Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) and advance payments

A refundable tax credit for people who work and earn a low income, claimed on your tax return, with up to half of it paid in advance in three payments during the year.

Program in Canada-wide. Government benefits Money, grants & charity Jobs & careers

When: Claimed every year on your tax return. For advance payments the CRA must receive your return before November 1 of the benefit year (July to June). Next advance payment date: 2026-10-09.

How to reach them

1. Go to their application form.
2. Say who you are and what you are offering or asking.
3. Come back here and tell us if they answered.

Other ways, if that one is quiet

• PhoneGo to the phone line
  It workedNo answer

• PhoneCall 1-800-959-8281
  It workedNo answer

Where else they are

Their website is canada.ca/.../canada-workers-benefit.html.

Good to know

• For whomCanadian residents aged 19 or older on December 31 (or living with a spouse, partner or child) who have working income; for 2025 the maximum is $1,633 for a single person (none above $37,742 adjusted net income) and $2,813 for a family (none above $49,393), plus up to $843 if you qualify for the disability tax credit, and full-time students for more than 13 weeks of the year cannot get it unless they have an eligible dependant.
• CostFree
• LanguagesEnglish, French
• Their stepsFile your tax return: certified tax software claims the CWB for you; on a paper return fill out Schedule 6 and enter the result on line 45300. If you qualify for the disability tax credit, claim the CWB disability supplement on the same Schedule 6. Advance payments need no application: if the CRA gets your return before November 1, you receive up to 50% of your CWB in July, October and January. Questions: call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281, Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm ET.

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