Is there a grocery rebate in Canada in 2026?

The federal Grocery Rebate was a one-time payment in July 2023. As of 2026, there is no separate ongoing grocery rebate program, but low and modest-income Canadians receive quarterly GST/HST credits that serve a similar affordability purpose.

How much was the 2023 Grocery Rebate?

The 2023 Grocery Rebate was equal to double the January 2023 GST/HST credit payment. Single Canadians received up to $234, couples received up to $467, and families received an additional $122 per child.

What affordability payments are available in 2026?

Available affordability payments include the quarterly GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit (CCB), enhanced OAS and GIS for seniors, provincial affordability benefits, and the Canada Carbon Rebate (formerly Climate Action Incentive Payment).

Do I need to apply for the GST/HST credit?

No application is needed if you file your tax return. The CRA automatically determines eligibility and sends payments to those who qualify. Make sure to file your return even if you have no income.

Canadian Grocery Rebate and Affordability Payments (2026 Guide)

Overview of Canadian Affordability Benefits

Canada offers several federal and provincial programs to help with the cost of living. This guide covers all major affordability payments available to Canadians.

Benefit	Payment Frequency	Income-Tested
GST/HST Credit	Quarterly	Yes
Canada Child Benefit	Monthly	Yes
Canada Carbon Rebate	Quarterly	No
OAS/GIS	Monthly	Age + income
Provincial benefits	Varies	Varies

The 2023 Grocery Rebate (Historical)

What It Was

Feature	Details
Type	One-time payment
Date paid	July 5, 2023
Eligibility	Same as GST/HST credit
Application required	No (automatic)

Payment Amounts (2023)

Family Situation	Maximum Amount
Single person	$234
Couple	$467
Per child under 19	$122
Single parent + 1 child	$356

Current Status

The 2023 Grocery Rebate was a one-time emergency measure. As of 2026, there is no ongoing grocery rebate. Instead, Canadians rely on regular affordability programs.

GST/HST Credit → Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)

The GST/HST credit was the primary federal affordability payment, issued quarterly to offset sales tax costs for low and modest-income households. It was replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) starting with the July 2026 payment, which carries a higher base amount under the same eligibility rules.

Current Payment Amounts (July 2026–June 2027 Benefit Year)

Family Situation	Annual Maximum
Single individual	$679
Married/common-law	$890
Per eligible child under 19	$234

Source: Canada Revenue Agency – Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB): How much you can get, verified September 4, 2026, for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year (based on 2025 AFNI). View source

2025–2026 Payment Amounts (Final Year Under the GST/HST Credit Name)

Family Situation	Annual Maximum
Single person	$519
Married/common-law	$680
Per child under 19	$179

Payment Dates (2025–2026)

Payment	Date
July 2025	July 5
October 2025	October 5
January 2026	January 5
April 2026	April 5

Income Thresholds

Family Type	Full Benefit Threshold	Reduced Benefit Phase-Out
Single	~$42,000	Phased out gradually
Couple no children	~$55,000	Phased out gradually
Family with children	Higher thresholds	Phased out gradually

Eligibility

Requirement	Details
Age	19+ (or parent, married, or formerly married)
Residency	Canadian resident
Tax filing	Must file previous year’s return
Income	Below threshold

Canada Carbon Rebate (Discontinued April 2025)

Formerly the Climate Action Incentive Payment, this rebate offset carbon pricing costs until the federal consumer carbon tax was eliminated effective April 1, 2025. The final payment was made in January 2025 — see Carbon Tax Cancelled — What It Means for You for the full story. It is no longer part of the affordability-payment lineup below.

Final Annual Amounts (2024-2025 Benefit Year)

Province	Single	Couple	Per Child
Alberta	$450	$675	$112.50
Ontario	$280	$420	$70
Manitoba	$300	$450	$75
Saskatchewan	$376	$564	$94
New Brunswick	$190	$285	$47.50
Nova Scotia	$206	$309	$51.50
PEI	$220	$330	$55
Newfoundland	$298	$447	$74.50

BC and Quebec never received this rebate — they have their own carbon programs.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

July 2026–June 2027 Maximum Amounts

Child’s age	Maximum Annual	Maximum Monthly
Under 6	$8,157	$679.75
6 to 17	$6,883	$573.58

These maximums apply to families with adjusted family net income (AFNI) below $38,237. Source: Canada Revenue Agency – Canada child benefit (CCB): How much you can get, verified September 4, 2026, for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year (based on 2025 AFNI). View source

Income Phase-Out

Family Income	Reduction
Under $38,237	Full benefit
$38,237–$82,847	7% of income over threshold
Over $82,847	Additional reduction

Payment Dates

Monthly payments on the 20th of each month.

Provincial Affordability Benefits

Ontario

Benefit	Amount	Eligibility
Ontario Trillium Benefit	Varies	Low income
LIFT Credit	Up to $875	Working low income
Ontario Drug Benefit	Free drugs	65+

British Columbia

Benefit	Amount	Eligibility
BC Climate Action Tax Credit	$504/adult	Income-tested
BC Family Benefit	Up to $2,125/child	Low/moderate income
BC Electricity Affordability Credit	One-time credit	BC Hydro customers

Alberta

Benefit	Amount	Eligibility
Alberta Child and Family Benefit	Up to $3,600	Families with children
Alberta Seniors Benefit	Up to $320/month	Low-income 65+

Quebec

Benefit	Amount	Eligibility
QST Credit	Variable	Low income
Family Allowance	Variable	Families with children
Senior Assistance	Variable	Low-income 65+

Other Provinces

Most provinces offer similar tax credits and benefits. Check your province’s Ministry of Finance website for details.

Who Receives Affordability Payments?

Automatic Eligibility (No Application)

Benefit	How to Receive
GST/HST Credit / Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit	File tax return
Grocery Rebate (if reintroduced)	File tax return

Application Required

Benefit	How to Apply
Canada Child Benefit	Apply through CRA
OAS/GIS	Apply at 65
Provincial benefits	Varies by program

How to Maximize Your Benefits

File Your Taxes

Tip	Reason
File every year	Required for most benefits
File even with $0 income	Still eligible for credits
Include all family members	Children and spouse
File on time	Avoid payment delays

Update Your Information

Information	Where to Update
Address	CRA My Account
Direct deposit	CRA My Account
Marital status	CRA My Account
Number of children	CRA (apply for CCB)

Claim All Deductions

Deduction	Benefit
RRSP contributions	Lower net income = higher credits
Child care expenses	Lower net income
Moving expenses	If applicable

Combined Annual Affordability Benefits

Example: Single Person in Ontario

Benefit	Annual Amount
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly GST/HST Credit)	$679
Ontario Trillium Benefit	~$300
Total	~$979

The Canada Carbon Rebate, once part of this stack, made its final payment in January 2025 and is no longer paid — see Carbon Tax Cancelled.

Example: Family with 2 Children in Alberta

Benefit	Annual Amount
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly GST/HST Credit)	$1,358
Canada Child Benefit	~$14,000
Alberta Child Benefit	~$3,000
Total	~$18,358

Actual amounts vary based on income and circumstances. The Alberta Carbon Levy rebate, once part of this stack, ended alongside the federal Canada Carbon Rebate in January 2025.

Payment Dates Summary (2026)

Federal Payments

Month	Benefit Paid
January 5	GST/HST + Carbon Rebate
April 5	GST/HST + Carbon Rebate
July 5	GST/HST + Carbon Rebate
October 5	GST/HST + Carbon Rebate
20th monthly	Canada Child Benefit

Tax Filing Deadlines

Deadline	Importance
April 30	File return for eligibility
June 15	Self-employed deadline
July payment	First payment of benefit year

Will There Be Another Grocery Rebate?

Factors That Could Trigger Another Payment

Factor	Status
High inflation	Currently moderating
Food price increases	Varied
Election promises	Possible
Economic downturn	Not currently

How It Would Work

If reintroduced, a grocery rebate would likely:

Use the same GST/HST credit infrastructure
Be automatic (no application needed)
Be delivered as a one-time or temporary payment
Target low and modest-income households

Key Takeaways

The 2023 Grocery Rebate was a one-time payment
Regular affordability benefits include GST/HST credit, CCB, and Carbon Rebate
File your taxes to receive benefits automatically
Provincial programs add additional support
Keep your CRA information up to date for uninterrupted payments

→ Back to: Complete Canadian Tax Guide