Last verified: September 30, 2026
The next Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026. The Canada Revenue Agency’s payment schedule confirms the date for the quarterly benefit that replaced the GST/HST credit.
A single adult without children could receive up to $169.75 for the quarter. A couple with two eligible children could receive up to $339.50. Those are calculated quarterly maximums, not amounts everyone will receive.
Your payment depends on your 2025 adjusted family net income and family circumstances. Before counting on a deposit, check the amount listed in your CRA account.
How much is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit in October?
The CRA publishes annual entitlement amounts for July 2026 to June 2027. The table below divides the applicable annual maximum by four to show a regular quarterly payment.
| Household | Annual maximum | Calculated quarterly maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult, no children | $679 | $169.75 |
| Couple, no children | $890 | $222.50 |
| Single parent, one eligible child | $1,124 | $281.00 |
| Couple, one eligible child | $1,124 | $281.00 |
| Couple, two eligible children | $1,358 | $339.50 |
PaycheckGuru calculations using CRA annual amounts. Assumptions: full entitlement at the stated maximum, unchanged circumstances, no shared-custody adjustment, debt offset or retroactive payment. Federal CGEB only; related provincial and territorial benefits are excluded.
Income changes the result. For a couple with two children and 2025 adjusted family net income of $50,000, the CRA chart shows $1,179.60 annually. Dividing by four gives $294.90 per quarter under the same assumptions.
A single adult without children also has an income-based supplement. At $20,000 of adjusted family net income, the chart shows $613.72 annually, or a calculated $153.43 per quarter. Having the lowest income does not automatically produce the highest single-person payment.
Why your 2025 income determines a 2026 payment
The CRA recalculates the benefit every July using the previous year’s tax return. October’s payment belongs to the benefit period from July 2026 to June 2027, so the calculation uses your 2025 tax information.
Adjusted family net income generally starts with line 23600 of your return, plus your spouse’s or common-law partner’s corresponding income, with specific adjustments for Universal Child Care Benefit and registered disability savings plan amounts.
That is different from your current salary or the net pay deposited by your employer. When building a household budget, keep benefit payments separate from the employment income shown in our income after tax guides.
Who qualifies, and when does income become too high?
The benefit supports people with low and modest incomes. You generally must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes in the month before payment and at the start of the payment month. You must normally be at least 19 before that month begins. Younger people may qualify if they have or had a spouse or common-law partner, or are or were a parent living with their child.
The CRA’s 2025 base-year income limits include:
| Household | Adjusted family net income must be below |
|---|---|
| Single adult, no children | $60,012 |
| Couple, no children | $64,232 |
| Single parent or couple, one child | $68,912 |
| Single parent or couple, two children | $73,592 |
These are eligibility cutoffs, not income levels that guarantee the maximum payment. The CRA’s amount table lists a phase-out threshold of $46,432 for this benefit period. Above that level, entitlement falls as income rises.
October’s payment includes the increase introduced in July
The CGEB replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. The CRA says the benefit increased by 25%, with the enhancement lasting five years from 2026 to 2031. The published amounts already include that increase. Do not add another 25% to them.
October is a regular quarterly payment. A separate one-time top-up began being issued on June 5, 2026. It equalled 50% of the annual 2025 to 2026 GST credit entitlement for eligible recipients. It is not another bonus scheduled for October 5.
The CGEB is tax-free. Its new name does not mean every Canadian receives it, or that households get a separate GST/HST credit alongside it.
Do you need to apply for the October payment?
Most people do not need a separate application. The CRA checks eligibility when it assesses your tax return. File even if you had no income.
If you have not filed your 2025 return, do that promptly. Late filing can interrupt payments. After assessment, the CRA determines your entitlement and pays missed amounts you qualify for with the next scheduled payment.
New residents may need to apply before filing their first Canadian return. The application route depends on whether they have children, so use the CRA’s newcomer instructions rather than assuming the regular filing process covers the first year.
Why an eligible person might get no October deposit
A missing deposit does not always mean you lost eligibility. If your quarterly entitlement is less than $50, the CRA pays the full annual benefit in July instead of issuing quarterly payments. Someone in that situation would not normally receive another instalment in October.
Other reasons payments stop or change include an unfiled return, outdated address or bank details, unanswered CRA correspondence, changed family circumstances or a tax reassessment. Payments can also be applied against benefit overpayments and certain government debts.
If your child turned 19, your marital status changed or your custody arrangement changed since July, your October amount may differ. Read any notice of redetermination in your CRA account before comparing deposits.
What to check before October 5
- Sign in to your CRA account and choose your Individual account.
- Open Benefits and credits, then Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which may also mention the former GST/HST credit name.
- Check the expected payment date and amount, and confirm your address, banking and family information.
Payments are issued on the scheduled date but can take time to arrive. The federal benefits calendar notes that mailed cheques may take longer than direct deposit.
If the expected payment does not arrive, check its status and your CRA notices first. The CGEB instructions say to wait 10 business days after the expected payment date before contacting the CRA. Its benefit enquiries number is 1-800-387-1193.
For budgeting, spread the amount shown in your account across the quarter rather than treating it as monthly income. Our August inflation analysis explains why the expenses that dominate your household budget matter more than one national average.
Sources: CRA CGEB program pages, payment schedule, annual payment chart and guide RC4210; federal benefits calendar; June 5, 2026 government top-up announcement. Official information checked September 30, 2026. Quarterly figures calculated by PaycheckGuru from annual entitlements.