You have a job, a SIN and a bank account. You have been in Canada for months. Nobody has told you there may be a payment you are missing.

That payment is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). The next one lands on October 5. Here is how it works, and what newcomers can do to make sure the CRA has them on file.

What the benefit is

The CGEB is a tax-free payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. It is paid four times a year, and the 2026 payment dates are January 5, April 2, July 3 and October 5.

The payments are not taxable. You do not report them on your tax return.

How much you can get

For July 2026 to June 2027, the CRA says you could receive up to:

• $679 for a single person
• $890 for a person with a spouse or common-law partner
• $234 for each child under 19

These are maximums. Your real amount depends on your family income. The CRA recalculates it every July, using your tax return from the year before.

Who it is for: residency, not your permit

The CRA's test is about tax residency and income. On its eligibility page, the CRA asks whether you:

• are a resident of Canada for tax purposes (for example, you have a home, a spouse or dependants in Canada)
• are at least 19, or are younger and have a spouse or common-law partner, or are a parent living with your child
• have income below the limit for your family size

People with no income may still be eligible. Whether you are a resident for tax purposes depends on your own situation, so read the CRA's page before you decide.

How newcomers get started

Most people do not need to apply. The CRA says the only step is to file a tax return every year, even if you have no income to report. New residents are different.

If you became a resident of Canada this year, you can apply for the CGEB for that first year before you file your first tax return. You do this with Form RC151, which is available as an online form or a paper form. After that, file every year by April 30 so your payments are not interrupted.

If you arrived in 2026, your first tax return is due April 30, 2027.

Four common mistakes

• Waiting for the first tax return. New residents can apply before they file one.
• Skipping the return because income was low. The CRA says to file every year, even with no income.
• Thinking the payment is taxable. It is not.
• Forgetting family changes. Marital status and children change your amount. Update them in CRA My Account.

What to do now

1. Set up CRA My Account. It shows your payment dates and status.
2. Newly resident? Read the Form RC151 rules on the CRA website.
3. Check the payment dates. The next one is October 5.
4. Put April 30 in your calendar. File a return every year.
5. Update your family details in My Account after any change.

Free tool: the Benefits Finder

The Government of Canada's Benefits Finder helps you find federal benefits and services, and it links to provincial and territorial programs. You can filter the results by "newcomers." It is free, in English and French, or by phone at 1-800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).

Official links

• CRA My Account
• CGEB payment dates
• Who is eligible for the CGEB
• Form RC151 for new residents
• Benefits Finder

This article is general information, not tax, legal or immigration advice. Benefit amounts and dates can change, so always confirm them on the CRA website. Sources checked on September 21, 2026: CRA pages on CGEB payment dates, amounts, eligibility and how to get the benefit, and the CRA's Newcomers to Canada page.