A lot of federal benefits are paying money to Canadians in April to help offset the cost of sales taxes, pollution pricing, raising a child, and more.
You could get hundreds of dollars or even more than $1,000 throughout the month depending on your family situation and annual income!
Payments from the Canada Child Benefit, the new Canada Carbon Rebate and more will be deposited into bank accounts or mailed out as cheques to eligible Canadians across the country.
So, here's what you need to know about six benefits and credits that are giving out money in April.
GST/HST credit
The goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax — also known as the GST/HST credit — is a tax-free quarterly payment to help individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset the GST or HST they pay.
How much money you get from GST/HST credit payments is based on your adjusted family net income and the number of children under 19 years old you have registered for the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST credit.
For the payment period from July 2023 to June 2024, you could get up to:
- $496 if you are single
- $650 if you are married or have a common-law partner
- $171 for each child under 19 years old
The GST/HST credit payment date is Friday, April 5, 2024.
Canada Carbon Rebate
First payments from the new Canada Carbon Rebate — formerly known as the climate action incentive payment — are going out in April.
It's a tax-free payment to offset the cost of federal pollution pricing.
There are two payments, the basic amount and rural supplement, available to residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador.
How much money you get from the Canada Carbon Rebate isn't reduced based on your adjusted family net income.
The basic quarterly payment amount for Alberta is:
- $225 for an individual
- $112.50 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $56.25 per child under 19
- $112.50 for the first child in a single-parent family
The basic amount for Saskatchewan is:
- $188 for an individual
- $94 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $47 per child under 19
- $94 for the first child in a single-parent family
Manitoba's basic amount is:
- $150 for an individual
- $75 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $37.50 per child under 19
- $75 for the first child in a single-parent family
- $140 for an individual
- $70 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $35 per child under 19
- $70 for the first child in a single-parent family
The basic amount for New Brunswick is:
- $95 for an individual
- $47.50 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $23.75 per child under 19
- $47.50 for the first child in a single-parent family
The basic payment amount for Nova Scotia is:
- $103 for an individual
- $51.50 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $25.75 per child under 19
- $51.50 for the first child in a single-parent family
The quarterly basic amount for P.E.I. is:
- $110 for an individual
- $55 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $27.50 per child under 19
- $55 for the first child in a single-parent family
Canada Carbon Rebate's basic amount for Newfoundland and Labrador is:
- $149 for an individual
- $74.50 for a spouse or common-law partner
- $37.25 per child under 19
- $74.50 for the first child in a single-parent family
The Canada Carbon Rebate payment date is Monday, April 15, 2024.
But you might not get the April payment on time and it just depends on when you did your tax return this year.
If you filed your taxes electronically by March 15, 2024, you should receive your Canada Carbon Rebate payment on April 15.
If you file your taxes after March 15, 2024, you should get your payment six to eight weeks after your tax return has been assessed.
Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment that's meant to help eligible families with the cost of raising children under 18 years old.
If your adjusted family net income is under $34,863, you get the maximum benefit amount for each child. It won't be reduced.
Payment amounts gradually start decreasing when the adjusted family net income is over $34,863.
The maximum CCB payment is $619.75 per month for each child under six years old and $522.91 per month for each child 6 to 17 years old.
The CCB payment date is Friday, April 19, 2024.
Old Age Security
The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment you can get if you are 65 and older.
If you're living in Canada, you must:
- be 65 years old or older
- be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time your OAS pension application is approved
- have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
The OAS payment date is Friday, April 26, 2024.
Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension is a monthly taxable benefit that replaces part of your income once you retire.
Your situation determines how much you'll receive up to the maximum. The amount of your CPP retirement pension depends on factors like:
- the age you decide to start your pension
- how much and for how long you contributed to the CPP
- your average earnings throughout your working life
For 2024, the maximum monthly amount you could get if you start your pension at 65 years old is $1,364.60.
The CPP payment date is Friday, April 26, 2024.
Veteran disability pension
Canada's veteran disability pension is financial recognition for the impact a service-related injury or disease can have on someone's life.
How much money you receive depends on the relation of your condition to your service and the severity of your condition, including the impact on your quality of life.
The veteran disability pension payment date is Monday, April 29, 2024.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
