GenzeeCanada's GST Credit Gets a 25% Top-Up From July 2026
Lower-income Canadians started seeing bigger quarterly rebate payments this month. The federal government has rebranded the GST Credit as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and increased payment amounts by 25% for five years, beginning with the July 2026 payment, according to a news release from the Prime Minister's Office and reporting by Global News.
What changed
The move is part of a broader affordability push under Prime Minister Mark Carney's government, which has also temporarily suspended the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel and cut GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million. Global News reported the boosted GST credit is specifically aimed at helping households cover rising grocery costs.
Who qualifies
Eligibility follows the existing GST/HST credit rules — based on your income tax return and family net income — so no separate application is usually needed if you already file taxes and qualified before. If you're budgeting around benefit payments and other income, our Canada Income Tax Calculator and Savings Goal Calculator can help you plan around the extra cash.
Note: This is a plain-language summary, not tax advice. Rates and rules can change; verify your specific case with the relevant tax authority or a qualified adviser. See our editorial policy for how we source and date figures.