CRA Benefit Payments in October 2026: What Newcomers Could Get

October is an important month for benefit payments, with several monthly and quarterly payments scheduled, including the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB).

Here’s what you need to know about the major CRA benefit payments coming in October 2026, including when they arrive, who qualifies, and how much you could receive.

Key Takeaways

• The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit arrives October 5, along with several provincial credits for eligible recipients.
• The Canada Child Benefit payment is scheduled for October 20, with most provincial and territorial child benefits included.
• Ontario Trillium Benefit and Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payments both arrive October 9.
• CPP, OAS, and GIS payments are scheduled for October 28, with OAS and GIS rates increasing by 1.4 percent for the new quarter.

Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) – October 5, 2026

The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. It provides tax-free quarterly payments to eligible Canadians with low and modest incomes.

October 5 marks the second CGEB payment since the new benefit was introduced. Your entitlement for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year is calculated using your 2025 adjusted family net income.

Who Qualifies for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit?

To qualify, you must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes and generally be at least 19 years old. If you are under 19, you may still qualify if you have or previously had a spouse or common-law partner, or if you are a parent living with your child.

Your 2025 adjusted family net income also needs to fall below the limit for your household. For example, a single person with no children must have income below $60,012, while a couple with two children must have income below $73,592. Your payment gradually decreases as your income rises, so qualifying does not necessarily mean you will receive the maximum amount.

If you have filed your 2025 tax return, the CRA will generally assess your eligibility automatically. Newcomers who have not yet filed their first Canadian tax return must apply separately.

How Much Could You Receive from the CEGB?

For the July 2026 to June 2027 payment year, you could receive up to:

• $679 if you are single
• $890 if you are married or have a common-law partner
• An additional $234 per eligible child under 19

These are annual maximums, with the benefit normally divided across four quarterly payments. If your quarterly entitlement is less than $50, however, the CRA generally pays the full amount in July.

Provincial Credits Paid with the October CGEB

Your October 5 deposit may be larger if you qualify for a provincial credit administered alongside the federal benefit.

These include:

• New Brunswick harmonized sales tax credit: Up to $300 annually per adult and $100 per child under 19. The credit begins to decrease once your adjusted family net income exceeds $35,000.
• Prince Edward Island sales tax credit: Up to $310 annually for an individual, plus $55 for a spouse, common-law partner, or eligible dependant. It is intended for PEI households with low and modest incomes and is calculated automatically by the CRA based on your tax return.
• Saskatchewan low-income tax credit: Up to $460 per adult and $181 per child for up to two children, for a maximum of $1,282 per family. The credit starts to decrease when adjusted family net income exceeds $39,345, with partial payments available for families earning up to $81,668.

Other provincial programs can also be combined with the CGEB depending on where you live.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB) – October 20, 2026

The next Canada Child Benefit payment arrives on October 20. The CCB provides tax-free monthly support to eligible families with children under 18.

Who Qualifies for the Canada Child Benefit?

To qualify, you generally need to live with a child under 18 and have primary responsibility for their care.

You or your spouse or common-law partner must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or an eligible temporary resident.

If you’re a newcomer, you do not have to wait until your first Canadian tax return has been filed to apply for the CCB. However, once you begin filing taxes in Canada, you and your spouse or partner must continue filing every year to keep receiving the benefit.

How Much CCB Could You Receive in October 2026?

For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, the maximum CCB is:

• $8,157 per year, or $679.75 per month, for each child under six
• $6,883 per year, or $573.58 per month, for each child aged six to 17

Families with 2025 adjusted family net income below $38,237 qualify for the maximum amounts. Above that level, payments decrease as family income rises.

Provincial Child Benefits Included with the October CCB

Depending on where you live, your October 20 payment may include both the federal CCB and a provincial or territorial child benefit. These payments are generally calculated automatically based on your tax return.

Current maximum monthly amounts include:

• British Columbia Family Benefit: Up to $145.83 for the first child, $91.66 for the second, and $75 for each additional child.
• Ontario Child Benefit: Up to $146.66 per child.
• Nova Scotia Child Benefit: Up to $127.08 per child.
• New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit: Up to $20.83 per child, plus the New Brunswick Working Income Supplement for eligible families.
• Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit: Up to $157.33 per month for a family with one child, with higher amounts for additional children.
• Prince Edward Island Child Benefit: Up to $34.16 per child.
• Yukon Child Benefit: Up to $80.50 per child.
• Northwest Territories Child Benefit: Up to $67.91 for one child under six or $54.33 for one child aged six to 17, with higher family amounts if you have more children.
• Nunavut Child Benefit: Up to $29 per child, plus a territorial workers’ supplement of up to $24.16 per month for one child or $30.75 for a family with two or more children.

Alberta and Quebec operate their own child benefit payment schedules. Manitoba does not currently have a provincial child benefit.

Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) – October 9, 2026

Eligible Ontario residents can expect their next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment on October 9. The payment arrives a day earlier than the usual 10th of the month because October 10 falls on a weekend.

The OTB brings together three provincial credits: the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, and Northern Ontario Energy Credit.

Who Could Receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

You must be an Ontario resident and file an income tax return to be considered for the OTB. Which parts of the benefit you qualify for depends on your age, income, family situation, where you live, and your housing costs.

The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit may be available if you paid rent or property tax on your main home in Ontario, lived in a public long-term care home, or paid home energy costs while living on a reserve.

If you live in Northern Ontario, you may also qualify for the Northern Ontario Energy Credit if you paid rent or property tax on your main home, lived in a public long-term care home, or paid home energy costs on a reserve.

The Ontario Sales Tax Credit is for people with low or moderate incomes. You may qualify if you are at least 19, have or previously had a spouse or common-law partner, or are a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.

How Much Could You Receive from the Ontario Trillium Benefit?

Your total OTB depends on which of the three credits you qualify for. For the current benefit year, the maximum amounts are:

• Ontario Sales Tax Credit: Up to $378 for each eligible adult and child.
• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit: Up to $1,307 if you are aged 18 to 64, or up to $1,488 if you are 65 or older. If you live on a reserve or in a public long-term care home, the maximum is $290.
• Northern Ontario Energy Credit: Up to $189 for a single person or $290 for a family.

These are annual maximums. If your total annual OTB is more than $500, it is normally divided into monthly payments from July 2026 to June 2027. If your entitlement was $500 or less, you would generally have received the full amount in July.

Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) – October 9, 2026

The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit designed for people who are working but earning a relatively low income. Instead of waiting until tax season to receive the entire credit, eligible recipients can receive part of their entitlement in advance, in July, October, and January.

Who Qualifies for Advanced Canada Workers Benefit Payments?

Generally, you need to have working income and meet the Canada Workers Benefit’s income requirements.

You must also be at least 19 by the end of the year, unless you live with a spouse, common-law partner, or child.

If you qualified for the Canada Workers Benefit on your 2025 tax return and meet the requirements for advance payments, the CRA calculates your ACWB automatically.

How Much Could You Receive from the ACWB?

For the 2025 tax year, the maximum basic Canada Workers Benefit is:

• $1,633 for single individuals
• $2,813 for families

Different maximums apply in Alberta, Quebec, and Nunavut.

The ACWB allows eligible recipients to receive up to 50 percent of their Canada Workers Benefit in three installments before filing their next tax return.

Quebec Family Allowance – October 1, 2026

Families living in Quebec have a separate provincial child benefit administered by Retraite Québec. Family Allowance provides financial assistance to eligible families with dependent children under 18.

Who Qualifies for Quebec Family Allowance?

Eligibility generally depends on living in Quebec and being responsible for the care and education of a child under 18.

Your payment is also affected by factors such as your family income, whether you have a spouse, and the number of children in your household.

Newcomers may qualify if they meet Quebec’s residency and immigration status requirements.

How Much Could You Receive from Quebec Family Allowance?

For 2026, Quebec Family Allowance ranges from $1,221 to $3,068 per child per year. Single-parent families can receive an additional $430 to $1,077 per year.

Your amount depends on your family income, number of children, custody arrangement, and whether you have a spouse. For example, a two-parent family with income of $60,000 or less can receive the maximum $3,068 per child, while a single-parent family with income of $44,000 or less can receive up to $4,145 for one child, including the single-parent supplement.

Benefit payments decrease as income rises. Additional support is available for eligible children with disabilities.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) – October 28, 2026

If you receive payments from the Canada Pension Plan, your October retirement payment is scheduled for October 28.

CPP is based on the contributions you made while working in Canada. It is different from income-tested benefits such as the CCB because the amount you receive largely depends on your contribution history and when you decide to start your pension.

Who Qualifies for Canada Pension Plan Payments?

You need to be at least 60 and have made at least one valid CPP contribution to receive a CPP retirement pension.

Newcomers who spent part of their careers outside Canada may also benefit from international social security agreements. Depending on the country, periods of coverage abroad may help you meet eligibility requirements.

Quebec operates the Quebec Pension Plan rather than CPP.

How Much CPP Could You Receive in October 2026?

For someone beginning CPP at age 65 in 2026, the maximum monthly retirement pension is $1,507.65.

The average for new beneficiaries aged 65 was $877.01 per month as of April 2026. Your amount depends on your earnings and contribution history, as well as the age at which you start collecting CPP.

Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) – October 28, 2026

Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement are scheduled for October 28.

For October to December 2026, OAS benefits will increase by 1.4 percent based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Who Qualifies for OAS and GIS?

OAS is available from age 65. Unlike CPP, you do not need to have worked in Canada or paid into the program.

Instead, eligibility depends largely on how long you have lived in Canada. A full pension generally requires 40 years of residence in Canada after turning 18, while some people can qualify for a partial pension with at least 10 years of residence.

GIS provides additional, non-taxable income to OAS recipients with low incomes. The amount depends on your income and whether you have a spouse or common-law partner.

How Much Could You Receive from OAS and GIS in October 2026?

For October to December 2026, OAS and GIS payments will increase by 1.4 percent to reflect changes in the cost of living.

Based on that increase, the maximum monthly OAS payment will be approximately $762.50 for people aged 65 to 74and $838.75 for people aged 75 and older. The maximum GIS payment for a single, widowed, or divorced senior will be approximately $1,138.89 per month.

Why Filing a Tax Return Matters for Your CRA Benefit Payments

Most of the income-tested CRA benefit payments arriving this October rely on information from your 2025 tax return. That includes the current Canada Child Benefit and Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment periods.

For newcomers, filing a Canadian tax return is important even if you earned very little or had no income during the year. Your return gives the CRA the information it needs to calculate many federal and provincial benefits.

You should also keep your address, marital status, banking information, and details about your children up to date. A change in your household can affect how much you receive, and outdated information could lead to a delayed payment or an incorrect benefit amount.