October is just around the corner, and with it comes a new round of government benefits and credits that Canadians could be eligible for. This month brings fresh opportunities to receive financial assistance from the Government of Canada through various programs and payments.
From tax credits to pension payments, you might be eligible to receive thousands of dollars from the government this month. Some of the key payments going out this month include the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST Credit, along with several others.
Here's everything you need to know about the government payments available in October, including what they are, how much you could receive and when the funds will land in your account.
GST/HST Credit
The GST/HST Credit is a tax-free quarterly payment designed to help individuals and families with low or modest incomes recover some of the GST or HST they’ve paid. This payment can also include additional support from provincial and territorial programs. Eligibility is automatically assessed when you file your taxes with the CRA.
To qualify, you generally need to be at least 19 years old. However, if you're younger than 19, you could still be eligible if you have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner, or if you are (or were) a parent living with your child. You must also be a Canadian resident for income tax purposes both the month before and at the beginning of the month when the payment is made.
How much you can get: The amount you get depends on your adjusted family net income and the number of children you have. For the October 2024 quarterly payment, you could receive up to
- $129.75 if you're single
- $170 if you're married or have a common-law partner
- An additional $44.75 for each child under 19
Next payment date: October 4, 2024
Ontario Trillium Benefit
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a monthly payment aimed at helping low- to moderate-income residents of Ontario manage the cost of energy, property taxes and sales taxes. The OTB combines three provincial credits: the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC), the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC).
To qualify for the OTB, you must have filed your 2023 income tax return. If your income falls below the required threshold, you should have already started receiving monthly payments on the 10th of each month since July 2024. If your annual benefit is $360 or less, you'll receive the entire amount in one lump sum rather than monthly payments.
How much you can get: The total amount you'll receive depends on your eligibility for each of these credits, your income level and other factors. The three credits that make up the OTB have different payout amounts, but here's the maximum monthly amount you could get from each in October 2024:
- Up to $104 if you're between 18 and 64, or up to $118.41 if you're 65 or older, from the OEPTC
- Up to $15 for singles or $23.08 for families from the NOEC
- Up to $30 each for you, your spouse and your dependent children from the OSTC
Next payment date: October 10, 2024
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit
The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit for low-income individuals and families, consisting of a basic amount and a disability supplement, which can be claimed when you file your tax return.
Under the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) program, eligible individuals can automatically receive advance payments of up to 50% of their CWB allotment for the year in three installments. To qualify, you need to have earned income below the provincial or territorial threshold, be a resident of Canada for the entire year, and be at least 19 years old by December 31, or live with a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child.
How much you can get: The maximum basic CWB amount is $1,518 for singles and $2,616 for families, and the maximum disability amount is $784 — although residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta may receive different amounts.
For the October 2024 payment, you could receive up to
- $253 if you're single
- $436 if you have a spouse or common-law partner
- An additional $130.66 if you qualify for the disability amount
Next payment date: October 11, 2024
Canada Carbon Rebate
The Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) for individuals — formerly known as the Climate Action Incentive Payment — is a tax-free quarterly payment designed to help Canadians offset the cost of federal pollution pricing. The payment includes a base amount and an additional supplement for residents of rural or small communities.
To qualify, you need to be a resident of Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island or Saskatchewan. You also need to be at least 19 years old, although if you're younger, you could still be eligible if you have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner, or if you are (or were) a parent living with your child. You can also receive additional payments for any eligible children.
How much you can get: The amount you receive depends on your family situation and where you live. The amounts vary by province — for example, in Ontario, for each quarterly payment you can get:
- $140 for you as an individual
- $70 for your spouse, common-law partner or first eligible child in a single-parent family
- $35 per eligible child
Eligible rural residents also receive an additional supplement of 20% of the base amount, meaning that, for example, a family consisting of two parents and two children in rural Ontario could receive $336.
Something extra for October 2024: In June, the Government of Canada increased the rural supplement from 10% to 20% of the base amount and reinstated eligibility based on 2016 census data. Retroactive payments from April and July will be included in October's payment — so you may even get a little extra this month as a one-time bonus!
Next payment date: October 15, 2024
Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free payment that helps families with the cost of raising children. Eligible families receive this payment from the Canada Revenue Agency every month, and there may be additional support for children with disabilities.
To qualify, you need to live with and care for a child under 18, be a resident of Canada for tax purposes, and either you or your partner must meet certain requirements, such as being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
How much you can get: The amount you receive depends on your family's income, the number of children you have and their ages. If your adjusted net income is less than $36,502, you'll get the maximum monthly amount. For each child under 6, that's up to $648.91 per month, and for children aged 6 to 17, it's up to $547.50 per month. Payments decrease as your income increases.
Next payment date: October 18, 2024
Old Age Security
The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment for Canadians aged 65 or older to help with living expenses. You can receive OAS even if you’re still working or have never worked.
To qualify, you need to be at least 65 years old and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18. If you’re living outside Canada, you’ll need to have lived here for at least 20 years. Most people are automatically enrolled in OAS, but if you don’t get a letter from Service Canada the month after you turn 64, you may need to apply.
How much you can get: The maximum monthly payment for July to September was $718.33 for those aged 65 to 74 and $790.16 for those 75 and older. However, payments are adjusted every three months to keep up with inflation, so new amounts for October should be coming soon. In addition, if you turn 75 after July 2022, your OAS payment will increase by 10% the month after your birthday.
Next payment date: October 29, 2024
Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension is a monthly payment that helps replace your income when you retire, and it’s a benefit you can receive for the rest of your life as long as you qualify.
To be eligible for CPP, you must be at least 60 years old and have made at least one contribution during your working years. Contributions are based on work done in Canada, or they can come from credits transferred after a relationship ends.
How much you can get: The amount you receive each month depends on when you start collecting your pension, how much you've contributed, and your lifetime earnings. The maximum monthly payment for 2024 at age 65 is $1,364.60. You can check your estimated payment by logging into your My Service Canada Account.
Next payment date: October 29, 2024
Veteran Disability Pension
The Veteran Disability Pension is a monthly benefit provided to veterans with a disability related to their military service. To qualify, you must be an eligible veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, including those who served in the Second World War or the Korean War. Some current or former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and certain civilians who served in the Second World War may also be eligible.
To receive the Veteran Disability Pension, you must have a diagnosed medical condition linked to your service. This pension offers lifetime monthly payments, and if you have dependents, such as a spouse or children, your payments will increase to help support them.
How much you can get: The amount you'll get is based on your situation, including the extent of your disability. The maximum monthly payment for a veteran with the highest disability rating (Class 1) is $3,357.30, plus additional amounts for dependents — $839.33 for a spouse, $436.45 for your first child, $318.94 for your second child and $251.80 for each additional child.
Next payment date: October 30, 2024
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