The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers a number of federal, provincial and territorial benefits to eligible individuals in Canada.
Depending on your eligibility, you can get child support payments, tax rebates, fuel credit, retirement pension and financial assistance payments from the CRA.
The interesting part is that you can claim as many CRA benefits as you qualify for. But as the benefits vary in value and eligibility, so do their payment dates.
In this article, we will look at some of the major CRA benefits – their payment dates for 2023, eligibility and maximum amount.
What are the CRA Benefit Payment Dates?
The CRA benefit payment dates are the dates on which the CRA administers payments to eligible individuals on behalf of the federal, provincial or territorial governments. Some of the major CRA benefits include.
- Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
- Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST)
- Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)
- Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP)
- Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)
- Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)
While some of these benefits are administered monthly, others are administered quarterly. Let us now look at the CRA benefits and their payment dates for 2023.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates 2023
The CRA administers the Canada child benefit (CCB) to eligible parents with children below the age of 18.
This benefit aims to reduce the cost of raising children in Canada and it includes both the federal portion and provincial/territorial benefits where applicable.
That said, the CCB payment is made monthly and the following are the CCB payment dates for 2023:
| Benefit Month | Payment Date |
| January 2023 | January 20, 2023 |
| February 2023 | February 20, 2023 |
| March 2023 | March 20, 2023 |
| April 2023 | April 20, 2023 |
| May 2023 | May 19, 2023 |
| June 2023 | June 20, 2023 |
| July 2023 | July 20, 2023 |
| August 2023 | August 18, 2023 |
| September 2023 | September 20, 2023 |
| October 2023 | October 20, 2023 |
| November 2023 | November 20, 2023 |
| December 2023 | December 13, 2023 |
If you didn’t receive the payment after 5 working days from the payment date, don’t hesitate to contact the CRA.
CCB Eligibility
The following are the eligibility for the Canada child benefit (CCB) payment:
- Be a Canadian citizen, resident, a protected person or a recognized Indian (if you’re not eligible, your spouse or common-law partner could be)
- Live with an under 18-year old child
- Be the primary caregiver of the child
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
CCB Maximum Payment Amount
How much CCB payment you get depends on your marital status, number of children under your care, number of under 18-year children and adjusted family net income (AFNI).
If you have a $34,863 AFNI or less, you will receive up to $619.75 per under-6-year child and $522.91 for a 6-7-year child (for the 2023/2024 payment period). However, the amounts are benchmarked to inflation and adjusted in July each year.
Learn more: Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates
Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit Payment Dates 2023
The CRA administers the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit to eligible low-medium income families toward offsetting the goods and services taxes or harmonized sales taxes they pay.
Unlike other benefits, you don’t need to apply for this credit. The CRA will enrol you automatically once you file your annual tax return and meet the other eligibility.
That said, the GST/HST credit is administered quarterly and the following are the payment schedule for 2023:
- January 5, 2023
- April 5, 2023
- July 5, 2023
- October 5, 2023
If you didn’t receive the GST/HST credit after 10 working days from the payment date, contact the CRA immediately.
GST/HST Eligibility
To be eligible for the GST/HST, you must meet the requirements below:
- Reach the minimum age of 19
- Be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes
- Be a parent and live with a child (presently or in the past)
- Have/had a spouse or common-law partner
GST/HST Maximum Payment Amount
The amount of GST/HST the CRA will send you depends on your individual/family net income, marital status and number of children under the age of 19.
For the 2023/2024 payment period, single individuals will receive up to $496 in GST/HST credit while a couple or a common-law partner will get a maximum of $650 credit.
Learn more: GST/HST Payment Dates
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) Payment Dates 2023
The CRA administers the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) on behalf of the Ontario government. The benefits are administered to Northern Ontario residents and low-income earners in Ontario. OTB consists of three credits as highlighted below:
- Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC)
- Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC)
- Ontario sales tax credit (OSTC)
Regardless of which of the above credits you qualify for, you will receive a monthly OTB payment. The following is the schedule for 2023/2024 OTB payment:
| Benefit Month | OTB Payment Dates |
| January 2023 | January 10, 2023 |
| February 2023 | February 10, 2023 |
| March 2023 | March 10, 2023 |
| April 2023 | April 6, 2023 |
| May 2023 | May 10, 2023 |
| June 2023 | June 9, 2023 |
| July 2023 | July 10, 2023 |
| August 2023 | August 10, 2023 |
| September 2023 | September 8, 2023 |
| October 2023 | October 10, 2023 |
| November 2023 | November 10, 2023 |
| December 2023 | December 8, 2023 |
Once it exceeds 10 working days without receiving the credit, you can contact the CRA for rectification.
Note: You may receive some of the CRA benefit payments in your bank account with the caption Canada Pro or Canada FED depending on your financial institution.
OTB Eligibility
The following are the major requirements for the OTB payment:
- Be a resident of Ontario
- Earn a low income that meets the threshold
- Meet the eligibility of any of three credits (NOEC, OEPTC or OSTC)
OTB Maximum Payment Amount
How much OTB payment you get depends on your age, income, family size, residence, and property/rental tax. Based on your situation, you may receive 12 equal installments paid monthly or receive a single lump-sum OTB payment in July.
Learn more: Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) Payment Dates
Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP) Payment Dates 2023
The Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP) replaces the Climate Action Incentive (CAI) in 2022. It’s a tax-free benefit that the CRA administers to eligible individuals in Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Consisting of basic and supplementary benefits, the CAIP is paid quarterly and the 2023 payment dates are highlighted below:
- January 13, 2023
- April 14, 2023
- July 14, 2023
- October 13, 2023
You can contact the CRA for rectification if you don’t receive the CAIP payment 10 working days after the payment date.
CAIP Eligibility
You must meet the following requirements to receive the CAIP payment:
- Live in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or New Brunswick
- Reach the minimum age of 19
- Be a parent with a child (now or previously)
- Have/had a spouse or partner
CAIP Maximum Payment Amount
The maximum CAIP amount you get depends on your marital status, family size, province, and the number of children that are less than 18-year old.
For the 2022-2023 payment period, the following is a highlight of the total CAIP amount for a single adult or a first adult in a couple.
| Province | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $772 |
| Manitoba | $528 |
| Ontario | $488 |
| Saskatchewan | $680 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $164 |
| Nova Scotia | $124 |
| Prince Edward Island | $120 |
| New Brunswick | $90 |
Learn more: Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP) Payment Dates
Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) Payment Dates
The CRA administers the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) to eligible low-income families and individuals in the country.
Even though CWB is a taxable credit, it offers a basic benefit and a disability supplement to eligible individuals.
The CRA administers the CWB quarterly and the following is the payment schedule for the current period:
- January 5, 2023
- April 5
- July 5
- October 5
The quarterly payment for April, July and October 2023 are yet to be determined even though they’re likely to fall on the 5th. Subscribe to our newsletter or bookmark this page to stay updated about CWB payment dates for 2023.
If you didn’t receive your credit, you should contact the CRA 10 working days after the payment date.
CWB Eligibility
To be eligible for this CWB credit, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a resident of Canada for tax purposes
- Earn working income
- Reach the minimum age of 19 by December 31
- Reside with your child, spouse or common-law partner if you’re under 19
- Have a low-income level that meets the threshold for individuals and families. For 2023, the following is the threshold:
- Less than $33,015 adjusted net income for individuals
- Less than $43,212 net adjusted income for families
CWB Maximum Payment Amount
The amount of CWB credit you get depends on your province/territory, marital status, amount of working income, eligible dependents and eligibility for the disability tax credit.
For the 2022/2023 payment period, below is the highlight of the maximum basic and disability supplement.
- Individual – up to $1,428 basic amount and $720 disability supplement
- Family – $2,461 and $720 disability supplement
That said, an individual’s basic amount is reduced the more their adjusted income exceeds $23,495. For families, the amount reduces when net income exceeds $26,805.
For the disability supplement, the reduction cap for individuals is $33,018 net income and $43,210 net income for families.
Learn more: Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) Payment Dates
Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) Payment Dates 2023
The CRA administers the Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB) on behalf of the Alberta government to eligible low-medium income families in Alberta with children below the age of 18.
This benefit consists of two components: base and working components. You will receive the base component regardless of whether you earn employment income once you meet the income eligibility and have an eligible child or children.
While the working component is tailored to workers, families with more than $2,760 in employment income can also qualify.
That said, the ACFB is paid quarterly and the 2023 payment schedule is as follows:
- February 27, 2023
- May 26, 2023
- August 25, 2023
- November 27, 2023
If you waited more than 5 working days from the payment date without receiving your ACFB payment, contact the CRA immediately.
ACFB Eligibility
The following are the requirements for receiving the ACFB payment:
- Live in Alberta
- File your tax return
- Have at least one child that’s less than18
- Meet the income threshold
ACFB Maximum Payment Amount
How much ACFB you get depends on your number of children and family net income. Below is a highlight of the maximum 2023 ACFB payment for the base and working components:
| # of children | Maximum Base Component Amount | Maximum Working Component Amount |
| One | $1,410 | $722 |
| Two | $2,115 | $1,379 |
| Three | $2,820 | $1,772 |
| Four or more | $3,525 | $1,902 |
Learn more: Alberta Child and Family Benefit
How to Apply for CRA Benefits
As you can see from the above discussion, you don’t need to apply for every CRA benefit. The CRA will determine your eligibility and enrol you automatically.
Most of the requirements for the CRA benefits include being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, filing your taxes and meeting the income eligibility.
Once you meet the requirements, all you need is to get yourself prepared ahead of your entitled benefit payment dates.
However, you may need to apply for some CRA benefits which involve filing forms and submitting them to the nearest tax centre.
If you’re a newcomer to Canada and are yet to file any income tax, you’ll also be required to apply for any of the benefits you’re eligible for. These includes CCB, GST/HST Credit, OTB and so on.
Some FAQs on CRA Benefits Payment Dates
The amount of CRA benefit depends on the benefit you’re eligible for and your situation. However, you can use the CRA Child and Family Benefit Calculator to get an estimate of the total amount you can receive.
If you’re enrolled for direct deposits, you can expect your benefit to be in your bank account by 5am on the benefit payment date, but it could vary depending on your bank. If you didn’t receive your benefit by 5-10 days after the schedule date, don’t hesitate to contact the CRA.
It depends! Some CRA-administered benefits like the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), OTB and CPP are taxable or have taxes withheld. However, many other CRA benefits like the Canada child benefit (CCB) and GST/HST credit are tax-free.
Only one couple can receive most CRA benefits. That is, the total amount your family is eligible for is calculated and deposited to the account of either couple. For certain benefits like CCB, the payment is made to the spouse that has primary care over the kids.
Over to You
There you have some of the major benefits administered by the Canada Revenue Agency in Canada.
By taking advantage of these benefits, you can easily diversify your income while offsetting a portion of your tax payments and purchases.
Hopefully, now you’re aware of your these benefits and what to do to claim them. CRA has detailed guidelines on many of the benefits and you can also call to confirm your eligibility.
Before you leave, kindly check out our existing blog posts for more information about other government benefits in Canada.
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