What Happened to the GST/HST Credit? A Guide to the New Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

If you used to receive the GST/HST Credit and now see a different name in your CRA account, it does not mean you have lost the benefit. Since July 2026, the program has been called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, known by its English acronym, CGEB.

The change may seem confusing, especially because there was also an extraordinary payment in June. However, the short explanation is simple: the benefit changed its name, regular payments increased and, for most people who were already receiving it, there is no need to submit a new application.

A brief clarification: the information in this article does not constitute legal advice. We have included the official sources consulted so that you can verify the information and obtain current updates; if you need guidance regarding your particular circumstances, consult a lawyer.

Please note that while this guide is up to date as of July 30, 2026, details about the Canada Grocery Benefit may change over time. Always double-check official government sources for the latest updates. 

Quick answer: What changed?

The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit officially replaced the GST/HST Credit in July 2026. It maintains the same structure, calculation method and eligibility criteria, but its regular payments increased by 25%. That increase is planned for five years, from 2026 to 2031.

The benefit continues to be a tax-free quarterly payment for individuals and families with low or modest incomes. Despite its new name, it is not a coupon or discount applied when paying at the grocery store. The money is deposited into the bank account registered with the CRA or sent by cheque. You can confirm the change on the official Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit page.

Do you need to apply for the new benefit?

In most cases, no. If you were already receiving the GST/HST Credit and filed your tax return, the CRA will automatically assess your eligibility for the new benefit.

The most important thing is to file your tax return every year, even if you had no income. The amount is recalculated every July using the previous year’s tax return. For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, the CRA uses information from your 2025 tax return.

Filing your tax return late does not necessarily mean that you will lose the money permanently, but your payments may be temporarily stopped while the CRA processes the information. If you are entitled to past amounts, they may be included retroactively in a later payment. Consult the official instructions for receiving the benefit.

Who can receive it?

Generally, you must be a resident of Canada for income-tax purposes and be at least 19 years old. Someone under the age of 19 may also qualify if they have or previously had a spouse or common-law partner, or if they are a parent and live or previously lived with their child.

The CRA considers adjusted family net income, marital status and the number of eligible children under the age of 19. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, both incomes are combined.

For the period based on 2025 income, a single person without children may be entitled to the benefit if their adjusted family net income is below $60,012. For a married or common-law couple without children, the limit is $64,232. The limits increase when there are children, but whether you receive the benefit and the exact amount depends on each family’s particular circumstances.

The CRA publishes an official table showing the requirements and income limits.

How much can you receive?

For the period from July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum annual amounts may be:

$679 for a single person;

$890 for a married or common-law couple;

an additional $234 for each eligible child under the age of 19.

These are maximum annual amounts, not guaranteed amounts for everyone. The actual payment depends on family income, marital status and the number of eligible children. 

For an estimate that more closely reflects your circumstances, you can use the official child and family benefits calculator.

When are payments made?

The benefit is paid four times a year: in July, October, January and April. In 2026, the payment dates were:

January 5: payment under the name GST/HST Credit

April 2: payment under the name GST/HST Credit

July 3: first payment under the name Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

October 5: next quarterly payment of 2026

There is no regular payment scheduled for August. Publishing or reading information about the program during that month does not mean that there will be an additional deposit.

If the quarterly amount you are entitled to receive is less than $50, the CRA will normally pay the entire annual amount in a single payment in July. Current dates can be found in the CRA’s official payment calendar.

What was the additional payment on June 5, 2026?

Before the new benefit began, the CRA issued an extraordinary payment on June 5, 2026. This was not one of the four regular quarterly payments.

In most cases, it was equal to 50% of the annual GST/HST Credit for the period from July 2025 to June 2026. To receive it, the person had to have filed their 2024 tax return and been entitled to the GST/HST Credit in January 2026.

If you did not file your 2024 tax return, you can still do so. The CRA states that it will issue the payment retroactively if it determines that you were entitled to receive it. You can review the eligibility requirements and amounts for the extraordinary June payment.

What should you do if you did not receive the payment?

First, sign in to your personal CRA account and look for the Benefits and credits section. You should see “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit),” along with the payment amount, date and status.

You should also check that:

• your tax return was filed and processed

• your address and banking information are up to date

• your marital status is recorded correctly

• the CRA has current information about your children

• the payment was not sent to your spouse or common-law partner

• the money was not applied to an outstanding debt with the CRA.

• 
  

If the payment does not appear and you cannot determine why, the CRA recommends waiting ten business days after the expected payment date before calling. First, consult the official list of reasons why a payment may stop or change.

Common mistakes that can delay the benefit

One of the most common mistakes is not filing a tax return because you had no income. Even if you do not owe taxes, the CRA needs your return to calculate many benefits.

Failing to report a change of address, bank account, marital status or child-custody arrangement can also cause problems. If a couple reports different information about their family circumstances, the CRA may temporarily stop the payments while it verifies the information.

Another mistake is thinking that both partners will receive the full benefit. The calculation considers family income, and normally only one person receives the payment for the household.

What you can check this week

Sign in to your CRA account and confirm that your 2025 tax return has been processed. Check the status of the July payment, verify your personal information and set up direct deposit if you still receive cheques.

If you are new to Canada and have not yet filed your first tax return, check whether you need to complete Form RC151. If you need help filing a simple tax return, the CRA maintains a directory of free tax clinics. You can use your postal code to find current options in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and other communities.

In Kelowna, KCR Community Resources also offers a community tax program for some people with modest incomes. Programs, dates and eligibility requirements may change, so it is important to contact the organization directly before visiting.

Thank you for reading to the end. Remember that this information is general and does not replace individual tax and/or legal advice. Share this guide with someone who is still searching for the former GST/HST Credit, and always use the official links to confirm future changes. If you would like to read more interesting articles from our Okanagan community, visit our blog.