Ottawa's grocery rebate top-up lands June 5
A one-time GST credit boost will arrive before the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit takes over next month. Eligible families could see hundreds of dollars.
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Federal relief for grocery costs is arriving sooner than expected. The Canada Revenue Agency says eligible Canadians will receive a one-time top-up to their GST credit on Friday, June 5 — ahead of the launch of the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit in July.
The top-up equals 50 per cent of your current GST credit for the 2025 to 2026 benefit year. If you filed your 2024 tax return and received the GST credit in January 2026, the money should hit your account on June 5.
How much you'll get depends on your family and income. A single senior earning $25,000 annually will receive $267. A couple with two children earning $40,000 combined will get $533. The government says this one-time payment will deliver $3.1 billion in immediate assistance across the country.
Note: the payment may still show up as a GST credit in your account, even though it's technically the new top-up.
After June, the landscape changes. Starting July 3, the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit officially begins, replacing the GST credit. It will provide higher quarterly payments — increasing by 25 per cent annually for the next five years. The feds say a family of four could receive up to $1,890 this year. A single person could get up to $950.
"Since 2020, food prices have risen faster than overall inflation, costing the average household $782," the CRA stated. "The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will help offset increased grocery bills beyond the inflation rate."
The new benefit is expected to reach 500,000 additional individuals and families who don't currently qualify for the GST credit, delivering $8.6 billion in extra support over the next five years.