What government benefits can I get in Canada?

Common benefits include: Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for parents, GST/HST credit for low/medium income, Canada Workers Benefit for low-income workers, plus OAS/GIS for seniors. Amounts depend on income and family situation.

How do I apply for Canadian government benefits?

Most benefits are based on your tax return — file your taxes every year. For CCB, apply when your child is born. For EI, apply online within 4 weeks of job loss. Check CRA My Account for your eligible benefits.

Canadian Government Benefits 2026: Credits, Payments, and Programs

Cost of Living: Compare Canadian city costs and build a budget framework with our Canadian Cost of Living Guide.

Canadian government benefits can provide thousands per year — but you must file taxes and apply. Here’s what’s available.

Benefits Overview

Benefit	Who Qualifies	Max Annual
Canada Child Benefit	Parents	$7,787/child
GST/HST Credit	Low-medium income	$519/person
Canada Workers Benefit	Low-income workers	$1,518
OAS	Seniors 65+	$9,120
GIS	Low-income seniors	$13,032
Climate Action Incentive	Most residents	Varies

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Maximum CCB Amounts (2026)

Child Age	Maximum Monthly	Maximum Annual
Under 6	$649	$7,787
6-17	$548	$6,570

CCB by Family Income

Two children (ages 4 and 8):

Family Income	Monthly CCB	Annual CCB
$35,000	$1,197	$14,357
$50,000	$1,050	$12,600
$75,000	$825	$9,900
$100,000	$600	$7,200
$150,000	$275	$3,300
$200,000	$0	$0

CCB Requirements

Requirement	Details
Live with child	Primary caregiver
Child under 18	Until month after 18th birthday
Canadian resident	For tax purposes
File taxes	Required annually

Credit	Amount	Details
Child Disability Benefit	$3,322/year	Added to CCB
Provincial child benefits	Varies	On top of CCB

GST/HST Credit

Maximum GST/HST Credit (2026)

Status	Annual Amount
Single	$519
Married/Common-law	$680
Per child under 19	$179

GST/HST Credit by Income

Single person:

Net Income	Annual Credit
$20,000	$519
$30,000	$519
$40,000	$269
$50,000	$0

Payment Schedule

Payment Month	Period Covered
July	Based on prior year return
October	Quarterly
January	Quarterly
April	Quarterly

Apply: Automatic when you file taxes.

Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)

Maximum CWB (2026)

Status	Basic Amount	Disability Supplement
Single	$1,518	$784
Family	$2,616	$784

CWB Income Thresholds

Status	Full Benefit Below	Phases Out Above
Single	$23,495	$35,095
Family	$26,805	$45,932

CWB Requirements

Requirement	Details
Working income	More than $3,000
Age	19+ (or with spouse/child)
Student	Not full-time for >13 weeks
Income threshold	Below limit

Advance payments: You can get up to 50% in advance.

Climate Action Incentive

CAI Amounts by Province (2026)

Province	Single	Family of 4
Ontario	$244	$488
Manitoba	$264	$528
Saskatchewan	$376	$752
Alberta	$386	$772

CAI Requirements

Requirement	Details
Resident	Of eligible province
Age	19+ (or with spouse/child)
File taxes	Required

Apply: Automatic with tax return.

Employment Insurance (EI)

EI Benefits

Type	Duration	Percentage of Income
Regular	14-45 weeks	55% (max $668/week)
Maternity	15 weeks	55%
Parental (standard)	35 weeks	55%
Parental (extended)	61 weeks	33%
Sickness	26 weeks	55%
Caregiving	15-26 weeks	55%

EI Requirements

Requirement	Details
Hours worked	420-700 (varies by region)
Reason for job loss	Layoff, not quit
Ready to work	Available for other jobs
Apply	Within 4 weeks of separation

EI Maximum

Item	Amount
Maximum insurable earnings	$67,600
Maximum weekly benefit	$668
Maximum annual benefit	~$24,800

Old Age Security (OAS)

OAS Amounts (2026)

Age	Monthly	Annual
65-74	$760	$9,120
75+	$836	$10,032

OAS Eligibility

Years in Canada	Benefit
40+ years	Full OAS
10-39 years	1/40 per year
Under 10 years	Not eligible

OAS Clawback

Net Income	Impact
Under $90,000	Full OAS
$90,000-$148,000	Partial clawback
Over $148,000	No OAS

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Maximum GIS (2026)

Situation	Monthly	Annual
Single	$1,086	$13,032
Couple (each)	$654	$7,848

GIS Requirements

Requirement	Details
Receiving OAS	Yes
Single income threshold	Under ~$21,000
Couple income threshold	Under ~$28,000

Provincial Benefits (Examples)

Ontario

Benefit	Details
Ontario Trillium Benefit	Energy + property tax + sales tax credits
OEPTC	Up to $1,194
OTB	Varies by income

British Columbia

Benefit	Details
BC Climate Action Tax Credit	Up to $447
BC Family Benefit	Up to $2,125/child

Quebec

Benefit	Details
Solidarity Tax Credit	Up to $1,200
Family Allowance	Varies

Alberta

Benefit	Details
Alberta Child and Family Benefit	Up to $5,120/family

How to Apply

Automatic Benefits (File Taxes)

Benefit	How to Get It
GST/HST Credit	File tax return
Climate Action Incentive	File tax return
Canada Workers Benefit	File tax return
OAS/GIS	Most auto-enrolled

Application Required

Benefit	How to Apply
Canada Child Benefit	CRA My Account or form RC66
Employment Insurance	Service Canada online
Provincial programs	Check provincial website

Key Dates

Date	Event
April 30	Tax filing deadline
July	New CCB benefit year starts
Quarterly	GST/HST credit payments

Bottom Line

Action	Benefit
File taxes annually	Access most benefits
Apply for CCB	Up to $7,787/child
Check CRA My Account	See your eligible benefits
Apply within deadlines	Don’t lose entitlements

Key tips:

File taxes every year — even with no income
Benefits are income-tested — lower income = more benefits
Check both federal and provincial programs
Set up direct deposit for faster payments
Update CRA when circumstances change
Many benefits are automatic with tax return

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy