Two federal and provincial benefit payments are scheduled to hit bank accounts on the same day this month, as the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) and the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) are both set for Friday, October 9, 2026, according to the Government of Canada’s benefit payment calendar.
The OTB normally pays out on the 10th of each month, but since October 10 falls on a Saturday, the Canada Revenue Agency moves the payment to the last business day beforehand — Friday, Oct. 9. The same logic applies to the ACWB, whose October instalment was technically scheduled for Oct. 11 but shifts earlier for the same reason, Inside Halton reported.
This is the third and final ACWB payment of 2026, following instalments in January and July, and the tenth of twelve scheduled OTB payments for the year, with the next OTB deposit due Nov. 10.
Canada Workers Benefit: Who Gets What
The CRA pays up to 50% of a recipient’s Canada Workers Benefit in advance, split across three payments in January, July and October, with the remainder issued after a tax return is filed. For couples, only one spouse — generally the one with the higher working income — receives the advance payments. If a recipient also qualifies for the disability supplement, half of that amount is included in the advance as well.
For the 2025 tax year, the maximum basic CWB amount is $1,633 for single individuals and $2,813 for families, according to Inside Halton. The amount for single individuals begins phasing out once adjusted net income exceeds $26,855, disappearing entirely above $37,742. For families, the phase-out starts at an adjusted family net income of $30,639 and ends at $49,393. The maximum basic amount differs for residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta.
Ontario Trillium Benefit: Three Credits in One
The OTB bundles three provincial credits — the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC), the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) — into a single monthly payment. Amounts are income-tested and vary by household income, size and which credits a recipient qualifies for.
Recipients are continuing to see boosted maximums that took effect in July, Inside Halton reported. The Northern Ontario Energy Credit, available only to northern Ontario residents, now tops out at $189 for a single person and $290 for couples and single parents, up from $185 and $285 in June. The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit provides a maximum of $1,307 for Ontarians aged 18 to 64 and $1,488 for those 65 and older. The Ontario Sales Tax Credit offers a maximum annual credit of $378 from July 2026 through June 2027, up from $371.
Recipients whose annual OTB entitlement exceeds $500 can opt for a lump-sum payment in June 2027 instead of monthly instalments; those with an annual entitlement of $500 or less automatically receive a single lump-sum payment in the first payment month, usually July.
Filing Taxes Remains the Key Requirement
Both benefits depend on timely tax filing. The CRA requires recipients — and their spouses or common-law partners, if applicable — to file an income tax and benefit return every year, even with no income to report, to keep receiving the OTB. Ontario residents must also complete the ON-BEN application form included in the tax return package.
The two payments arrive roughly a week after the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, formerly the GST/HST credit, which was deposited Oct. 5. That benefit, rebranded this year, delivers higher quarterly amounts following a one-time top-up paid in June. Prime Minister Mark Carney said when announcing the change that a family of four receiving about $1,100 annually under the old GST credit will get up to $1,890 this year, while a single person previously receiving about $540 will get $950.
The CRA advises recipients who don’t see a payment on the scheduled date to wait 5 to 10 business days before contacting the agency, noting that mailed cheques generally take longer to arrive than direct deposits. Payment status can also be checked through the CRA’s My Account portal.
Full schedule: Canada Workers Benefit payment dates 2026 · Ontario Trillium Benefit 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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