The Canada Revenue Agency is set to deposit the fourth and final Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment of 2026 on Monday, October 5, according to the federal government’s official benefits payment calendar. The benefit, which replaced the long-running GST/HST credit, is the second payment issued under its new name since the program was rebranded in July 2026.
The October 5 deposit follows payments made on January 5, April 2 and July 3, 2026. The April 2 payment was the last issued under the old GST/HST credit label before the rename took effect. The Canada Revenue Agency says eligibility rules, how payments are calculated and the quarterly structure remain unchanged from the former GST/HST credit — only the name and payment amounts have shifted.
How Much Recipients Can Expect
For the benefit period running from July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum annual amounts are $679 for a single individual, $890 for a married or common-law couple, and $234 for each eligible child under the age of 19, according to the government’s benefits calendar. Those figures reflect a 25 percent increase to the benefit that took effect with the July 2026 payment, a boost the government describes as temporary and set to remain in place for five years, from 2026 to 2031.
Payment amounts are based on a recipient’s 2025 tax return and family net income, meaning the amount deposited on October 5 will vary by household depending on income level and family composition. The CRA has reiterated that there is no separate application process for the benefit: Canadians need only file an annual tax return, and the agency automatically determines eligibility and calculates the payment amount.
What to Do If a Payment Is Late
The federal government notes that while payments are issued on their scheduled dates, they can take a few additional days to actually reach recipients, particularly for those receiving a mailed cheque rather than direct deposit. The CRA is asking Canadians who have not received their October 5 payment to wait five to 10 business days before reaching out to inquire about a missing deposit.
For anyone who received the GST/HST credit previously and whose personal or household situation has not changed, the government says they are likely still eligible for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit under its new name, with no additional steps required beyond filing taxes as usual.
Other Benefits Landing the Same Week
The October 5 deposit is not the only federal payment reaching bank accounts in early October. The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB), along with the Ontario Trillium Benefit, is scheduled to follow just a few days later. Although the ACWB’s regular issuance date falls on October 11, that date lands on a weekend, so the payment is instead being issued on Friday, October 9 — the last business day before the scheduled date, in keeping with the government’s standard practice of moving payments earlier when the scheduled date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal statutory holiday.
The ACWB provides advance payments of up to 50 percent of the Canada Workers Benefit a recipient is otherwise entitled to on their income tax return, distributed in three instalments each year — in January, July and October. For the 2025 tax year, the maximum basic CWB amount is $1,633 for single individuals and $2,813 for families, though the amount phases out as income rises. For single filers, the benefit begins shrinking once adjusted net income exceeds $26,855 and disappears entirely above $37,742. For families, the phase-out begins at an adjusted family net income of $30,639 and ends at $49,393, after which no basic amount is paid. The maximum basic CWB amount differs for residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta, the government notes, and a child and family benefits calculator is available for those seeking a personalized estimate.
As with the Groceries and Essentials Benefit, recipients who do not see their ACWB payment land as expected are advised to wait before contacting the CRA — in this case, 10 working days — before following up on a missing deposit.
Together, the back-to-back October payments reflect the federal government’s broader quarterly benefit cycle, through which several income-tested programs are coordinated to reach recipients within the same general window, even as each program retains its own payment dates, eligibility thresholds and calculation rules.
Full schedule: Groceries benefit (GST) payment dates 2026 · All Canada benefit payment dates
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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