For many Canadians, there are some Government of Canada Benefits that you need to pay attention to. One needs to be actively renewed, and the others are automatic, but they may need some intervention.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (GST Credit)
The Goods and Services Tax Credit (GST Credit) has been around since 1991, over 35 years! It was introduced to reduce the impact of the GST on low- and modest-income households. Most taxpayers that have received this credit over the years know that it is paid four times per year after you file your income taxes.
The past four quarters: April 2026, January 2026, October 2025 and July 2025 were based on your family’s net income when you filed your 2024 taxes.
In July 2026, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) will replace the GST credit. Under the new program name, payment amounts will be increased, but the eligibility, payment calculation, and structure will be the same as the GST/HST credit. Quarterly payment amounts will increase by 25% for 5 years (from 2026 to 2031) starting in July 2026.
GST top up Jun 5 2026
As a part of the transition to the new CGEB, an additional one-time GST credit top-up payment will be provided to families who were entitled to receive the GST credit in January 2026. This immediate support will be issued starting June 5, 2026. The amount is the equivalent of two quarterly payment.
CGEB
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will determine your eligibility automatically when you file your 2025 tax return. The CGEB will have the same eligibility criteria as the GST credit.Your benefit amount will be calculated using the same rules as the GST credit. The payments for July 2026 to June 2027 will be based on the information from your 2025 tax return.
You may not receive the CGEB in July 2026 if: you did not file your 2025 tax return (but it will be back paid eventually); or you are not eligible or entitled to the benefit based on your 2025 income; or your spouse or common-law partner will receive the CGEB payments on behalf of the family; or your benefit amount has been applied to an outstanding balance you owe to the CRA
Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
This plan needs your attention! You must renew each year!Renew by June 1 2026!
Once you have filed your 2025 taxes and you (and your spouse) have received your 2025 Notice of Assessment, you need to renew the plan.
Existing members can renew their coverage for the July 2026 – June 2027 benefit year from April 15 to June 1, 2026. Your current coverage is still effective until June 30, 2026, but will end on that date if you do not renew in time.
The easiest way to renew is online: search Canada Dental Care Plan Renewal and follow the instructions. If you are unable to renew online, you can do it by phone: call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.
To renew, you need your Canada Dental Care Plan number (on your card) and other basic information: SIN, birthdate, address. And both you and your spouse need to independently renew each of your own plans. If your spouse does not renew their plan in time, it does not affect your plan.
You must renew your coverage by June 1 2026 to continue your coverage July 1 2026; if you do not renew in time, you will not have coverage again until you do renew. Say you only renew in June, you will not have coverage in July 2026, but your coverage may begin again in August 2026 (your confirmation letter will advise of your coverage dates).
If you have never applied for the CDCP, the application period is now closed (ended April 15 2026). You will need to wait for the next year to open for applications on Jun 2 2026. You may want to apply if your family situation has changed and you no longer have access to a dental plan thru an employer sponsored plan; or maybe you are now separated and no longer have coverage thru your previous spouse. Or maybe your employer has removed the dental coverage, so you now qualify for the CDCP.
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
This long awaited and new federal benefit provides direct financial support to people with disabilities who are 18 to 64 years old. The first month of eligibility for the Canada Disability Benefit was June 2025. First payments began July 2025.
If you qualify for payments, you will begin receiving payments the month after your application is received and approved. If your application was approved in July 2025 or later and you were entitled for payments in earlier months, you will get back payments. There will be no payments for months prior to June 2025.
To qualify for the Canada Disability Benefit: you must be between 18 and 64 years old AND you must have been approved for the disability tax credit (administered by Canada Revenue Agency)
The maximum amount you could receive from July 2025 to June 2026 is $2,400 ($200 per month). This amount will be adjusted for inflation each year to reflect changes in the cost of living. Your benefit payment will not decrease if the cost of living goes down.
When you apply for the Canada Disability Benefit, you might get back payments for past months that you were eligible. You can receive back payments for up to 24 months from when Service Canada gets your application, but not for any months before July 2025.
If your Disability Tax Credit expired December 31 2025, you need to re-apply and have it approved by CRA (again) in order to re-qualify for the CDB. Once your DTC is in place again, contact Service Canada 1-833-486-3007 to have the CDB back paid to January 2026.
Starting in June, Service Canada will review clients’ information to confirm they are still eligible and entitled to receive CDB payments in 2026-2027. Current CDB clients (and their spouse) must file their 2025 tax return by May 15 to ensure they remain eligible and receive accurate payments without interruptions. No need to contact Service Canada to renew!
This new benefit is NOT taxable and does not impact other benefits such as EIA Employment and Income Assistance.
If you need any help applying for the Canada Disability Benefit, please feel free to contact our office, even if you are not a current client.
Canada Carbon Rebate CCR
This benefit ended April 2025, but a reminder that if you have past taxes not yet filed, you need to get them filed by September 2026 to receive any back payments of the CCR. This benefit was previously called the Climate Action Incentive. And all families were entitled to receive it regardless of income. If you have not yet filed your 2024 taxes or any previous years, arrange to get them filed now! This is free money you do not want to lose out on!
Anni Markmann is a Personal Income Tax Professional; living, working, and volunteering in our community. Contact Ste Anne Tax Service at 204.422.6631 or 36 Dawson Road in Ste Anne (near Clearview Co-op gas bar) or Info@SteAnneTaxService.ca