Ontario Trillium Benefit payments for February go out soon — Here's how much you can get
Check if you're eligible! 👀
Ontario residents can get hundreds of dollars from the Ontario Trillium Benefit in February.
February is here, and that means a fresh round of government payments is on the way for Canadians.
If you live in Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) payment for February 2025 could be just the extra cash you need to help cover essential expenses like energy bills and property taxes.
The OTB is a provincial benefit payment that's funded by the Government of Ontario but distributed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It's designed to support low- to moderate-income households with the rising cost of living — offering financial relief based on factors like your income, family size and where you live in the province.
A new month is always a great time to check if you qualify — some Ontarians could be eligible for a government payment worth hundreds of dollars.
Here's what you need to know about the Ontario Trillium Benefit for February 2025, including eligibility, payment amounts and when the money will land in your bank account.
What is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a tax-free monthly payment that helps Ontarians cover essential expenses like energy bills, property taxes and sales tax. While the provincial government provides the funding, the CRA is responsible for distributing the payments.
This benefit actually combines three separate credits into a single payment — the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Ontario Sales Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit.
If you qualify for any of these credits, you're eligible to receive the OTB.
Who is eligible for the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
To qualify for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) payment in February, you must have filed your 2023 tax return — even if you had no taxable income. The CRA reviews your return to determine eligibility based on factors like household income.
Still need to file? No worries! Submitting your tax return now could unlock payments you're entitled to receive.
You must also be at least 18 years old or have (or had) a spouse, common-law partner and/or child who lives with you to be eligible for any of the credits. For the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, the age cutoff is 19. Beyond that, the other two credits that make up the OTB have additional eligibility criteria:
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit — The OEPTC is available to Ontarians who pay eligible housing costs like rent, property tax, home energy costs on a reserve, or accommodation in a public long-term care home.
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit — This credit is available to northern Ontarians living in Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming who paid any of the same eligible housing costs.
If you're married or in a common-law relationship, both your and your partner's tax filings will be taken into account when calculating your payment. Plus, if you're turning 18 before July, filing your 2023 taxes ensures you can start receiving OTB payments as soon as you're eligible.
How much can you receive from the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
There isn't one fixed amount for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) payment — it varies based on factors like your income, age, family size, location and how much you pay in rent or property taxes, and it's made up of three separate credits with varying eligibility criteria and maximum payouts.
Here's a breakdown of the maximum annual amounts you could receive from each credit:
- Ontario Sales Tax Credit — up to $360 each for you, your spouse and any dependent children
- Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit — up to $1,248 if you're between 18 and 64, or up to $1,421 if you're 65 or older, plus $277 if you live on a reserve or in a public long-term care home, and $25 if you lived in a school residence in 2023
- Northern Ontario Energy Credit — up to $180 for individuals or $277 for families
The CRA calculates your total OTB amount and splits it into 12 monthly payments based on your eligibility for these credits. However, if your annual payment is $360 or less, you'll receive it as a lump sum in July.
When do Ontario Trillium Benefit payments go out?
The next Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) payment is coming up on Monday, February 10. Typically, these payments are sent out on the 10th of each month, unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday — in that case, the money is deposited on the nearest business day before it.
Here are all the remaining OTB payment dates in the 2024 benefit year:
- February 10, 2025
- March 10, 2025
- April 10, 2025
- May 9, 2025
- June 10, 2025
However, if your total OTB amount was $360 or less, you wouldn't receive monthly payments — instead, the CRA would have sent the full amount as a one-time payment last July.
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