Every federal benefit runs on its own schedule, and none of them line up. The Canada Child Benefit arrives around the 20th, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (the former GST/HST credit) comes four times a year, and CPP and OAS land near the end of the month. If you receive more than one, planning around them means tracking three or four separate rhythms.
This page collects the 2027 dates for the main federal benefit payments in one place.
Remaining 2026 Payment Dates (Official)
These dates are published by the CRA and Service Canada.
| Benefit | October 2026 | November 2026 | December 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Child Benefit (CCB) | October 20 | November 20 | December 11 |
| Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly GST/HST credit) | October 5 | — | — |
| Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) | October 9 | November 10 | December 10 |
| Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) | October 9 | — | — |
| CPP and OAS | October 28 | November 26 | December 22 |
| Canada Disability Benefit | October 15 | November 19 | December 17 |
| Alberta Child and Family Benefit | — | November 27 | — |
Note how December runs early: the December CCB is paid on the 11th and CPP/OAS on the 22nd, ahead of the holidays.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB) — Monthly
About the 2027 dates: the CRA and Service Canada had not published their 2027 payment calendars as of September 24, 2026. The 2027 dates on this page are projected from the standard scheduling rule explained below, not official. One exception: the CRA has confirmed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will be paid on January 5 and April 5, 2027. December dates are the most likely to move — in 2026 the December CCB was paid on the 11th and CPP/OAS on the 22nd. We replace projections with the official dates as soon as they are published — check the CRA payment dates page before relying on any single date.
Paid around the 20th of each month, moved earlier when the 20th falls on a weekend or federal holiday.
- January 20 · February 19 · March 19 · April 20
- May 20 · June 18 · July 20 · August 20
- September 20 · October 20 · November 19 · December 20
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (Formerly GST/HST Credit) — Quarterly
Paid four times a year, on or just before the 5th of January, April, July and October.
- January 5 (confirmed) · April 5 (confirmed) · July 5 · October 5
CPP and OAS — Monthly
Both are issued in the last few business days of each month, on the same date.
- January 27 · February 24 · March 29 · April 28
- May 27 · June 28 · July 28 · August 27
- September 27 · October 27 · November 26 · December 29
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) — Monthly
An Ontario program delivered by the CRA, paid on or just before the 10th.
- January 8 · February 10 · March 10 · April 9
- May 10 · June 10 · July 9 · August 10
- September 10 · October 8 · November 10 · December 10
If your annual OTB entitlement is small enough, the CRA pays it as a single lump sum in July instead of monthly instalments — worth knowing before you wait for a payment that is not coming.
How These Dates Are Actually Set
None of these dates are arbitrary, and understanding the rule means you can work out any month yourself rather than looking it up:
- CCB: the 20th, moved to the preceding business day if the 20th is a weekend or federal holiday
- CGEB (formerly GST/HST credit): the 5th of the quarter month, same weekend-and-holiday rule
- CPP and OAS: counted backward from month end — the third-to-last business day
- OTB: the 10th, same adjustment rule
This is also why the dates shift by a day or two from year to year without anything actually changing.
Direct Deposit vs Cheque
The dates above are when the CRA issues the payment. With direct deposit, the money is generally in your account that same day. If you receive a cheque, add mailing time — the CRA advises waiting five business days past the payment date before reporting a missing payment.
For newcomers, setting up direct deposit through CRA My Account is the single change that removes most payment-timing anxiety.
If a Payment Does Not Arrive
The most common causes, in rough order of frequency: an unfiled tax return (benefit eligibility is recalculated every July from the prior year’s return), an address or banking change that did not reach the CRA, a marital status change that has not been reported, or a child turning 18 and aging out of the CCB.
Benefits are not paid automatically forever — most are recalculated annually based on your filed return, which is why filing on time matters even in a year with no income.
