Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:38:13 +0000
Financial Services

The Government of Canada, through the Royal Assent of Bill C-19, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act, will deliver a one-time top-up payment in spring 2026 (no later than June 2026) equal to a 50% increase in the annual 2025-2026 GST credit value, providing $3.1 billion in immediate assistance. The benefit will also increase by 25% for five years starting July 2026, delivering $8.6 billion in additional support to over 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians, including 2.8 million in Quebec. Maximum payments are $402 for a single individual without children, $527 for a couple, and $805 for a couple with two children.