Key takeaways
- CGEB: up to $679 a year for a single person, $890 for a couple, plus $234 per child (July 2026 to June 2027)
- CCB: up to $8,157 a year per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17
- CWB: only if you were a resident for the whole year, so not in your arrival year
- Newcomers apply with RC151 (CGEB) and RC66 plus RC66SCH (CCB), not on the tax return
Which federal benefits can newcomers get?
| Benefit | Who | How newcomers apply | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit | Tax residents 19+ (or younger with a spouse or child) with low or modest income | RC151 (online if no children; by mail with RC66 if you have children) | Every 3 months |
| Canada Child Benefit | Parents of children under 18; PR, citizen, protected person, or temporary resident in Canada 18 months with a valid permit in the 19th month | RC66 and RC66SCH | Monthly |
| Canada Workers Benefit | Low-income workers 19+ who were residents for the whole year | Claimed on your tax return | Yearly, or partly in advance |
How the estimator counts
CGEB (July 2026 to June 2027): $445 for you, $445 for a spouse (or the first child of a single parent), $234 for each other child under 19, and a single supplement of up to $234. For a single person with no children, the supplement builds up at 2% of income over $11,564. The total is reduced by 5% of family income over $46,432.
CCB (July 2026 to June 2027): $8,157 per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17. Above $38,237 of family income, it is reduced by 7% (1 child), 13.5% (2), 19% (3) or 23% (4 or more) of the income over that level. Above $82,847, the reduction is a fixed amount plus 3.2%, 5.7%, 8% or 9.5% of the income over $82,847.
CWB: 27% of working income over $3,000, up to $1,633 (single) or $2,813 (family), reduced by 15% of net income over $26,855 (single) or $30,639 (family). These are the CRA’s 2025 amounts. For 2026 the CRA lists maximums of $1,665 and $2,869. Different amounts apply in Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut, so the tool does not estimate CWB there.
Worked example
A couple in Ontario with a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old and $50,000 of family income, who arrived this year:
- CGEB: $445 + $445 + $234 + $234 = $1,358, minus 5% × ($50,000 − $46,432) = $178.40. Result: $1,179.60 a year.
- CCB: $8,157 + $6,883 = $15,040, minus 13.5% × ($50,000 − $38,237) = $1,588. Result: about $13,452 a year, or $1,121 a month.
- CWB: $0 this year, because they were not residents for the whole year.
Total: about $14,632 a year, before any provincial child benefit.
Your first year: which income counts?
For newcomers, the CRA does not wait for a Canadian tax return. On RC151 and RC66SCH you report your world income for the years before you arrived. The CRA uses it to set your payments until your first return is assessed. After that, payments are recalculated every July based on last year’s return.
Temporary residents (workers and students) can get the CCB from the 19th month in Canada, if they hold a valid permit in that month. To keep the CCB, you or your spouse must keep a continuous legal status in Canada.
Next steps
- Send RC151 now (and RC66 with RC66SCH if you have children).
- Set up direct deposit with the CRA.
- File every year, both spouses: see your first tax return.
- Check provincial programs in government benefits for newcomers.
Common questions
Is this the same as the CRA’s benefits calculator?
Can I get the CCB on a work permit?
Why is the Canada Workers Benefit zero in my first year?
What income do I enter?
When are CCB payments made?
Sources
- CRA: CGEB payment amounts, July 2026 to June 2027
- CRA: How to get the CGEB
- CRA: How we calculate your CCB (July 2026 to June 2027)
- CRA: Canada workers benefit, who is eligible
- CRA: Canada workers benefit, how much you can get
- CRA: Adjustment of personal income tax and benefit amounts (2026)
- CRA: Newcomers to Canada (immigrants)
- CRA: Benefit payment dates
- CRA: Form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and income information