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Federal (Canada)Income support

Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

A tax-free quarterly payment for people with low and modest incomes to help offset sales tax. Formerly the GST/HST credit. You get it just by filing your taxes.

Estimated value
Up to $679/year single, $890/year couple, plus $234/year per child
Check if I qualify →

Who qualifies

  • You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes and generally 19 or older (younger if you have a spouse or child).
  • There is no separate application — filing your tax return is the application.
  • The amount depends on family net income, marital status, and number of children.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Just file your taxes

    There is no separate application. File your tax return and the CRA decides automatically if you qualify.

    Go to application ↗

Documents you will need

  • Filed income tax return
Processing time
After you file taxes
How often it is paid
Quarterly

Good to know

  • New residents can apply with a one-time form (RC151) before filing their first Canadian tax return.
  • This is the program formerly known as the GST/HST credit, renamed for the 2025 tax year.

Often applied for together

Canada Child BenefitCanada Workers Benefit
Official government page ↗
Last verified: September 1, 2026