For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, you could get CGEB payments up to $679 if you are a single individual. You can receive up to $890 if you are married or in a common-law partnership. You can avail additional benefits of up to $234 for each eligible child under age 19. Payments are issued quarterly, are non-taxable, and are calculated automatically based on your 2025 tax return.
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) is the federal program that has replaced the long-running GST/HST credit. It offers an enhanced, tax-free quarterly benefit to help low- and modest-income Canadians handle the rising costs of daily living and groceries.
If you are wondering, “How much CGEB Payment could I get?”, your total entitlement depends on three core factors:
(i) Your adjusted family net income (AFNI)
(ii) Your marital status
(iii) The No. of eligible children under 19 you care for
Table of Contents
Maximum CGEB Payment Amounts (July 2026 – June 2027)
Every July, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recalculates your CGEB benefit Payment using your previous year’s tax filings. For the 2025 base year (covering payments from July 2026 to June 2027), maximum annual entitlements include:
| Household Situation (Sinlge/Married/Common-law-partner/Spouse with or without Children) | Maximum Annual CGEB Benefit Breakdown | Estimated CGEB Payment Entitlement (Quarterly) |
| Single Individual (with single supplement) | Up to $679 | Approx. $169.75 |
| Married / Common-Law Couple (no children) | Up to $890 | Approx. $222.50 |
| Single Parent Family (1 child) | Up to $1,124 | Approx. $281.00 |
| Family of Four (couple + 2 children) | Up to $1,358 | Approx. $339.50 |
| Each Additional Child (under 19) | +$234 | +$58.50 |
In addition to the federal rates, your payment may include integrated provincial or territorial sales tax credits administered by the CRA.
How the CRA Calculates Your CGEB Benefit Amount
The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) utilizes an official formula with base amounts, supplements, and clawback thresholds:
1. Base CGEB Allotments Based on 2025 Base Year
| CGEB Component | Amount / Rule |
| Base adult CGEB credit | $445 per adult |
| Per child credit | $234 per child under 19 |
| Single-parent family supplement | $445 for the first eligible child |
2. Single Person CGEB Supplement
| CGEB Component | Amount / Rule |
| Additional amount for single individuals without dependents | Up to $234 |
| Supplement phase-in threshold | $11,564 adjusted net income |
| Maximum single-person CGEB | $679 |
| Calculation | $445 base + $234 supplement |
3. CGEB Income Phase-Out Threshold
| CGEB Reduction Rule | Details |
| Phase-out threshold | $46,432 adjusted family net income |
| Reduction rate | $0.05 for every $1 of income above $46,432 |
| Benefit reduction | Annual CGEB gradually decreases as income rises above the threshold |
| Benefit reaches $0 | At upper income cut-offs, generally $60,000–$78,000+, depending on household size and number of children |
Historical Rate Comparison: CGEB vs GST/HST Credits
To offset food and utility costs, the CGEB program has introduced a permanent 25% increase over previous baseline rates. Here is how recent base years compare:
| Base Year (Payment Cycle) | Adult Base Rate | Per Child Rate (<19) | Max Single Additional | Phase-Out Threshold |
| 2025 (July 2026 – June 2027) | $445 | $234 | $234 | $46,432 |
| 2024 (July 2025 – June 2026) | $349 | $184 | $184 | $45,521 |
| 2023 (July 2024 – June 2025) | $340 | $179 | $179 | $44,324 |
| 2022 (July 2023 – June 2024) | $325 | $171 | $171 | $42,335 |
What Changes Your CGEB Payment Entitlement?
Your CGEB Final payment amount is automatically updated when any of the following life events occur:
- Net Income Adjustments: A reassessment of either your or your spouse/common-law partner’s tax return that changes your AFNI.
- Child Reaches Age 19: When an eligible dependent turns 19 during the year, benefit payments are adjusted.
- Custody Arrangements: Starting, changing, or ending a shared custody arrangement divides or redirects child portions.
- Marital Status Shifts: Marriage, separation, or divorce requires an immediate update to the CRA, which triggers an AFNI recalculation starting the following month.
How to Find Your Exact CGEB Payment Amount
You do not need to guess your exact CGEB entitlement. Once your income tax return is assessed by the Canada Revenue Agency, the CRA informs you through an official CGEB Notice:
1. CGEB Notice of Determination from CRA
If you are entitled to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, the CRA issues a formal CGEB notice by mail or into your digital inbox detailing your annual entitlement and payment schedule
2. Through CRA My Account Portal
- Go to the CRA portal and sign in to your CRA Account (Individual).
- Navigate to Benefits and credits.
- Select Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
- Review your account statement, upcoming payment dates (typically the 5th of July, October, January, and April), and exact CGEB amounts.
How to Make Sure You Receive Your Full CGEB
- File Income Tax On Time: The single most important step is filing your annual income tax return by April 30, even if you had zero income.
- Late filing can pause your CGEB Benefit payments until your income tax return is processed (though missing funds are issued retroactively once assessed).
- Both Partners Must File: For couples, the CRA cannot calculate household eligibility until both partners’ returns are submitted.
- Newcomers to Canada: If you moved to Canada recently and haven’t filed your first return yet, apply directly using Form RC151 (for individuals/couples without children) or Form RC66 (if you have dependent children under 19).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum annual CGEB for Single individuals for 2026–2027?
Single individual: Up to $679 annually (~$169.75 per quarter)
How much can a married or common-law couple receive from the CGEB annually?
Up to $890 annually (~$222.50 per quarter).
How much CGEB can you receive for each eligible child under 19?
$234 annually (~$58.50 per quarter) per eligible child.
How much can a single parent with one eligible child receive from the CGEB?
Up to $1,124 annually (~$281 per quarter), because the first child receives the $445 adult base rate plus the $234 single supplement.
How does the CRA release the $679 maximum CGEB to single individuals?
The maximum $679 CGEB entitlement combines $445 Base Adult Credit and up to $234 Single Person Additional Supplement. The $234 supplement begins phasing in once adjusted net income exceeds $11,564, allowing the total to reach the $679 maximum before the applicable reduction begins.
How is the $890 CGEB amount distributed among married people or common-law couples?
The maximum $890 combined adult entitlement consists of $445 Filer Amount and $445 Eligible Spouse/Common-Law Partner Amount. Couples do not receive the single-person additional supplement.
How does the CGEB child amount differ between single-parent and two-parent families?
For a two-parent household, each eligible child under 19 receives $234 annually (~$58.50 per quarter). For a single-parent family, the first eligible child receives $445 instead of $234, while each additional eligible child receives the standard $234.
How is CGEB split under shared custody arrangements?
If parents share equal or near-equal custody of an eligible child under age 19, the CRA splits the child portion evenly. Each parent receives 50% of the entitlement for that child (e.g., $117 annually / $29.25 quarterly per child). The adjustment appears automatically on each parent’s CGEB statement once shared custody is declared via CRA My Account or Form RC66.
At what income level does the benefit begin to phase out?
For the 2025 base year, the phase-out threshold starts at an Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) of $46,432. Entitlements are reduced by 5% (5 cents per dollar) on family net income earned above $46,432 until the credit balance reaches $0.
When are CGEB quarterly payments disbursed throughout the year?
CGEB follows the standard quarterly schedule:
July 3 / 5 (First payment of the recalculated benefit year), October 5, January 5, and April 5. If the 5th falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, direct deposits and cheques are issued on the preceding business day.
Do CGEB payments include provincial or territorial credits?
Yes. In provinces where the CRA administers low-income sales tax credits (such as the Ontario Sales Tax Credit portion of the Ontario Trillium Benefit, or the BC Climate Action Tax Credit), these amounts may be combined into your CRA payment or detailed on the same determination notice.
Do I have to pay tax on my CGEB payment?
No. CGEB payments are 100% tax-free. You do not receive a T-slip for this money, and you do not report it as taxable income on your annual Canadian tax return.
