Up to $10,800 in benefit payments from the CRA & Service Canada are available in October
October is less than a week away, and that means a new batch of government payments is around the corner.
The Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada are set to send out several monthly and quarterly benefit deposits starting next week, giving millions of Canadians a bit of extra help covering everyday essentials like food, rent, child care and retirement costs.
Some of these federal programs saw a boost earlier this year thanks to the annual inflation adjustment — so if you're already receiving one or more of these government benefits, your October 2025 payment might be slightly higher than it was at the beginning of the year.
There are eight different government payment programs scheduled to drop in October, with benefits totalling up to $10,800 for one person this month alone. And depending on your income, age or family situation, you could qualify for several of them.
Whether you're waiting on disability support from the new Canada Disability Benefit, retirement pensions like Old Age Security or tax refunds like the GST/HST Credit, here's what to know about Canada's October 2025 benefit payments — including when they arrive, how much you might get and who's eligible this time around.
GST/HST Credit
The GST/HST Credit is a quarterly payment from the CRA that's designed to ease the burden of federal sales taxes for low- and modest-income Canadians. Issued every three months, this tax-free credit helps balance out the goods and services tax (GST) or harmonized sales tax (HST) you pay throughout the year. Some provinces and territories also offer their own top-ups that are paid out alongside this federal support.
There's typically no need to apply for the credit specifically — the CRA will automatically determine your eligibility when you file your taxes. Most people qualify if they're at least 19 years old and their income is under the threshold, but younger individuals can also receive it if they have a spouse, common-law partner or child. You must also be considered a Canadian resident for tax purposes both before and at the beginning of the month the credit is issued.
How much you can get: The new benefit year began in July 2025, so payment amounts are slightly higher than earlier this year. This quarter, you could get the following maximum amounts from the federal portion:
- $133.25 if you're single, or
- $174.50 for married or common-law partners, plus
- $46 per child under 19
Plus, you could get up to $545 extra in your quarterly payments from your province or territory, depending on your situation and where you live.
Eligibility is based on your 2024 tax return, with the benefit beginning to phase out when your adjusted family net income exceeds $45,521.
Next payment date: October 3, 2025
Ontario Trillium Benefit
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a monthly payment that helps lower- and middle-income residents in Ontario with everyday costs like energy bills, property taxes and sales tax. It combines three provincial credits into one deposit — the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC), the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC).
Although it's a provincial program, the CRA handles the distribution. Your eligibility and payment amounts for this benefit year are based on the details you submitted in your 2024 tax return.
How much you can get: Here's what eligible Ontarians could receive in October 2025:
- OEPTC: Up to $106.91 per month if you're between 18 and 64, or up to $121.75 if you're 65 or older. An additional $23.75 may be added if you live on a reserve or in public long-term care.
- NOEC: Up to $15.41 for individuals, or $23.75 for families living in Northern Ontario.
- OSTC: Up to $30.91 each for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner and each dependent child under 19.
That said, if your total OTB allotment for the year was $360 or less, it would have already been issued as a lump sum in July instead of monthly payments.
Next payment date: October 10, 2025
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit
The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit that supports individuals and families who are working but earning a low income. The CRA pays this credit out through a program called the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB), which allows people who qualify to receive part of their CWB in advance, instead of waiting until tax time.
Half of your CWB is paid out with your tax refund when you file your taxes, and the other half is paid out in three advance instalments in July, October and January. To be eligible, you must be at least 19 by the end of the year (unless you live with a spouse, common-law partner or child), have earned income below your province's threshold and be a Canadian resident for the entire year.
How much you can get: For the advance payment in October 2025, the maximum amounts for most Canadians are:
- Up to $265 if you're single
- Up to $456.50 for couples or families
- An additional $136.83 if you qualify for the disability supplement
Eligibility and payment amounts vary in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut, where you might even get up to $500 more.
Next payment date: October 10, 2025
Canada Disability Benefit
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a new federal program that started in July 2025 to provide monthly financial support for low-income adults with disabilities. It's available to Canadians aged 18 to 64 who are approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
Anyone who had their application processed by Service Canada before June 30 should have already received their first payments in July and August. If your approval came more recently, your first deposit may be on its way in October — and it could include retroactive payments for any months you qualified but hadn't yet been paid.
How much you can get: The maximum benefit is $200 per month, although the actual amount you receive depends on your income and household circumstances since the CDB is income-tested — lower earnings generally mean higher support.
If your total entitlement works out to less than $240 for the year, it will be issued as a single lump sum rather than monthly instalments.
Next payment date: October 16, 2025
Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a monthly tax-free payment from the Canada Revenue Agency that helps families cover the costs of raising kids.
To qualify, you must live with a child under 18 and be their primary caregiver. You also need to be considered a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and either you or your spouse or common-law partner must meet citizenship or immigration requirements — such as being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.
How much you can get: For the 2025-26 benefit year, payments are calculated using your adjusted family net income from your 2024 tax return. If your income is below $37,487, the maximum monthly amounts are:
- $666.41 for each child under 6
- $562.33 for each child aged 6 to 17
Families with higher incomes will receive reduced amounts as benefits gradually phase out.
Some provinces and territories also have their own child benefits, with top-ups of up to $305.66 per child that are paid out in the same deposit as the CCB. If you're caring for a child who qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), you can also receive an extra $284.25 each month through the Child Disability Benefit.
Next payment date: October 20, 2025
Old Age Security
Old Age Security (OAS) is a monthly public pension payment for Canadians 65 and older. Unlike the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), OAS doesn't depend on your work history. Instead, it's based on your age, current income and how many years you've lived in Canada after turning 18.
To qualify, you must be at least 65 and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years as an adult. If you're applying from abroad, the minimum residency requirement increases to 20 years.
There are also three additional supports linked to OAS:
- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): For low-income seniors 65 and older
- Allowance: For 60- to 64-year-old spouses and partners of GIS recipients
- Allowance for the Survivor: For widowed individuals aged 60 to 64
How much you can get: OAS amounts are reviewed every quarter and adjusted as necessary to reflect inflation. At the last review in July, rates went up by 1%. Here's the maximum you could receive in October 2025:
- OAS pension: Up to $734.95 per month if you're 65 to 74, or up to $808.45 if you're 75 or older
- GIS: Up to $1,097.75 for single seniors or those whose partner doesn't receive OAS, or up to $660.78 if your partner gets OAS or an Allowance
- Allowance: Up to $1,395.73 if your spouse receives both OAS and GIS, or up to $1,663.81 if you're a surviving spouse
Next payment date: October 29, 2025
Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides a monthly payment to Canadians who contributed to the plan while working. It's designed to replace part of your income once you retire, with the exact amount based on how much you contributed and for how long.
If you worked in Quebec, your retirement income will come through the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) instead. Although it's administered separately, the QPP runs under rules similar to CPP. If you worked in more than one province, your contributions are coordinated between the two programs so nothing is lost.
You can start drawing CPP as early as age 60 if you've made at least one valid contribution or received credits through pension sharing after a separation or divorce.
How much you can get: In 2025, the maximum monthly payment for someone starting CPP at age 65 is $1,433. However, the average amount is lower, with new beneficiaries receiving about $845 per month.
The CPP also offers additional benefits for those who qualify, including:
- Post-Retirement Benefit: Up to $49.39 (at age 65) if you're still working while receiving your CPP pension.
- CPP Disability Benefit: Up to $1,673.24 for those under 65 who can no longer work due to a long-term physical or mental condition.
- Post-Retirement Disability Benefit: $598.49 for people aged 60 to 65 become disabled after starting their CPP pension and no longer qualify for the regular CPP Disability Benefit.
- CPP Survivor's Pension: Up to $770.88 if you're under 65, or up to $859.80 if you're 65 and over, and are a surviving spouse or common-law partner of a CPP contributor who has died.
- CPP Children's Benefits: Dependent children of CPP contributors who have either died or become disabled can receive $301.77 for full-time students and children under 18, or $150.89 for part-time students aged 18 to 25.
Note that If you qualify for more than one of these benefits, your payment amount may be lower than the sum of each benefit.
For a personalized estimate of your own payments, you can log into your My Service Canada Account and use the federal government's online tools.
Next payment date: October 29, 2025
Veteran Disability Pension
The Veteran Disability Pension (VDP) provides lifelong, tax-free payments to former service members whose health was impacted by their military service. It's intended for those living with physical or mental health conditions linked to training, deployment or combat.
Administered by Veterans Affairs Canada, the program covers a wide group, including Canadian Armed Forces veterans, those who served in the Second World War and Korean War, certain RCMP members and even civilians who supported Canada's war efforts during World War II.
To qualify, you must have a medically recognized condition that can be directly connected to your time in service. Once approved, payments continue for life.
How much you can get: Payment amounts are based on the severity of your disability — your income doesn't play a role. For 2025, the maximum monthly pension for a Class 1 disability, the most serious category, is $3,444.59. Additional amounts may be available if you have eligible dependants.
Next payment date: October 30, 2025
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