Updated July 2026. Several federal and provincial benefit payments land in Ontario bank accounts on fixed dates each month. This guide explains the three big ones — the Ontario Trillium Benefit, the Canada Child Benefit, and CPP/OAS — how the payment dates are set, what the current amounts look like, and why some people receive nothing even when they expect a deposit.
How the Payment Dates Work
The dates aren’t random; each program follows a fixed rule you can use to predict every month of the year:
- Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB): paid on the 10th of each month (moved to the previous business day if the 10th is a weekend or holiday)
- Canada Child Benefit (CCB): paid around the 20th of each month
- CPP and OAS: paid on the third-from-last business day of the month
For July 2026, that works out to OTB on July 10, CCB on July 20, and CPP/OAS on July 29. Always confirm against the CRA’s official benefit payment dates calendar, which lists every date for the year.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. The amount depends on your adjusted family net income from your latest tax return and the ages of your children. For reference, the 2025–26 benefit year maximums were about $666/month per child under 6 and $562/month per child aged 6–17, with an additional Child Disability Benefit for eligible families. A new benefit year began in July 2026 with indexed (slightly higher) amounts — the CRA recalculates your entitlement each July based on the previous year’s tax return.
The catch newcomers miss: you must file a tax return (both spouses, if applicable) even with zero income, or CCB stops. Temporary residents generally qualify after 18 consecutive months in Canada with a valid permit in the 19th month.
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)
The OTB bundles three Ontario credits into one payment: the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit. It’s not taxable. Amounts are modest — for many single adults the sales tax credit portion is around $30–$35/month — but renters and property-tax payers can receive substantially more through the energy and property tax component.
The catch: the OTB only exists if you completed the ON-BEN form with your tax return, including your rent paid or property tax paid. People who skip that section get no OTB at all. If your total annual entitlement is $360 or less, it’s paid as a single lump sum in July rather than monthly.
CPP and OAS
Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments arrive together near month-end and are both taxable. CPP depends on your contribution history; OAS is residence-based (generally 10+ years in Canada after age 18 for a partial pension). Higher-income seniors should watch the OAS recovery tax (“clawback”), which reduces OAS once net income crosses the annual threshold. Amounts are indexed quarterly — check current maximums on the official public pensions page.
Didn’t Get Your Payment?
- Wait 5 business days after the scheduled date before contacting the CRA (10 for cheques)
- Check CRA My Account — it shows exactly what was issued and when
- The most common causes: an unfiled tax return, a change in family status not reported, or direct deposit details pointing at a closed account
Related Guides
- Taxes in Canada for newcomers: how to file
- Cost of living in Canada: what newcomers actually pay
- Setting up banking and CRA direct deposit as a newcomer
Benefit amounts are indexed and change each July; dates above follow official payment rules. Verify your personal amounts in CRA My Account.
