The Canada Revenue Agency is preparing to issue its second round of payments under the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) on October 5, offering eligible households additional support amid ongoing inflationary pressure on everyday costs.
The CGEB launched on June 5, 2026, as a replacement for the former GST/HST credit. It is designed to help offset the cost of groceries and other essentials for lower- and modest-income Canadians. While the benefit can add up to several hundred dollars a year for some households, eligibility is not automatic for everyone, and the amount received depends on individual circumstances.
Who Qualifies for the Payment
To receive the CGEB, a person must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes both in the month before the CRA issues a payment and at the start of the payment month. Recipients generally must be 19 or older, though younger Canadians can still qualify if they are or were married, have or had a common-law partner, or are or were a parent living with their child.
Eligibility also depends on having filed a 2025 tax return and having income below a maximum threshold set by the CRA. Once the CRA confirms eligibility based on a filed return, payments are issued automatically by direct deposit or mail — no separate application is required for most recipients. Newcomers to Canada in their first year of residency, however, may need to apply directly for the benefit.
Canadians can check their CRA online account to confirm whether they are set to receive the October 5 payment.
How Payment Amounts Are Calculated
The size of each payment is based on three factors: a household’s adjusted family net income, marital status, and the number of children under 19 in the household who qualify for the Canada Child Benefit, the CGEB, or both.
Under the current structure, single individuals can receive up to $169.75, while married or common-law couples can receive up to $222.50. An additional $58.50 is available for each eligible child under 19, and single-parent families can receive up to $111.25. Parents who share custody of a child may receive a split payment reflecting their arrangement.
Canadians who filed their tax return after the initial July payout but are otherwise eligible will receive any missed funds retroactively, which will make their October payment larger than it would otherwise be.
Maximum CGEB Payment Amounts
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