If you bank with direct deposit, check your account: the Canada Revenue Agency is issuing the final 2026 payment of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit today, October 5, 2026. It's the last of the year's scheduled quarterly payments under the rebranded program.
The benefit replaced the GST/HST credit on July 1, 2026, with payments boosted by 25 per cent. It is tax-free and automatic for anyone who filed a 2025 tax return — no application required. For the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, the maximum annual amounts are $679 for a single individual, $890 for a married or common-law couple, and $234 per eligible child under 19.
Today's payment covers the October installment; direct deposit recipients should see funds land today, while those waiting on mailed cheques will need more patience. Anyone unsure about eligibility or amounts can check CRA's My Account portal or the official payment-dates page.
The program was designed as one of Ottawa's front-line affordability measures, targeted at lower- and middle-income households feeling grocery and essentials prices. While payments end for 2026 today, the cycle resets with the January 2027 installment early in the new year.
