The new grocery benefit: what you could get
What happened
Since July 2026, the GST/HST credit has a new name: the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). It is a payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) meant to help people with low and modest incomes cover everyday costs. The CRA says the eligibility rules are the same as before, so if you received the old credit and your situation has not changed, you are likely still eligible.
The federal government says it raised the value of the former credit by 25% for the coming years, and it paid a one-time top-up on June 5, 2026. The benefit is paid four times a year, in July, October, January and April. The most recent payment went out on October 5, 2026.
How it affects you
For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, the CRA lists these yearly maximums, based on your 2025 tax return:
- Single person: up to $679
- Married or common-law couple: up to $890
- Each child under 19: up to $234
Your real amount depends on your adjusted family net income (basically your family income after a few small adjustments), your marital status and how many children you have. These are maximums, so a higher income can mean less.
Example (illustrative): a couple with two children under 19 and a low family income. The most they could get in a year is $890 + (2 × $234) = $890 + $468 = $1,358. Split into four payments, that is up to $339.50 each time. That is about what a weekly grocery run costs for many families, so it helps, but it will not cover the whole bill.
For comparison, the Department of Finance gave its own example: a single senior with $25,000 of net income gets $950 in total for 2026-27. That figure includes the $267 one-time top-up paid in June.
What you can do
- File your 2025 tax return, even if you earned little or nothing. The CRA works out the benefit from it, and there is no separate application.
- Check your CRA My Account under "Benefits and credits" to see your next payment date and amount.
- Look for your CGEB notice sent in July. It shows your amount and the information the CRA used.
- Try the CRA's child and family benefits calculator for an estimate.
- Filed late? The CRA says late returns can lead to retroactive payments, either as a lump sum or with your next quarterly payment.
What to keep in mind
Amounts are recalculated every July using your previous year's tax return, so a change in family income, marital status or number of children can change what you receive. The figures above are maximums, not promises: your own amount may be lower.
The old GST/HST credit no longer exists, so websites that still list its payment dates may be out of date. The next CGEB payments are expected in January and April 2027; confirm exact dates on the CRA site. If you are new to Canada, check the CRA's eligibility page or your CRA account to confirm your own situation. This article is general information based on CRA and Department of Finance pages from July 2026, not personal tax advice.
Sources
- Canada Revenue Agency: How much you can get - Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
- Department of Finance Canada: Following June's one-time payment, Canadians to start receiving first enriched quarterly Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment today
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST credit
- Canada Revenue Agency: Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits
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Information checked against the sources listed above on October 9, 2026. Educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
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