Updated July 2026. The CRA and Service Canada run several tax-free benefit programs on their own predictable schedules. Here’s an overview of the major ones, how they work, and where their 2026 payment dates land.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
Tax-free monthly payments for families raising children under 18, based on your income and family size. Payments land mid-to-late month — for example, April 20, May 20, and June 19, 2026 — with a new benefit year (based on your 2025 income) starting with the July 20, 2026 payment.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST Credit)
As of July 2026, this quarterly credit was renamed from the GST/HST credit to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, with a 25% increase in payment amounts locked in for five years. Regular quarterly payments land around the 5th of January, April, July, and October — the first CGEB payment under the new name and rate landed July 3, 2026. A one-time top-up payment also went out June 5, 2026, ahead of the transition, for anyone entitled to the January 2026 payment.
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)
Ontario’s combined energy, property tax, and sales tax credit, administered by the CRA, pays out on the 10th of each month, including July 10, 2026.
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB)
Advance payments of the CWB, based on your previous year’s return, are issued three times a year — one of the 2026 payments also landed on July 10.
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
A newer federal support for working-age adults with disabilities, paid on the 19th of each month — for example, May 21, 2026 (adjusted for the weekend).
CPP and OAS
Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments land on the same date each month, generally near month-end — May 27 and July 29 were two of the 2026 dates.
The Common Thread
Every benefit on this list depends on your tax return being filed and current — the CRA and Service Canada use that information to calculate and automatically deliver your payment. For the complete, always-current schedule across every program and province, check Canada.ca’s official benefits payment calendar rather than relying on any single article’s snapshot.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency, Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits.
