First Canada grocery benefit payment lands July 3

Eligible Canadians will receive their first quarterly Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) payment on July 3, 2026, marking the launch of a new government program designed to ease food and living costs.

The program, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on January 26, 2026, replaces the previous HST/GST credit and operates separately from the HST/GST top-up payment issued in June.

Benefit amounts are recalculated every July based on household income and size from the previous year's tax return. For example, information from 2025 tax returns determines the CGEB amount for the payment period from July 2026 to June 2027.

Eligible Canadians can receive up to $679 if single, $890 if married or in a common-law partnership, and $234 for each eligible child under 19. The CGEB payment will be 25 percent higher than the former HST/GST credit through 2031.

Payments arrive quarterly, with the final payment of 2026 scheduled for October 5.