Government Benefits in Canada: How They Work and How to Get Them
Guides to Canadian government benefits: the Canada child benefit, GST/HST credit, dental care, benefits for seniors, which benefits are taxable, and what to do about overpayments.
Most federal benefits are paid by the CRA (based on your tax return) or Service Canada. File your tax return every year, even with no income, to keep benefits coming.
In this section
Government Benefits for Seniors in Canada: OAS, GIS, CPP and More
The main federal benefits for seniors are Old Age Security (OAS), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for lower-income OAS recipients, and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension. All are managed through Service Canada and My Service Canada Account.
Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): Who Qualifies and How to Apply
The Canadian Dental Care Plan helps pay for dental care if you have no access to dental insurance and your adjusted family net income is under $90,000. You must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes and have filed last year's tax return. Under $70,000 there is no co-payment; from $70,000 to $89,999 you pay 40% or 60% of covered costs.
T4 Box 45 Dental Codes Explained (Codes 1 to 5)
Box 45 on your T4 (box 015 on a T4A) shows the dental coverage your employer offered you on December 31. Code 1 means no access to dental coverage; codes 2 to 5 mean you were offered coverage. It reflects what was offered, even if you declined it.
Which Government Benefits Are Taxable in Canada?
The Canada child benefit and the GST/HST credit (now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit) are not taxable and don't go on your return. Old Age Security, CPP and Employment Insurance are reported as income from your T4A(OAS), T4A(P) and T4E slips.
When Does the CRA Update Your Benefits? The July Benefit Year
The CRA recalculates the Canada child benefit every July, using your tax return from the previous year. Payments from July 2026 to June 2027 are based on your 2025 return. Filing by April 30 keeps your benefits from being interrupted in July.
How to Pay Back a CRA Benefit Overpayment (CCB, GST/HST Credit)
If the CRA recalculates your benefits and finds you were overpaid, it sends a notice with a remittance voucher. Pay online through your bank using your SIN as the account number, let the CRA take it from future benefits or refunds, or call 1-888-863-8662 to set up a payment plan.
OAS Clawback 2026: Recovery Tax Thresholds Explained
If your net income is above the threshold, you repay 15% of the excess from your Old Age Security. For July 2026 to June 2027, the threshold is $93,454 (based on your 2025 income); OAS is fully clawed back at $152,062 for ages 65 to 74 and $157,923 for 75 and over.
Benefit Payment Dates 2026: CCB, CPP, OAS, GST/HST and More
Every 2026 Government of Canada benefit payment date in one calendar: Canada child benefit, CPP and OAS, GST/HST credit and Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, Canada Disability Benefit, Ontario Trillium Benefit and more.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates 2026
Remaining 2026 dates: November 20 and December 11. The CCB, including related provincial and territorial child benefits, is paid monthly, usually around the 20th. December's payment comes early, on December 11.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC): Who Qualifies and How to Apply
The disability tax credit is for people with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, certified by a medical practitioner. Apply with Form T2201: you complete Part A (online, by phone or on paper) and a medical practitioner completes Part B. You can apply any time of year.
How to Apply for CPP Disability Benefits: Step by Step
CPP disability is for people 18 to 65 whose disability stops them from working at any job regularly and is long-term or likely to cause death, and who have enough CPP contributions. Apply online or on paper, and have your doctor or nurse practitioner complete the medical report. The standard decision time is 120 days.