Guides Guide

Canada workers benefit 2026: amounts, advance payment dates and how to claim

By Alex Francisco Updated Sep 30, 2026 Figures checked Sep 30, 2026 11 min read

What is the Canada workers benefit and how much can you get in 2026?

The Canada workers benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit for low-income workers, worth up to $1,665 for a single person or $2,869 for a family in 2026, plus a disability supplement of up to $860. The CRA pays up to half in advance in July, October and January; the next advance payment is October 9, 2026.

For the 2026 tax year the Canada workers benefit pays up to $1,665 for a single person and up to $2,869 for a family, which includes single parents.
The benefit builds up at 27% of working income above $3,000 and shrinks by 15% of adjusted net income above $27,392 (single) or $31,251 (family).
The disability supplement adds up to $860 for workers in the CWB income range who have an approved disability tax credit certificate (Form T2201) on file with the CRA.
The CRA pays up to 50% of the benefit in advance, in three payments: the 2026 dates are January 12, July 10 and October 9.
There is no separate application: the CWB is claimed on the tax return, and the CRA sends the advance payments automatically if that return reaches it before November 1 of the benefit period.
The full-year benefit is claimed on line 45300 of the tax return through Schedule 6, and advance payments already received are reported from the RC210 slip on line 41500 so they are not paid twice.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on September 30, 2026. Sources

The Canada workers benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit for people who work and earn a low income. It has two parts, a basic amount and a disability supplement, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays up to half of it in advance through the advanced Canada workers benefit (ACWB). The box below shows the next advance payment date, followed by the 2026 amounts.

Canada workers benefit advance payment dates 2026

Next payment date

The next dates have not been published yet

The government publishes next year’s dates late in the year — this page is updated when they are.

Month	2026
January	Mon, January 12
July	Fri, July 10
October	Fri, October 9

How to read this table: these are the dates the CRA issues the advance payments. Each benefit period runs July to June, so the January 2027 payment belongs to the same period as July and October 2026. The 2027 date is added when the CRA lists it. Source: Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — Canada.ca (Canada child benefit, 2026); Payment dates - Canada child benefit (CCB) — Canada.ca (cross-check of the 2026 dates); Payment dates - Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) — Canada.ca (cross-check of the 2026 dates); Provincial and territorial programs — Canada.ca (target of the "related provincial and territorial programs" link); Ontario — Provincial and territorial programs — Canada.ca (when the OTB is paid). Dates checked September 29, 2026.

Canada workers benefit amounts for the 2026 tax year

How to read this table: for the basic amount, a couple's working income and adjusted net income are combined. The disability supplement builds up on the person's own working income, while its reduction uses the combined adjusted net income. The figures apply everywhere except Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut, which have their own versions of the benefit.

Part of the benefit	Maximum	Builds up from working income over	Build-up rate	Shrinks once adjusted net income passes	Reduction rate
Basic amount, single (no eligible spouse or eligible dependant)	$1,665	$3,000	27%	$27,392	15%
Basic amount, family (eligible spouse or common-law partner, or an eligible dependant)	$2,869	$3,000	27%	$31,251	15%
Disability supplement, single	$860	$1,150	27%	$38,495	15%
Disability supplement, family (7.5% reduction when both spouses are eligible for the DTC)	$860	$1,150	27%	$50,377	15%

This page is education, not tax advice. Your own amount is on your notice of assessment, and your advance payments are in CRA My Account under Benefits and credits.

How much is the Canada workers benefit in 2026?

The 2026 figures come from the CRA’s yearly indexation table and apply to the 2026 tax year, which is claimed on the return filed in spring 2027. The advance payments issued from July 2026 to January 2027 are worked out from the 2025 return: under the Income Tax Act, each of the three payments is one sixth of the previous year’s CWB, so together they come to half of it.

Single (no eligible spouse and no eligible dependant): up to $1,665.
Family (an eligible spouse or common-law partner, or an eligible dependant): up to $2,869. Outside Quebec, the CRA counts single parents as a family, which is why a single parent can get the higher amount.
Disability supplement: up to $860 on top of the basic amount, for workers eligible for the disability tax credit whose income is in range.

The CRA had not yet published the 2026 income cut-offs on September 30, 2026, but they follow from its figures. Applying the 15% reduction rate to the published thresholds, the basic amount runs out at adjusted net income of about $38,492 for a single person and about $50,378 for a family. The same sum on the 2025 figures gives the CRA’s published 2025 cut-offs, $37,742 and $49,393, to within a dollar of rounding.

Couples get one more break. The lower-earning spouse can subtract up to $16,714 of their working income from their adjusted net income for 2026 (the secondary earner exemption), so a second part-time income does not wipe out the family’s benefit as quickly.

How is the Canada workers benefit calculated?

The CRA uses marital status, province or territory of residence, working income, adjusted family net income, eligible dependants and disability tax credit eligibility. The calculation has two stages.

Build-up (phase-in). The benefit is 27% of working income above $3,000, up to the maximum. Working income, as defined in the Income Tax Act, is mainly employment income plus income from a business you run. A single person reaches the full $1,665 at about $9,167 of working income; a family reaches the full $2,869 at about $13,626.
Reduction (phase-out). Once adjusted net income passes $27,392 (single) or $31,251 (family), the benefit is reduced by 15% of the income above that line.

Three worked examples for 2026, outside Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut:

A single worker with $6,000 of working income and the same net income is still in the build-up: 27% of the income above $3,000 gives $810.
A single worker with $32,000 of working income and net income gets the full amount minus the reduction: $973.80. If the 2026 return shows this result and reaches the CRA before November 1, 2027, the advance payments in July 2027, October 2027 and January 2028 would add up to half of it, $486.90.
A single parent with $35,000 of working income and net income is a family for CWB purposes: $2,306.65.

These examples assume no other income and no deductions. The income tax calculator shows the tax side of the same income, and the hourly to salary calculator turns an hourly wage into the yearly working income the CWB uses.

Canada workers benefit payment dates: the advance (ACWB) rules

The advanced Canada workers benefit is the only part of the CWB with payment dates. Everything else arrives as part of the tax refund, or reduces tax owing. The CRA’s rules for the advance, from its “How much you can get” page:

How much: up to 50% of the CWB, and 50% of the disability supplement for people who get it.
When: three payments per benefit period, issued on July 12, October 11 and January 10. When that day is a Saturday, a Sunday or a federal statutory holiday, the payment goes out on the last business day before.
Who: anyone entitled to a CWB amount on line 45300 of their return who was a resident of Canada on the first day of the period.
Couples: only one spouse receives the advance payments for the family, normally the spouse with the higher working income (the first to file, if the incomes are equal). If one spouse is eligible for the disability tax credit, that spouse receives the family’s basic advance and their supplement. If both are, one receives the basic advance and each gets their own supplement advance.
Small amounts: under the Income Tax Act, when each advance would be less than $33, the payments are combined into a single payment.

The rule explains the 2026 dates for July and October: July 12 and October 11, 2026 fall on Sundays, so the July payment went out on Friday, July 10 and the October payment is scheduled for Friday, October 9. The January 2026 payment went out on Monday, January 12, although January 10 was a Saturday; the CRA gives no reason for that one.

For January 2027, the rule points to Friday, January 8, 2027, but the CRA had not listed the date on September 30, 2026. Given the January 2026 exception, it is worth checking My Account or the CRA payment dates calendar once the CRA publishes it.

The advance payments are fixed for the benefit period. The CRA only adjusts them for death, incarceration or emigration. Other changes, such as a new spouse, a new baby or a move, show up only if you ask for a reassessment and your CWB amount changes.

Who qualifies for the Canada workers benefit?

The CRA’s conditions for the basic amount are:

Working income, with net income below the level set for your province or territory.
Residency: a resident of Canada throughout the year.
Age: 19 or older on December 31, or living with a spouse, common-law partner or child.

You are not eligible if any of these applies:

You were a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the year, unless you have an eligible dependant on December 31.
You were confined to a prison or similar institution for 90 days or more in the year.
You do not pay tax in Canada because you are a foreign diplomat or officer, or a family member or employee of one.

An eligible dependant is your child or your spouse’s child (including a person in your custody and control who is wholly dependent on you for support) who is under 19 and lives with you on December 31, and who is not eligible for the CWB themselves.

A spouse or common-law partner only counts as an eligible spouse if they live with you on December 31, were also a resident of Canada throughout the year, and are not ruled out by the same student, prison or diplomat conditions.

For newcomers, the residency rule matters most. Because the CRA requires residency throughout the year, the year of arrival usually does not count. From the first full calendar year in Canada, a newcomer with low working income can claim it; the guide to a first Canadian tax return covers that filing.

What were the income limits for the 2025 tax year?

The CRA’s own pages still show the 2025 tax year, which is the return most people filed in spring 2026. These are the CRA’s 2025 amounts and the income levels where each part stops:

Canada workers benefit, 2025 tax year (outside Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut)

How to read this table: adjusted net income is combined for couples. The lower-earning spouse's secondary earner exemption is deducted first.

Part of the benefit	Maximum	Reduced above adjusted net income of	Nothing paid above
Basic amount, single	$1,633	$26,855	$37,742
Basic amount, family	$2,813	$30,639	$49,393
Disability supplement, single	$843	$37,740	$43,360
Disability supplement, family (one spouse eligible for the DTC)	$843	$49,389	$55,009
Disability supplement, family (both spouses eligible for the DTC)	$843	$49,389	$60,629

Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut have their own versions of the benefit under agreements with the federal government, so their limits differ. The CRA’s 2025 net income levels, above which no basic amount is paid:

Net income where the basic CWB stops, 2025 tax year, by province or territory

How to read this table: outside Quebec, 'family' includes single parents, so the family and single-with-children rows are the same. In Quebec, 'family' means a married or common-law couple, and single parents are 'single with children'.

Situation	Rest of Canada	Quebec	Nunavut	Alberta
Family with children	$49,393	$41,048.9	$67,365	$50,232
Family without children	$49,393	$51,504.09	$67,365	$50,232
Single with children	$49,393	$24,561.56	$67,365	$50,232
Single without children	$37,742	$33,230.35	$67,367	$37,826

What is the Canada workers benefit disability supplement?

The disability supplement is an extra amount for workers who are eligible for the disability tax credit and have an approved Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate on file with the CRA. Without that approval the supplement is not paid, so getting the certificate approved comes first. The disability tax credit guide walks through the application.

For 2026:

Maximum: $860.
Build-up: 27% of working income above $1,150, so it starts at a lower income than the basic amount.
Reduction: 15% of adjusted net income above $38,495 for a single person or $50,377 for a family. When both spouses are eligible for the disability tax credit, each spouse can get the supplement and the reduction rate is 7.5%.

A single person keeps some supplement until adjusted net income of about $44,228 in 2026. For 2025 the CRA’s cut-offs for the supplement were:

Net income where the CWB disability supplement stops, 2025 tax year

How to read this table: outside Quebec, the family figure applies to single parents and to couples where one spouse is eligible for the disability tax credit; when both spouses are, the CRA's 2025 cut-off was $60,629.

Situation	Rest of Canada	Quebec	Nunavut	Alberta
Family with children	$55,009	$45,305.45	$75,165	$55,852
Family without children	$55,009	$55,760.64	$75,165	$55,852
Single with children	$55,009	$28,818.11	$75,165	$55,852
Single without children	$43,360	$37,486.9	$75,157	$43,446

People with a disability who are saving for the long term may also want to read about the RDSP, which uses the same disability tax credit approval.

How do you claim the Canada workers benefit?

There is no separate application. The CWB is claimed on the tax return, and the CRA uses the same return to set the next advance payments.

File a tax return every year, even with little income. When filing online, follow the instructions in certified tax software, which handles the CWB claim.
On a paper return, fill out Schedule 6, Canada workers benefit, and attach it. Use the version for your province or territory: there are separate forms for Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut, and one for everywhere else.
Report the advance payments you already received. The CRA sends an RC210 slip; box 10 goes through Step 4 of Schedule 6 to line 41500.
File early enough to get advance payments: the return has to reach the CRA before November 1 of the benefit period. Filing by the spring deadline, covered in the Canadian tax deadline guide, keeps the payments on schedule.

Where the Canada workers benefit appears on the tax return

How to read this table: the amount on line 45300 is the full-year benefit. The advance on line 41500 is subtracted from what the return pays, so it is not paid twice.

Item	Worked out on	Return line	Who claims it
Basic CWB	Schedule 6, Step 2	Line 45300	One spouse claims it for the family
CWB disability supplement	Schedule 6, Step 3	Line 45300	Each person eligible for the disability tax credit, on a separate Schedule 6
Advance payments received (ACWB)	RC210 slip box 10, then Schedule 6, Step 4	Line 41500	The person claiming the basic CWB reports both spouses' RC210 slips

For couples, one spouse claims the basic amount for the family. If one spouse is eligible for the disability tax credit, that spouse should claim both the basic amount and the supplement. If both are, only one claims the basic amount, and each claims the supplement on a separate Schedule 6.

What if a Canada workers benefit advance payment is late or missing?

The CRA asks people to wait 10 working days after the payment date before contacting it. Then:

Check CRA My Account. It shows the next payment. The CRA also offers email reminders about one week before a payment.
Check when the return was filed. A return that did not reach the CRA before November 1 of the benefit period gets no advance payments for that period; for example, a 2025 return that arrives in December 2026 means no July 2026 to January 2027 advances, and the whole 2026 benefit is claimed on the 2026 return instead.
Check your details. An old mailing address or a closed bank account can hold up payments.
Contact the CRA through the phone numbers on its “Contact the CRA” page if the reason is still not clear, after the 10 working days have passed.

Income on the last return may also simply be too high. Someone whose hours rose in 2025 may get no advance in 2026, even if their income later dropped. The lower income is picked up on the 2026 return.

What changes next for the Canada workers benefit?

Before November 1, 2026: the CRA must receive the 2025 return by then for advance payments in the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit period.
January 2027: the last advance payment of the current period. The exact date is added to the table above when the CRA lists it.
After the January 2027 payment: the CRA issues RC210 slips for the advance payments (also viewable in My Account), and the 2026 return claims the rest of the 2026 benefit.
2027 figures: the CRA indexes the CWB amounts each year and lists them in its indexation table; this page is updated when the 2027 column appears.

Common mistakes with the Canada workers benefit

Not filing because income was low. The CWB only exists through the tax return; no return means no benefit and no advance payments.
Forgetting the RC210 slip. The advance has to be reported on line 41500 so it is subtracted from the benefit claimed; leaving it off overstates the refund.
Assuming a single parent gets the single amount. Outside Quebec, a single parent with an eligible dependant claims the family amount.
Claiming in the year of arrival. Newcomers need to be residents for the whole year.
Counting full-time school weeks wrong. More than 13 weeks as a full-time student rules the year out, unless there is an eligible dependant.
Waiting for the disability supplement without an approved T2201. The supplement is only paid once the disability tax credit is approved.
Using federal figures in Quebec, Alberta or Nunavut. Those three have their own amounts and cut-offs.

The CWB advance lands in the same months as other federal deposits. The GST / Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment dates cover the quarterly payment for low- and modest-income households, the Canada child benefit payment dates cover the monthly family payment, and the CRA payment dates calendar for 2026 puts every CRA deposit on one page. Workers on or near the minimum wage can check the Ontario minimum wage to see how a year of full-time or part-time hours compares with the CWB income range.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Canada workers benefit for 2026?

For the 2026 tax year, claimed on the return filed in 2027, the basic Canada workers benefit is up to $1,665 for a single person and up to $2,869 for a family (a couple, or a single parent with an eligible dependant). The disability supplement adds up to $860. The full amount goes to workers with enough working income and adjusted net income below $27,392 (single) or $31,251 (family); above that the benefit shrinks by 15% of the extra income.

When is the next Canada workers benefit payment?

The next advance payment of the Canada workers benefit is Friday, October 9, 2026. The CRA's other 2026 advance payment dates were January 12 and July 10. The following payment is due in January 2027; the CRA's rule targets January 10, moved to the last business day before when that day is a weekend or federal statutory holiday, but the exact 2027 date had not been published on September 30, 2026.

What are the Canada workers benefit payment dates for 2026?

The CRA lists three advance Canada workers benefit (ACWB) payment dates for 2026: January 12, July 10 and October 9. Each benefit period runs July to June, so the July and October 2026 payments and the January 2027 payment belong to the same period. Anything not paid in advance is paid as a refund, or used to reduce tax owing, when the tax return is assessed.

Do I need to apply for the advanced Canada workers benefit?

No. The CRA's own wording is that there is no need to apply for the advance payments: it determines eligibility when the income tax and benefit return is filed, and sends the payments automatically to anyone entitled to a CWB amount on line 45300. The catch is timing. For the July to June benefit period, the CRA must receive the return before November 1 of that period.

Who qualifies for the Canada workers benefit?

A person qualifies if they earn working income, have net income under the level set for their province or territory, are a resident of Canada throughout the year, and are 19 or older on December 31 (or live with a spouse, common-law partner or child). Full-time students for more than 13 weeks of the year are excluded unless they have an eligible dependant, as are people confined to a prison for 90 days or more.

What is the income limit for the Canada workers benefit?

For the 2025 tax year, the latest year the CRA has published cut-offs for, no basic amount is paid above adjusted net income of $37,742 for a single person or $49,393 for a family, outside Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut. For 2026 the CRA has published the points where the benefit starts to shrink, $27,392 single and $31,251 family, and the 15% reduction rate; the 2026 cut-offs follow from those.

Can a student get the Canada workers benefit?

Part-time students can. A person enrolled as a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the year is not eligible, unless they have an eligible dependant on December 31. A student who studied full time for 13 weeks or less, and worked the rest of the year, can still qualify if their income falls in the benefit range.

What is the Canada workers benefit disability supplement?

The disability supplement is a second part of the CWB for workers who are eligible for the disability tax credit and have an approved Form T2201 on file with the CRA. For 2026 it is worth up to $860, builds up at 27% of working income above $1,150, and shrinks by 15% of adjusted net income above $38,495 for a single person or $50,377 for a family. When both spouses are eligible for the disability tax credit the reduction rate is 7.5%.

Can newcomers to Canada get the Canada workers benefit?

Not for their year of arrival, in most cases. The CRA requires a person to be a resident of Canada throughout the year, so someone who became a resident partway through a year does not qualify for that year. From the first full calendar year in Canada, a newcomer with low working income can claim the CWB on their tax return like anyone else. Advance payments start in the July after that year, if the return reaches the CRA before November 1.

How does the Canada workers benefit work for couples?

Couples are treated as a family: their working incomes and adjusted net incomes are combined, and only one spouse claims the basic amount. The lower-earning spouse can deduct up to $16,714 of their working income from their adjusted net income for 2026, the secondary earner exemption, which keeps more couples in range. Only one spouse receives the advance payments, normally the one with the higher working income.

What is the RC210 slip?

The RC210, Advanced Canada Workers Benefit Statement, is the slip the CRA sends to anyone who received advance CWB payments for the year. The amount in box 10 is reported on line 41500 of the next tax return, through Step 4 of Schedule 6. For couples, the person claiming the basic CWB reports the box 10 amounts from both spouses' RC210 slips. The slip is also available in the CRA's My Account.

Why did I not get my Canada workers benefit advance payment?

The CRA asks people to wait 10 working days after the payment date before contacting it. Common reasons for no advance payment: the tax return did not reach the CRA before November 1 of the benefit period, income on the previous year's return was too high, the person was not a resident of Canada on the first day of the period, or the CRA has an old address or bank account. CRA My Account shows the payment status.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 29, 2026
Next scheduled check: December 31, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
Canada workers benefit (2026)	January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026	September 29, 2026
Canada workers benefit — amount tables, 2025 income cut-offs, advance payment (ACWB) rules and how to claim	January 1, 2026	September 30, 2026
CRA benefit and credit payment dates	January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026	September 29, 2026

Official sources

Indexation adjustment for personal income tax and benefit amounts — Canada.ca (CWB table, 2026 column) — Canada Revenue Agency
Income Tax Act s. 122.7(2) — Justice Laws Website (basic amount phase-in rate) — Department of Justice Canada
Canada workers benefit (CWB) — How much you can get — Canada.ca (provincial variation) — Canada Revenue Agency
Canada workers benefit (CWB) — Who is eligible — Canada.ca (age and residency) — Canada Revenue Agency
Canada workers benefit (CWB) — Personal income tax — Canada.ca (what the CWB is) — Canada Revenue Agency
CWB — How to claim — Canada.ca (tax software or Schedule 6) — Canada Revenue Agency
Line 41500 – Advanced Canada workers benefit (ACWB) — Canada.ca (RC210 slip) — Canada Revenue Agency
Payment dates for CRA administered benefits and credits — Canada.ca (ACWB, 2026) — Canada Revenue Agency
Income Tax Act s. 122.72(1) — Justice Laws Website (each advance is 1/6 of the preceding year's CWB; return filed by November 1) — Department of Justice Canada
Payment dates - Canada child benefit (CCB) — Canada.ca (cross-check of the 2026 dates) — Canada Revenue Agency
Payment dates - Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) — Canada.ca (cross-check of the 2026 dates) — Canada Revenue Agency
Provincial and territorial programs — Canada.ca (target of the "related provincial and territorial programs" link) — Canada Revenue Agency
Ontario — Provincial and territorial programs — Canada.ca (when the OTB is paid) — Canada Revenue Agency

How we check figures: our methodology and editorial policy.

General information for education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change — confirm anything you act on with the official source or a licensed professional (for immigration, a lawyer or a licensed consultant registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).

What is the Canada workers benefit and how much can you get in 2026?

Canada workers benefit advance payment dates 2026

How much is the Canada workers benefit in 2026?

How is the Canada workers benefit calculated?

Canada workers benefit payment dates: the advance (ACWB) rules

Who qualifies for the Canada workers benefit?

What were the income limits for the 2025 tax year?

What is the Canada workers benefit disability supplement?

How do you claim the Canada workers benefit?

What if a Canada workers benefit advance payment is late or missing?

What changes next for the Canada workers benefit?

Common mistakes with the Canada workers benefit

Related benefits and tools

Frequently asked questions

Rules, rates and sources