Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Paid all year. Next payment dates: 2026-10-20, 2026-11-20 and 2026-12-11. You and your spouse must file a tax return by April 30 every year to keep payments coming. Applying for a period that started more than 11 months ago needs extra proof documents.

A tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency to help families with the cost of raising children under 18, with up to $3,480 more a year for each child who qualifies for the disability tax credit.

For: A parent or caregiver who lives with a child under 18, is mainly responsible for the child's care and is a Canadian tax resident (citizen, permanent resident, protected person, registered under the Indian Act, or temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the past 18 months and has a valid permit); for July 2026 to June 2027 the maximum is $8,157 a year per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17, reduced once 2025 adjusted family net income is above $38,237.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB, formerly the GST/HST credit)

Paid every three months. Next payment date: 2026-10-05. File your tax return every year to keep getting it.

A tax-free payment every three months from the Canada Revenue Agency to help people with low and modest incomes pay for everyday essentials; it is the GST/HST credit renamed in July 2026, with amounts raised 25% for 2026 to 2031.

For: Canadian tax residents aged 19 or older (or under 19 with a spouse or partner, or living with their own child); for July 2026 to June 2027 it pays up to $679 for a single person, $890 for a couple and $234 per child under 19, and for example a single person with no children qualifies with 2025 adjusted family net income under $60,012.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) and advance payments

Claimed every year on your tax return. For advance payments the CRA must receive your return before November 1 of the benefit year (July to June). Next advance payment date: 2026-10-09.

A refundable tax credit for people who work and earn a low income, claimed on your tax return, with up to half of it paid in advance in three payments during the year.

For: Canadian residents aged 19 or older on December 31 (or living with a spouse, partner or child) who have working income; for 2025 the maximum is $1,633 for a single person (none above $37,742 adjusted net income) and $2,813 for a family (none above $49,393), plus up to $843 if you qualify for the disability tax credit, and full-time students for more than 13 weeks of the year cannot get it unless they have an eligible dependant.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)

Ontario benefit paid via the tax system that combines the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (up to $378 per person plus $378 per spouse and each child under 19), the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (up to $1,307 for ages 18-64, $1,488 for 65+) and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit. "Each year, you must apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit" by filing a tax return with the ON-BEN form; payments start in July, and amounts over $500 can be monthly or a single June payment.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)

No separate application; paid every month. File your taxes every year, even with no income, to keep qualifying.

A monthly Ontario payment of up to $146.66 per child under 18 (up to $1,760 a year) for low- to moderate-income families, paid in the same deposit as the Canada Child Benefit.

For: Ontario families with children under 18 who get the Canada Child Benefit; for July 2026 to June 2027 the full amount goes to families with adjusted family net income up to $26,865, and families above that may get a partial benefit.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit period are open. The renewal period closed on 2026-06-01: members who did not renew can submit a new application, but care received during the gap in coverage is not covered or paid back. Members must renew every year; renewals for 2027-2028 open in spring 2027.

Federal dental coverage that pays all or part of the cost of exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, dentures and oral surgery (braces are not covered).

For: Canadian tax residents with no access to private dental insurance or a health spending account that covers dental, whose adjusted family net income is under $90,000 and who (with any spouse or partner) filed a tax return; the plan pays 100% of its set fees under $70,000 income, 60% at $70,000 to $79,999 and 40% at $80,000 to $89,999.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)

Apply any time. Back payments can cover up to 24 months before your application, but no month before June 2025. The $150 supplemental payment starts in fall 2026 with no application: people who got a CDB payment between July 2025 and June 2026 are paid it on 2026-09-17.

A federal monthly payment of up to $204.20 for working-age people with disabilities, open to anyone approved for the disability tax credit, plus a one-time $150 payment to help cover the cost of getting that credit.

For: People aged 18 to 64 approved for the disability tax credit who (with any spouse or partner) filed a 2025 tax return and are citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, registered under the Indian Act, or temporary residents in Canada for the past 18 months; the full amount goes to single people with 2025 adjusted family net income of $23,000 or less and couples with $32,500 or less, and up to $10,210 of a single person's working income ($14,294 for a couple) is not counted.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Disability Tax Credit (DTC), Form T2201

Apply any time. Approval is required before you can get the Canada Disability Benefit.

A non-refundable tax credit that lowers income tax for a person with a disability or the family member who supports them, and approval is the key that opens the Canada Disability Benefit, the child disability benefit, the Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Canada workers benefit disability supplement.

For: People with a severe and prolonged impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months, as certified by a medical practitioner, and the family members who support them.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits

Apply as soon as you stop working: if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. While on EI you must complete reports every 2 weeks.

Temporary income from the Government of Canada for people who lost their job through no fault of their own, such as a shortage of work or a layoff, and are ready to work but cannot find a job.

For: Workers who lost their job through no fault of their own, worked 420 to 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks (depending on the unemployment rate where they live) and have been without work and pay for at least 7 days in a row; it pays 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 a week in 2026, for 14 to 45 weeks.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canada Learning Bond (CLB): free RESP money for children

The primary caregiver can request it until the child turns 18; after that, the young adult has until the day before they turn 21 to request it. From April 2028 the government will open an RESP automatically for eligible children born in 2024 or later whose caregiver gets the Canada Child Benefit (opting out starts in 2027).

Free government money for a child's education after high school, $500 the first year and $100 for each later year up to age 15 (up to $2,000 in total), paid into a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) with no need to put in any of your own money.

For: Children born on or after January 1, 2004 who have a Social Insurance Number and are named in an RESP, in families with adjusted income of $58,523 or less with 1 to 3 children (under $66,036 with 4, under $73,577 with 5) for July 2026 to June 2027.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program), 2026-27

2026-27 applications are open. Apply no later than 60 days before the end of your study period (40 days for part-time programs of 20 weeks or less; micro-credential students by the end of the study period).

Ontario grants (money you do not pay back) and student loans (money you repay after school) to help pay for college, university and other approved programs after high school.

For: Ontario residents of any age who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, enrolled in an approved school and program, and in financial need (international students cannot get it); for programs starting August 1, 2026 or later, more of the provincial aid comes as loans instead of grants.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Free tax clinics (CRA Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, CVITP)

Clinics are usually open from February to the end of April, and some are open year-round. Some volunteers can also do returns for past years.

Volunteers at community organizations do your tax return for free if you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, at walk-in, drop-off or by-appointment clinics.

For: People whose total family income is generally up to $40,000 for 1 person, $55,000 for 2, $60,000 for 3, $65,000 for 4 or $70,000 for 5 (plus $5,000 for each extra person), with income from work, pensions, benefits or scholarships and under $1,200 of interest; not for self-employment, rental income, capital gains, bankruptcy in the year, or foreign income.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

CRA My Account (sign up for your Canada Revenue Agency online account)

Register any time. A CRA security code sent by mail reaches the address the CRA has on file within 10 business days; the document verification service on a mobile device gives immediate access.

Your free online Canada Revenue Agency account, the main route for many benefits: you can apply for child benefits, fill out Part A of the disability tax credit application, see how your benefits were calculated, and update your address and other personal information.

For: Anyone with a Social Insurance Number who has filed a tax return in the current or previous year; to register you need amounts from your most recent assessed tax return from within the last 2 years.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Old Age Security (OAS) pension

Most people are enrolled automatically and get a letter around their 64th birthday. If there is no letter one month after you turn 64, apply. You can apply up to 11 months before you want payments to start, and back payments are limited to 11 months.

A monthly federal payment for seniors aged 65 and older who have lived in Canada long enough; for October to December 2026 it is up to $762.50 a month at ages 65 to 74 and up to $838.75 at 75 and over.

For: People 65 or older who are Canadian citizens or legal residents and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18 (20 years if living outside Canada); seniors with 2025 net world income above $93,454 pay back part of it through the recovery tax.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors

Most people are enrolled automatically. You must file your tax return by April 30 every year, or GIS payments may stop or be reduced. Related payments for ages 60 to 64: the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor.

A monthly tax-free payment on top of the Old Age Security pension for seniors 65 and older with low income, up to $1,138.90 a month for a single person for October to December 2026.

For: People 65 or older who live in Canada and get the OAS pension, with annual income under $23,112 if single, widowed or divorced, or under $30,528 combined for a couple whose partner gets the full OAS (up to $685.56 a month in that case).

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

GAINS (Guaranteed Annual Income System) for Ontario seniors

No application needed if you get OAS and GIS: you are enrolled automatically when you file your taxes by April 30 every year (or apply for the GIS with Service Canada). Paid on or about the 25th of each month; the 2026 benefit year runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

A monthly, non-taxable Ontario payment of up to $92 a month for seniors with low income, on top of their federal OAS and GIS.

For: Ontario seniors aged 65 or older who get the federal OAS pension and GIS, have lived in Canada for at least 10 years and in Ontario for the past 12 months (or 20 years in total since age 18), with 2025 private income up to $4,416 if single or $8,832 for a couple.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

Apply any time. The credit lasts 2 years before you must reapply, or 5 years if you are 65 or older or get a CPP disability pension.

A monthly credit taken right off your electricity bill for lower-income households, usually $35 to $75 a month, or $52 to $113 for Indigenous households, homes heated by electricity, and people using certain electricity-intensive medical devices.

For: Ontario households with after-tax income up to $38,000 for 1 person, $54,000 for 2 people, $65,000 for 3 or 4 people, or $71,000 for 5 to 7 people (full table on the Ontario Energy Board page); people on Ontario Works or ODSP qualify automatically.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) - Ontario Energy Board

Ontario Energy Board emergency grant for households behind on electricity or natural gas bills and facing disconnection: up to $650 per household per year, $780 if the home is electrically heated, paid straight to the utility. "Assistance is only available if you are behind on your bill". Applications go through local intake agencies; for Toronto Hydro customers these include Albion Neighbourhood Services, COSTI, Neighbourhood Information Post, The Housing Help Centre (Scarborough), The Neighbourhood Organization, Unison and East York Housing Help Centre.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Rent Bank (Neighbourhood Information Post, City of Toronto)

City-funded program led by Neighbourhood Information Post with nine local access centres: grants (not loans) of up to $5,000 for rental arrears, and deposit grants from $2,000 (bachelor) to $3,500 (3-bedroom); applications typically take five to seven business days.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Child Care Fee Subsidy (City of Toronto)

There is a waitlist, so apply as soon as possible. You can apply as soon as you are expecting a child (pregnancy or adoption).

The City pays part of the cost of licensed child care for families who cannot afford the full fee, and you pay a daily amount based on your income.

For: Families who live in Toronto or are moving here, with children up to 12 years old, where each parent works, studies or plans to study (or a parent or child has an extra support need) and each parent has filed last year's taxes (new immigrants this year and parents under 18 can apply without a tax return).

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Healthy Smiles Ontario (free dental care for children 17 and under)

Apply any time. The ontario.ca program page shows a last update of October 21, 2021, so confirm the current income limits with Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.

Free preventive, routine and emergency dental care for children and youth from low-income Ontario families, including check-ups, cleaning, fillings, x-rays, scaling and extractions (braces and whitening are not covered).

For: Children and youth 17 and under in Ontario households with family net income at or below $24,347 for 1 child, $26,189 for 2 or $28,032 for 3 (higher limits for bigger families); children whose families get Ontario Works, ODSP, Temporary Care Assistance or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities qualify automatically.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

OHIP+ (free prescriptions for people 24 and under)

No application and no deadline; coverage ends on your 25th birthday.

Ontario pays for more than 5,900 prescription medications, such as antibiotics, asthma inhalers, diabetes, mental health and ADHD drugs, for children and young adults who have no private drug plan.

For: Anyone 24 or younger with OHIP coverage who is not covered by a private drug plan; coverage ends on your 25th birthday, and people with private insurance may get help from the Trillium Drug Program instead.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program and Seniors Co-Payment Program

Seniors join automatically on the first day of the month after they turn 65; a letter comes about three months before. Low-income seniors must apply separately for the Seniors Co-Payment Program.

Ontario's public drug plan pays most of the cost of more than 5,900 prescription drugs for seniors and other groups, and a low-income seniors option removes the yearly deductible and lowers the fee to $2 per prescription.

For: Ontario residents 65 or older, people 24 or under without private insurance, people on Ontario Works or ODSP, people in long-term care or getting professional home and community care, and Trillium Drug Program members; seniors otherwise pay a $100 yearly deductible and $6.11 per prescription.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Trillium Drug Program (help with high prescription drug costs)

Apply any time; the program year runs August 1 to July 31. To be paid back for eligible drugs from the previous program year, apply by September 30. Enrolment renews automatically every year if your household files taxes on time.

Ontario helps households whose prescription drug costs are high for their income: after a yearly deductible of about 4% of after-tax household income, split into four quarterly parts, you pay $2 for each prescription filled or refilled.

For: Ontario residents with a valid health card who do not already qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit program and have no insurance covering 100% of their drug costs, usually spending about 4% or more of after-tax household income on prescriptions.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

Apply any time. The steps differ a little by type of device; see the device list on the ADP page.

Ontario usually pays 75% of the cost of equipment and supplies for long-term physical disabilities, such as hearing aids, mobility aids, prosthetics, communication and visual aids, diabetic, respiratory and ostomy supplies, and home oxygen.

For: Ontario residents with a valid Ontario health card and a physical disability that needs the equipment or supplies for 6 months or longer; coverage can reach 100% for people on Ontario Works, ODSP or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities, and people already supported by WSIB or Veterans Affairs for the same equipment cannot use it.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program at Toronto Public Health dental clinics

Free dental care for low-income seniors (exams, X-rays, fillings, cleaning, some root canals, extractions and urgent care for pain) at about 25 Toronto Public Health and community health centre dental clinics.

For: Seniors aged 65 or older living on a low income who qualify for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (the Province sets the income limits); Toronto Public Health's free care is for people who live in Toronto, have no private dental insurance and cannot pay.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Works - Toronto Employment & Social Services

Provincial social assistance delivered by the City of Toronto: money for "food, shelter and other costs to people in financial need" plus prescription drug coverage, dental/eyeglass help, child-care start-up and job-search transport benefits. Apply online 24/7 (20-30 minutes), by phone via the Social Assistance line, or in person at the Employment & Social Services office assigned by postal code; a caseworker then follows up and asks for eligibility documents.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Ontario income support for people with disabilities: "money to help you and your eligible family members with living expenses" including food and rent, plus prescription drug and vision benefits, with employment supports through Employment Ontario. A single person can get up to $1,436 a month for basic needs and shelter after the July 2026 rate increase; families and people with extra needs get more.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) - City of Toronto

Federal-provincial rent supplement paid to households renting in the private market. In Toronto it is not open to the public: households must be on or eligible for the Centralized Waiting List, be referred by an approved community partner agency during referral windows, agree to leave the waiting list if approved, and fit an annual enrolment cap set by the province.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know