Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
March 10, 2026
The federal government has announced a proposed Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, aimed at helping Canadians manage rising costs—particularly for food and everyday necessities. The benefit provides additional support to more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians starting in spring 2026.
To deliver immediate relief and longer-term support, the proposal includes two key measures:
- A one-time 50% top-up payment, equal to a 50% increase in the annual 2025–26 GST Credit, to be issued as early as possible in spring 2026 and no later than June 2026.
- A 25% increase to regular payments over a five-year period (2026–2030), beginning with the regular quarterly benefit payments starting in July 2026.
The new benefit builds on the existing GST Credit and will be indexed to inflation, with quarterly payments issued in July, October, January, and April to provide timely financial support.
Have questions about how this impacts you? Contact your Accountant at W&U.
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