Here are all the benefits cheques you should have received in 2023

In Ontario and across Canada, residents face an uphill battle in meeting expenses due to the continuous increase in grocery, housing, and home improvement costs.

Canadians needing extra support can access a range of benefits addressing child-rearing expenses, sales taxes, and general living costs. Here are all the benefits programs of 2023 including the amounts, and how to apply.

Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security

The Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments are sent out monthly. The 2o23 dates for these payments are:

• January 27
• February 24
• March 29
• April 26
• May 29
• June 28
• July 27
• August 29
• September 27
• October 27
• November 28
• December 20

Residents who are over the age of 65, the maximum monthly payment for the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) is $1,306.57.

For the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, individuals between ages 65 to 74 with an annual income of less than $142,609 are eligible for a monthly payment of up to $707.68. Those between the ages of 75 and over with an annual income of less than $148,179 may receive up to $778.45 per month.

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How to apply: Residents looking to apply for the program can visit the website here for details on the requirements and follow the four-step application process.

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.

The dates this year for the Child Tax Credit are:

• January 20
• February 20
• March 20
• April 20
• May 19
• June 20
• July 20
• August 18
• September 20
• October 20
• November 20
• December 13

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 years of age in their care.

How to apply: Parents or guardians can apply using birth registration, their online CRA account, or opt for mail submission. Individuals can apply in various situations, including when the child is born, starts living with them, returns after a temporary period away, or if custody arrangements change. To check for eligibility requirements and other information, applicants can visit the website here. 

Grocery Rebate

The Grocery Rebate for 2023 is twice the amount of an individuals GST/HST credit payment. The calculation considers a person’s family situation and the 2021 adjusted family net income.

The lump sum payment date is as follows:

• July 5

A family of four will receive up to $628 by direct deposit or cheque from the Canada Revenue Agency, while single people without children will get up to $234 and seniors will see a rebate of up to $225.

How to apply: Individuals who filed their tax return are eligible for the payment. More information on the grocery rebate can be found here. 

Climate Action Incentive Payment

The Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP) also known as the carbon tax rebate, is a tax-free financial support aimed at assisting individuals and families in offsetting the expenses related to federal pollution pricing.

It is accessible to residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

As of July 2022, the Government of Canada has shifted the payment method for CAIP from a refundable credit claimed annually on personal income tax returns, to quarterly tax-free payments through the benefit system.

The payment dates for 2023 are as follows:

• January 13
• April 14
• July 14
• October 13

Additionally, these payment amounts vary based on family situations and the province of residence.

The Ontario program provides an annual credit of :

• $488 for an individual
• $244 for a spouse or common-law partner
• $122 per child under 19
• $244 for the first child in a single-parent family

How to apply: No application is required to receive CAIP payments. The CRA will assess the applicants eligibility during the filing of their income tax and benefit return and will issue payments if they qualify. More information on this benefit can be found here. 

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 payment dates are as follows:

• January 10
• February 10
• March 10
• April 6
• May 10
• June 9
• July 10
• August 10
• September 8
• October 10
• November 10
• December 8

Individual between the ages of 18 – 64 could receive an annual amount of up to $1,194. For those 65 years old and over may receive up to $1,360 per year.

How to apply: According to the website, individuals interested in this benefit are required to apply annually. They must submit their personal Income Tax and Benefit Return. Additionally, they must complete and include the ON-BEN Application Form provided in their tax return package. The CRA says it is necessary for residents to file their tax return, even if there’s no income to report.

GST/HST refund (goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax)

The GST/HST credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset the GST or HST that they pay, according to the federal government. It may also include payments from provincial and territorial programs.

The 2023 quarterly payment dates for the GST and HST refunds are:

• January 5
• April 5
• July 5
• October 5

To be eligible for the tax credit, people must at least 19 years old and a Canadian resident. Those who are under 19 years old and live with a spouse or common law partner or who are a parent may be eligible.

In general, residents must make less than $50,000 to be eligible or less than $65,000 if you have children.

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

Those who are 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.

These cheques can all be cashed at any bank in Canada.

How to apply: Individuals to qualify for this benefit annually, must also file their income tax return. More information and eligibility requirements can be found here. 

Canada Workers Benefit

The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit to help low-income individuals and families who are working. The benefit consists of a basic amount and a disability supplement.

The payment dates for these benefits are:

• July 28
• October 12

As per the CRA’s website, the maximum basic amount for the CWB is $1,428 for single individuals and $2,461 for families. Single individuals with an adjusted net income exceeding $33,015 are not eligible for the basic amount, while for families, the adjusted net income is $43,212.

The disability supplement offers a maximum of $737 for both singles and families. Ineligibility applies to individual if their net income exceeds $37,932, and for families, it’s a household income between $48,124 to $53,037, depending on spouse eligibility.

How to apply: Individuals can claim the CWB when they file their income tax return. More information on eligibility requirements can be found here. 

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— a process that involves a verification, potentially requiring the completion of forms, with the issuance of a replacement cheque if deemed necessary.

If you haven’t received a payment or missed some, the CRA suggests waiting 10 days from the payment date before reaching out. For those without a CRA account or do not have email notifications set up, can check on uncashed cheques or missed payments by calling 1-800-959-8281.