How the 2026–27 amount is worked out
CRA sets your payments from July 2026 to April 2027 using your 2025 tax return. These figures already include the 25% increase that started in July 2026.
| Part of the benefit | 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| You | $445 |
| Your spouse or common-law partner | $445 |
| First child of a single parent | $445 |
| Each other child under 19 | $234 |
| Extra amount if you're singleBuilds up at 2% of net income above $11,564. Single parents get all of it. | up to $234 |
| Income reduction5% of family net income above $46,432 | −5% |
A single person with no children gets the full $679 with net income between about $23,300 and $46,432, and nothing above about $60,000. A couple with two children gets the full $1,358 up to $46,432 and nothing above about $73,600.
Payment dates
- July 3, 2026 (paid)
- October 5, 2026 (paid)
- January 5, 2027 (expected)
- Early April 2027 (CRA confirms the exact date closer to the time)
If your quarterly amount would be under $50, CRA pays the whole year in one payment in July. If a payment doesn't arrive, CRA asks you to wait 10 business days before calling.
Who can get it
The benefit uses the same eligibility rules as the old GST/HST credit. In general, you must be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes and be at least 19, or have (or have had) a spouse or common-law partner, or be a parent living with your child. In a couple, only one person receives it, for the whole family.
You have to file a tax return every year, even with no income, because CRA calculates the benefit from it. If you file late, missed payments are paid once your return is assessed.
Newcomers, including many international students who are residents for tax purposes, apply for the year they arrive with CRA form RC151, then file a return every year after that.
Common questions
Is this the same as the GST credit?
Yes. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026 with the same rules and formula. The amounts are 25% higher for five years, from July 2026 to 2031.
Why is my payment different from this calculator?
Usually because CRA used a different net income (your partner's income was added, or a reassessment changed it), a child turned 19, your marital status changed, or you share custody of a child, in which case you get half of that child's amount. This calculator also doesn't include provincial or territorial credits that CRA pays alongside the benefit in some provinces.
Is the grocery benefit taxable?
No. The payments are tax-free and you don't report them as income.
What was the one-time top-up?
A one-time payment equal to 50% of your 2025–26 GST credit, paid by June 2026 to people who were getting the GST credit in January 2026. It isn't part of the 2026–27 amounts here.
Can a lower net income raise my benefit?
Above $46,432 of family net income, each extra dollar reduces the benefit by 5 cents. Deductions that lower line 23600, such as RRSP or FHSA contributions, work the other way. Whether that matters for you depends on the rest of your tax situation.
Sources
- CRA: Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment amounts
- CRA: Payments chart, July 2026 to June 2027
- CRA: Payment dates
- Finance Canada: The new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
This calculator gives an estimate for general information. It isn't tax or legal advice. benefitcalc.ca is independent and not affiliated with the Canada Revenue Agency or the Government of Canada. Your actual payment is set by CRA; you can see it in CRA My Account.