parent who lives with your child.
- Your adjusted family net income is under the limit for your family size.
You can qualify even if you had no income in the year. If you turn 19 during the year and have filed your return, the CRA sends your first payment on the next payment date after your birthday.
How much you can get
Amounts are recalculated every July, and each benefit period runs from July to June. For July 2026 to June 2027, based on your 2025 tax return, the CRA says you could get up to:
| Who | Up to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | $679 a year | Paid in 4 payments |
| Married or common-law couple | $890 a year | Based on family net income |
| Each child under 19 | $234 a year | Half for each parent in shared custody |
The payments are not taxable. The real amount depends on your family’s adjusted net income, so many people get less than the maximum.
Income limits
Your adjusted family net income from your 2025 return must be under these amounts to get a payment in the July 2026 to June 2027 period:
| Family | Single or single parent | Married or common-law |
|---|---|---|
| No children | $60,012 | $64,232 |
| 1 child | $68,912 | $68,912 |
| 2 children | $73,592 | $73,592 |
| 3 children | $78,272 | $78,272 |
| 4 or more children | $82,952 | $82,952 |
Close to these limits, the payment is small. Further below them, it gets closer to the maximum.
Payment dates
The CRA pays the benefit 4 times a year. In 2026, the payments were made on these dates:
- January 5, 2026 and April 2, 2026, paid as the GST/HST credit, based on your 2024 return.
- July 3, 2026 and October 5, 2026, paid as the new benefit, based on your 2025 return.
If your amount would be less than $50 a quarter, the CRA pays the whole year at once in July instead. If a payment does not arrive, wait 10 business days after the expected date before contacting the CRA.
How to get the benefit
In most cases you do not need to apply. The CRA checks whether you qualify when you file your tax return, so the key step is to file every year, even if you have no income to report.
The CRA says to file by April 30 each year so your quarterly payments are not interrupted. If you file late, payments stop until your return is assessed, then any amount owed is paid back to you. Our guide on how to file taxes for free (opens in a new tab) lists free tax clinics.
If you are new to Canada
Newcomers can apply for their first year as a resident before filing a first tax return. Only one application per household is needed.
- No children: use the CRA’s online Form RC151.
- Children under 19: mail Form RC151, plus Form RC66 if you are applying for the Canada child benefit, with proof of birth for every child.
Our guide on how to apply for the Canada child benefit (opens in a new tab) explains Form RC66, and how to welcome newcomers to your community (opens in a new tab) has ideas for helping new neighbours.
The one-time top-up in June 2026
Before the name changed, the CRA paid a one-time GST/HST credit top-up on June 5, 2026. It generally added 50% to the yearly credit for July 2025 to June 2026, for people who filed a 2024 return and were entitled to the credit in January 2026. It was a single payment, not part of the new benefit.
Keep your payments safe
You can follow your benefit payments online in your CRA account. If you do not have one yet, see our guide on how to register for a CRA account (opens in a new tab).
The CRA page on the old credit includes a scam warning, and it says the CRA only sends email notices if you gave it your email address. Our guide on how to spot a scam (opens in a new tab) shows the warning signs.
Making the payment go further
A quarterly payment can cover a big grocery shop or a few bills. Our guides on how to save money on groceries (opens in a new tab) and how to budget on a low income (opens in a new tab) can help you plan it.
Free food on Grey Street
If the money runs short between payments, Friendship House at 452 Grey Street serves coffee, tea and a light breakfast from 8 a.m. and a hot meal Monday to Thursday, 10 to 11 a.m., and runs the Food Bank on Wednesdays (opens in a new tab). Everything is free and open to everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit the same as the GST/HST credit?
Yes. It replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026 with the same rules, and the amount was increased by 25% for 2026 to 2031.
How much is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit?
For July 2026 to June 2027, up to $679 for a single person, $890 for a couple and $234 for each child under 19.
Do I need to apply?
In most cases, no. File your tax return every year and the CRA checks whether you qualify. Newcomers can apply with Form RC151.
When is it paid?
4 times a year. In 2026 the payments were January 5, April 2, July 3 and October 5.
Can I get it with no income?
Yes. You may be eligible even if you had no income in the year, as long as you file a tax return.
Filing your taxes each year is the simplest way to keep this benefit coming. If you need a meal in the meantime, see our free services at Friendship House (opens in a new tab).
