Millions of eligible Canadians are set to receive their next Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) payment on Monday, October 5, 2026. The federal government payment is intended to help individuals and families with low and modest incomes manage the rising cost of groceries and other everyday essentials. The upcoming payment is the second quarterly instalment for the 2026–2027 benefit year and the final payment scheduled for 2026. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) distributes the benefit every three months, with payments generally issued in July, October, January and April. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit replaced the former GST/HST credit in July 2026. Along with the name change, the federal government increased the benefit by 25 per cent to provide additional financial support to eligible households. The increased amount is scheduled to remain in place for five years, until 2031. The benefit is tax-free and does not need to be reported as taxable income. How much money can Canadians receive?

The amount varies depending on household income, marital status and the number of eligible children. For the current benefit year, 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.

For Monday’s October payment, eligible recipients could receive up to:

•Single individual: $169.75

•Married or common-law couple: $222.50

•Each eligible child: An additional $58.50

•First eligible child in a single-parent family: An additional $111.25

These are maximum amounts, not guaranteed payments. The actual amount depends on the household’s adjusted family net income and other eligibility details. The benefit is primarily intended for Canadians with low and modest incomes. To qualify, individuals generally must be at least 19 years old and meet the CRA’s Canadian tax residency requirements. Younger individuals may also qualify if they have or had a spouse or common-law partner, or are or were parents living with their children. Eligibility and payment amounts for the July 2026 to June 2027 period are determined using information from the 2025 income tax return. Couples have their combined adjusted family net income considered when the CRA calculates the benefit.

Most eligible Canadians do not need to submit a separate application. The CRA automatically assesses eligibility when individuals file their annual income tax returns. Keeping tax filings and personal information up to date is therefore important to avoid missing payments.

Canadians registered for direct deposit with the CRA should receive their money directly in their bank accounts on the scheduled payment date. Those who receive benefits by cheque may experience additional delivery time through the postal service. Some eligible individuals may receive a larger payment than expected because of retroactive amounts. This may apply to people who filed their 2025 income tax returns after the July payment and are entitled to benefits that were missed earlier. However, not everyone will receive a separate payment on October 5. Individuals whose calculated benefit is less than $50 per quarter generally receive the full annual entitlement as a single payment in July instead. The CRA recommends that recipients check their online CRA My Account to confirm their payment amount, eligibility and deposit status. If a payment does not arrive as expected, recipients should allow the applicable processing period before contacting the agency.

With food and household expenses continuing to put pressure on family budgets, the quarterly benefit provides additional financial assistance to millions of Canadians. The next payment is scheduled for Monday, October 5, and eligible recipients are encouraged to check their CRA accounts for their individual payment details.