Canada to Issue One-Time Grocery Benefit Payment on June 5 to Support Low-Income Households

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has confirmed that millions of Canadians will receive a one-time grocery benefit payment on June 5, offering temporary financial relief amid rising living costs.

According to the agency, the payment is part of the federal government’s newly introduced Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), which is designed to eventually replace the current GST/HST credit system. The initiative aims to help individuals and families manage essential daily expenses such as food and household necessities.

In an official statement, the CRA said the one-time payment will support more than 12 million Canadians, particularly those with low to moderate incomes, during the transition period before the new benefit becomes fully operational.

The program was first announced on January 26 by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who outlined plans to strengthen financial support through an increase in the existing GST credit. Under the new policy, the government will boost the GST credit by 25 percent and provide an additional one-time payment equivalent to half of a recipient’s annual GST credit.

Carney highlighted the impact of the change by noting that a typical family of four currently receives around $1,100 annually through the GST credit. With the introduction of the CGEB, that same family could receive up to $1,890 this year. In the following years, the annual support is expected to stabilize at approximately $1,400 for up to four years.

The upcoming June 5 payment is seen as a short-term measure to ease financial pressure, particularly as households continue to face higher costs for groceries and everyday essentials. The federal government has indicated that further details on the full rollout of the CGEB will be shared in the coming months.