Financial Help for Low-Income Canadians: Federal and Provincial Benefits

Most financial help for people with low incomes in Canada comes through the tax system: you file a return, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and your province work out what you’re entitled to. This page lists the main programs with a short description of each and a link to the full guide. For the payment dates of each, see the benefits guide.

Start by filing your tax return

Filing every year, even with no income, is what gets you the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, the Canada Child Benefit and most provincial credits. If your income is modest and your taxes are simple, the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program runs free tax clinics that can file for you.

Federal programs

• Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: a quarterly payment that replaced the GST/HST credit, up to $679 a year for a single person and $890 for a couple, plus $234 per child.
• Canada Child Benefit: a monthly payment for families with children under 18, up to $8,157 a year per child under 6; the full amount goes to families with income up to $38,237.
• Canada Workers Benefit: a refundable credit for people who work, up to $1,633 for a single person, part of it paid in advance.
• Canada Disability Benefit: up to $204.20 a month for adults aged 18 to 64 approved for the Disability Tax Credit.
• Canadian Dental Care Plan: dental coverage for people without insurance and family income under $90,000.
• Guaranteed Income Supplement: for seniors receiving Old Age Security with low income, up to $1,138.90 a month for a single person (October to December 2026).
• Canada Training Credit: a refundable credit for course fees for people who work.

Provincial programs

• Income assistance: every province and territory runs social assistance for people who can’t meet basic needs, such as Ontario Works, and a separate program for people with disabilities, such as Ontario’s ODSP. Apply through your provincial or municipal social services office.
• Child benefits: some provinces add their own, such as the BC Family Benefit, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit and Quebec’s Family Allowance.
• Credits paid through the tax system: such as the Ontario Trillium Benefit and Quebec’s solidarity tax credit.
• Drug coverage: provincial drug plans, plus free contraception and diabetes medications through national pharmacare in British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon.

Housing, utilities and emergencies

• Rent help: the Canada Housing Benefit is delivered by each province and territory; subsidized (rent-geared-to-income) housing is applied for through municipal or regional housing offices.
• Utilities: many provinces and utilities offer low-income bill discounts or emergency help; ask your utility.
• Pandemic benefit debts: if CRA says you weren’t eligible for CERB, see CERB repayment for how to repay and deduct it.
• Emergencies and food: dial or text 211 to reach a navigator who can connect you with local food banks, emergency funds and other services.

Finding everything you qualify for

• The Government of Canada’s benefits finder suggests federal programs based on your answers.
• 211 covers local and provincial services.
• Service Canada handles EI, CPP, OAS and GIS; CRA handles benefits paid through the tax system.

Related pages

• Government benefits guide
• Am I eligible for the GST/HST credit?
• Am I eligible for the CCB?
• Guaranteed Income Supplement guide
• Should I file taxes if I have no income?