Benefit cheques that will be coming in April and May in Canada

More government cheques are on the way this spring, providing a financial boost for eligible individuals, including students feeling the strain of rising expenses. With these payments set to roll out in April and May, they could offer some much-needed relief to Canadians.

RELATED: Some benefits cheques are bouncing in Ontario

Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security

The Canadian retirement benefits system includes the Old Age Security pension, guaranteed income supplement, allowance, and allowance for the survivor, along with the Canadian Pension Plan.

CPP: Residents over 65 are eligible for a maximum monthly payment of $1,433.
OAS Pension: Individuals aged 65 to 74 with an annual income below $148,451 can receive up to $707.67 per month. Those 75 and over with an income below $154,196 may receive up to $880.44 monthly.

Eligible individuals should note that the OAS pension is reviewed quarterly—in January, April, July, and October—to reflect increases in the cost of living based on the Consumer Price Index. Importantly, payments will not decrease if the cost of living goes down.

The Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments are sent out monthly. Here are the upcoming payment dates:

• April 28
• May 28

Child Tax Credit

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) oversees the tax-free monthly Child Tax Credit benefit, designed for eligible families supporting children under 18. The CCB may incorporate the child disability benefit along with relevant provincial and territorial programs.

These are the upcoming payment dates:

• April 17
• May 20

The Ontario Child Benefit offers up to $1,607 annually per child, depending on an individual’s family net income and the number of children under 18 in their care.

Ontario Trillium Benefit

The Ontario Trillium Benefit, disbursed on a monthly basis, includes the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Northern Ontario Energy Credit and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit. The next dates are as follows:

• April 10
• May 9

Veteran disability pension

The veteran disability pension is a tax-free monthly payment that supports veterans and service members with service-related injuries or illnesses. Here are the payment dates:

• April 29
• May 30

Eligibility includes Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP members, and Second World War or Korean War veterans, including some who served in the Second World War. Recipients can choose either Pain and Suffering Compensation—a lifetime monthly or lump sum payment—or a Disability Pension with added support for dependents.

GST/HST refund

These payments are sent out quarterly and the next date for the GST and HST refunds is:

• April 4

For individuals who are single, may receive an annual amount of $496.

Those married or have a common-law partner are eligible to receive $650.

Parents with a child under the age of 19 could get $171 per child.

Canada Carbon Rate

The Canada Carbon Rebate, previously called the Climate Action Incentive Payment, is a federal initiative designed to help Canadians manage the financial impact of carbon pricing. The program returns funds to residents in provinces where the federal carbon tax applies, including Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Most households receive more back than they pay in carbon taxes, with additional top-ups available for those in rural areas.

This is the next payment date:

• April 15

Benefits for children under 25

Part-time students aged 18 to 24 with a parent who is deceased or disabled and contributed to the Canada Pension Plan may now qualify for financial support.

Eligible part-time students will receive a monthly flat rate of $150.89 starting in 2025, though payment dates have yet to be released.

This new benefit aligns with the existing program for full-time students, who will receive $301.77 per month in 2025.

To qualify for the benefit, part-time students must meet a minimum school attendance requirement.

Tax assistance for residents

Low-income seniors (65+ years) or individuals with disabilities who have owned and lived in their homes for at least one year can apply for an annual property tax rebate if they meet specific criteria.

To be eligible, every property owner must receive benefits under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Program or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Alternatively, the spouse of an owner receiving GIS or ODSP benefits also qualifies.

Some instances include:

If a married couple owns the property, either one must receive GIS or ODSP.
If a married couple, along with a sibling, owns the property, the sibling and either spouse must receive GIS or ODSP.
If two siblings own the property, both must receive GIS or ODSP.
Qualifying for the tax rebate automatically makes you eligible for a Stormwater Charge Subsidy.

Single-family homes receive subsidies on their Region of Peel water bill, while condominiums receive a mailed cheque from the City of Mississauga.

Applications must be submitted by December 31 of the current tax year, but submission is possible at any point in the year if all required documentation is available.

If you’ve missed some payments, here’s how you can get them

Residents who have applied for any of these benefits can check the status of their payments online in their “My Account” if they have created an account on the CRA website.

The Canadian government emphasizes that these cheques never expire.

The CRA cannot void the original cheque and reissue a new one unless requested by the account holder. This process involves verification, potentially requiring the completion of forms and the issuance of a replacement cheque if deemed necessary.

If you haven’t received a payment or missed some, the CRA suggests waiting ten days from the payment date before reaching out. Those without a CRA account or who do not have email notifications set up can check on uncashed cheques or missed payments by calling 1-800-959-8281.