If a federal payment landed in your bank account on October 5, 2026, and the name looked unfamiliar, here is why: the old GST/HST credit is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). The name changed on July 1, 2026, and, more importantly, the payments got 25 per cent bigger for five years, running through 2031. The October 5 deposit was the second quarterly payment under the new name, and the next one arrives January 5, 2027.
Key takeaways
- The GST/HST credit was renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit effective July 1, 2026, with quarterly payments permanently 25% higher through 2031.
- Maximum annual amounts for the 2026–27 benefit year: $679 for a single person, $890 for a married or common-law couple, plus $234 for each child under 19, paid quarterly.
- The second quarterly payment landed October 5, 2026; the next payments are January 5, 2027 and April 2027.
- You do not need to apply, the CRA calculates and pays the benefit automatically from your tax return; newcomers can file Form RC151.
- During the transition, the old "GST/HST credit" label may still appear in CRA My Account and on bank statements even though the payment reflects the new, higher rates.
Why your GST/HST credit changed names
The shift started as a cost-of-living promise. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the new benefit on January 26, 2026, as a direct response to Canadians struggling with food prices. It was legislated through Bill C-19, which received Royal Assent on February 12, 2026, and it took effect with the July 3, 2026 quarterly payment.
The renaming is not cosmetic window-dressing, it marks a structural upgrade. The benefit keeps the GST/HST credit's eligibility rules, quarterly rhythm, and income-tested formula, but lifts every payment by 25 per cent for five consecutive benefit years, from July 2026 through June 2031. The name signals what the government says the money is for: protecting basic household purchasing power, with groceries named first.
One transition quirk to know: the CRA has confirmed that the legacy "GST/HST credit" label may continue to appear in CRA My Account statements and on bank deposits during the changeover. The payment amount reflects the new, enhanced CGEB rates regardless of which label shows up, so if the name on your October 5 deposit looked old, the dollars were new.
How much you can get
For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, the maximum annual entitlements are:
Household type | Annual maximum | Quarterly payment |
|---|---|---|
Single individual | $679 | $169.75 |
Married or common-law couple | $890 | $222.50 |
Per child under 19 | $234 | $58.50 |
Couple with two children | $1,358 | $339.50 |
To put the increase in context: the maximum under the old GST/HST credit was $533 for a single person. At $679, the new benefit is $146 a year more for a single recipient, and that gap holds for five years.
These are maximums for low- and modest-income households. Like the old credit, the benefit is income-tested: maximum payments begin to phase out once adjusted family net income exceeds roughly $42,335 for a single individual and roughly $55,471 for a family, with the benefit declining gradually as income rises above those thresholds. Households above the upper income limit for their family size receive nothing. Thresholds are adjusted annually, so exact 2026–27 figures follow the CRA's published payments chart.
One small administrative rule: if your total annual entitlement works out to less than $50 per quarter, the CRA pays your entire yearly amount as a single payment in July instead of quarterly instalments.
When the money lands
The benefit follows the same quarterly schedule as the old credit, July, October, January, April, but the transition year added a one-time bridge payment:
Payment date | Payment type | Max single (no kids) | Max couple + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|
June 5, 2026 | One-time top-up (50% of your annual GST/HST credit value) | ~$267 | ~$533 |
July 3, 2026 | 1st CGEB quarterly payment | $169.75 | $339.50 |
October 5, 2026 | 2nd CGEB quarterly payment | $169.75 | $339.50 |
January 5, 2027 | 3rd CGEB quarterly payment | $169.75 | $339.50 |
April 2027 | 4th CGEB quarterly payment | $169.75 | $339.50 |
The June 5 top-up was a one-time lump sum worth roughly half of the recipient's annual GST/HST credit, a bridge to the new program. It was based on the 2024 tax return, while the July quarterly cycle runs on the 2025 return, so missing the June payment did not disqualify anyone from the ongoing quarterly payments. The January and April 2027 dates follow the standard CRA quarterly pattern and are subject to final CRA confirmation closer to each date.
Direct deposit recipients see funds on the scheduled date; cheque recipients should allow extra business days for mail.
Do you need to apply?
No. This is the single most important thing to tell anyone who asks: filing your annual tax return is the only requirement. The CRA automatically determines eligibility and calculates the payment after processing your return. There is no separate application, no portal sign-up, and no action needed when the name changed.
Two exceptions worth knowing:
- Newcomers to Canada who have not previously received the GST/HST credit should submit Form RC151 (the GST/HST Credit Application for Individuals Who Become Residents of Canada) through CRA My Account to get into the system.
- If you did not file a tax return, there is nothing for the CRA to base your entitlement on. The benefit is recalculated every July based on the previous year's return, so the July 2026 to June 2027 payments are driven by the 2025 tax return. Filing late can delay payments but does not permanently disqualify you.
Why this matters beyond the cheque
The CGEB sits inside a broader cost-of-living picture. Our coverage of the 2026 food price report tracks where grocery prices are heading, and the benefit is one of several federal measures offsetting household pressure, see also our rundown of tariff relief programs for what else Ottawa has put on the table this year.
It is also worth keeping the scale in perspective. A maximum of $679 a year for a single person is about $57 a month, real money, but not a grocery budget. The benefit is designed as an offset, not a replacement, for food costs.
Practical next steps
- File your 2025 tax return if you haven't, everything about the July 2026–June 2027 payments flows from it.
- Check CRA My Account to confirm your entitlement and payment dates; don't be confused if the old "GST/HST credit" label still appears, the amount is what counts.
- If you're a newcomer to Canada, submit Form RC151 through CRA My Account to register for the benefit.
- Set up CRA direct deposit if you haven't, quarterly payments arrive on the published date instead of waiting on the mail.
- If the October 5 payment didn't arrive and you expected it, check your My Account first; late filing is the most common reason for a missed payment.
The bottom line
The GST/HST credit's new name, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, comes with 25 per cent more money, every quarter, for five years. The maximums are $679 a year for a single person, $890 for a couple, plus $234 per child, with the next payment due January 5, 2027. No application, no action: file your taxes, and the CRA handles the rest.
This article is general information about a federal benefit program, current as of October 2026, not financial advice for your situation. Eligibility and payment amounts depend on your income and family situation, confirm your entitlement in CRA My Account or with a qualified professional.
Sources
- Immigration News Canada, Canada Groceries Benefit Payments Coming In July 2026
- Immigration News Canada, CRA Benefits Increase Coming In July 2026
- Immigration News Canada, Canada GST Top-Up Payment Coming This Week
- Fav of Canada / Global News, First Canada grocery benefit payment arrives this week
- New Local, New Canada Groceries & Essentials Benefit (CGEB) July 3
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
01
Why did my GST/HST credit change names?
The rename was legislated through Bill C-19, which received Royal Assent on February 12, 2026, and took effect with the July 3, 2026 quarterly payment, after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the new benefit on January 26, 2026 as a direct response to Canadians struggling with food prices. The name change is not just cosmetic: it marks a structural upgrade, lifting every payment by 25 per cent for five consecutive benefit years, from July 2026 through June 2031. One transition quirk: the old "GST/HST credit" label may still appear in CRA My Account and on bank deposits, but the payment amount reflects the new, higher rates regardless of which label shows up.
02
How much is the benefit?
For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, the maximum annual entitlements are $679 for a single individual, $890 for a married or common-law couple, and $234 for each child under 19, paid quarterly ($169.75, $222.50 and $58.50 per quarter respectively). A couple with two children tops out at $1,358 a year ($339.50 per quarter). For context, the old GST/HST credit maxed at $533 for a single person, so the new benefit is $146 a year more. These are maximums for low- and modest-income households: payments phase out once adjusted family net income exceeds roughly $42,335 for a single individual and roughly $55,471 for a family. If your total annual entitlement is under $50 per quarter, the CRA pays the whole year as a single July payment instead of quarterly instalments.
03
Do I need to apply?
No. Filing your annual tax return is the only requirement, the CRA automatically determines eligibility and calculates the payment after processing your return. There is no separate application, no portal sign-up, and no action needed when the name changed. Two exceptions: newcomers to Canada who have never received the GST/HST credit should submit Form RC151 through CRA My Account to get into the system; and if you did not file a tax return, the CRA has nothing to base your entitlement on. The benefit is recalculated every July based on the previous year's return, so filing late can delay payments but does not permanently disqualify you.
04
When is the next payment?
The next quarterly payment lands January 5, 2027, with the fourth payment following in April 2027. The schedule so far: a one-time June 5, 2026 top-up (worth roughly half your annual GST/HST credit value, a bridge to the new program), the first CGEB quarterly payment on July 3, 2026, and the second on October 5, 2026. Direct deposit recipients see funds on the scheduled date; cheque recipients should allow extra business days for mail. If a payment did not arrive, check CRA My Account first, late filing is the most common reason for a missed payment.
