Canadian · Federal benefits
Groceries and Essentials Benefit calculator.
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) — the GST/HST credit's new name since July 2026, plus a real 25% increase. Estimate your quarterly payment for the July 2026-June 2027 period from CRA's own published amounts.
The maximum annual benefit is $679 for a single adult with no children, $890 for a married or common-law couple with no children, plus $234 for each eligible child under 19. It phases out at 5% of adjusted family net income (AFNI) over $46,432.
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Estimated CGEB
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Same program, new name, real increase
The GST/HST credit was renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) effective July 2026. CRA's own program page confirms it: “there was a 25% increase to the benefit amount which will remain for 5 years from 2026 to 2031.” If you see the older name “GST/HST credit” on an older page or an old notice, it is the same benefit under its previous name — not a different program.
Why you might see $679 in one place and $445 in another
Both numbers are correct, and they answer different questions. $445 is the base amount CRA pays a single adult. $679 is the maximum a childless single adult can receive, once a $234 “single supplement” is fully added — $445 + $234 = $679. That supplement phases in with income (it isn't paid to someone with very low or zero income) and doesn't apply at all to single parents, who instead get a flat $445 “first child” amount from day one. A couple's combined base is $445 + $445 = $890, with no supplement needed.
The income threshold is the same for singles and couples
Some older or third-party sources describe a threshold near $50,000 for singles and $48,000 for couples. CRA's own published history shows this program has always used one shared phase-out threshold, identical regardless of marital status: $42,335 for the 2022 base year, $44,324 for 2023, $45,521 for 2024, and $46,432 for the current 2025 base year. What differs by family size is the income at which the benefit reaches exactly zero — the "cutoff" — because a bigger maximum credit takes longer to grind down to $0 at the same 5% rate: $60,012 for a single person with no children, $64,232 for a couple with no children. Those cutoff figures, not a different threshold, are almost certainly the source of any "$50,000 vs $48,000" figure circulating elsewhere.
| Amount | Figure |
|---|---|
| Base amount — you | $445 |
| Base amount — spouse/common-law partner | $445 |
| Each eligible child under 19 | $234 |
| Single supplement (childless single only, phases in) | up to $234 |
| Single parent — first child amount | $445 (flat, no phase-in) |
| Phase-out threshold (AFNI, all filers) | $46,432 |
| Phase-out rate | 5% of AFNI above the threshold |
| Maximum — single, no children | $679/year |
| Maximum — couple, no children | $890/year |
Sources, read 26 September 2026: CRA — CGEB payment amounts, CRA — CGEB payments chart, CRA — who is eligible, CRA guide RC4210.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit the same as the GST/HST credit?
Yes. CRA renamed the GST/HST credit to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) effective July 2026, alongside a 25% increase to the amounts that stays in place through 2031. It is the same eligibility rules and the same quarterly payment schedule under a new name.
Do I need to apply?
No. Filing your tax return automatically considers you for the CGEB and any linked provincial or territorial programs. There is no separate application.
What income figure does CRA actually use?
Adjusted family net income (AFNI): your net income (line 23600) plus your spouse's or common-law partner's if you have one, minus Universal Child Care Benefit and RDSP income received. It is not your gross pay and it is not your taxable income after deductions like RRSP contributions applied elsewhere.
Why does my result show $0?
Once AFNI is high enough, the 5% phase-out fully cancels the credit. For the current period that happens at $60,012 for a single person with no children and $64,232 for a couple with no children — both higher with each eligible child.
Estimate only — not legal or tax advice
This tool estimates the federal Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit for the July 2026-June 2027 payment period using CRA's own published amounts and thresholds. It does not calculate linked provincial/territorial credits, mid-year marital status changes, immigration-date proration, or the exact phase-in mechanics CRA has not published in plain formula form (the 2% single-supplement rate here is derived from CRA's own chart, not quoted from a stated formula). Confirm your exact entitlement with CRA or a tax professional.