Many Canadians rely on CRA payments like CCB, GST/HST credit, OAS, CPP, and disability benefits to manage daily expenses. In 2025, payment amounts have been adjusted, eligibility rules updated, and a new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is set to roll out. This article is going to look the latest CRA benefits, payment amounts, eligibility rules, and key dates for 2025, all sourced from official and trusted government information.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment that helps families cover the cost of raising children under 18 years old. The payment amounts are adjusted for inflation every July.
For the July 2024 – June 2025 benefit year:
- Children under 6: Up to $7,787 per year ($648.91 per month)
- Children aged 6 to 17: Up to $6,570 per year ($547.50 per month)
- This reflects a 4.7% increase from last year.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible, you must:
- Live with a child under 18 and be primarily responsible for their care.
- Be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You or your spouse must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for at least 18 months.
- Indigenous persons registered under the Indian Act also qualify.
Note: Foster parents receiving provincial support for a child cannot get the CCB for that child.
The amount you receive depends on your income. The maximum is paid if your adjusted family net income (AFNI) is $36,502 or less. Above this, the benefit gradually reduces. CCB payments are made monthly, usually on the 20th of each month.
2025 Payment Dates:
| Month | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | 20 |
| February | 20 |
| March | 20 |
| April | 17 |
| May | 20 |
| June | 20 |
| July | 18 |
| August | 20 |
| September | 19 |
| October | 20 |
| November | 20 |
| December | 12 |
Payments are sent monthly via direct deposit or cheque. If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is made earlier. Starting 2025, if a child passes away, families will continue receiving CCB payments (and Child Disability Benefits, if applicable) for six more months. This change provides financial relief during a difficult time.
GST/HST Credit
The GST/HST credit is a tax-free payment that helps low- and modest-income Canadians cover the cost of GST and HST taxes. It is paid every three months and based on family size and income.
For the July 2024 – June 2025 payment period (based on 2023 income):
- Single person: Up to $519 per year ($129.75 per quarter)
- Married or common-law couple: Up to $680 per year (combined)
- Each child under 19: $179 per year
Example: A couple with two children could receive up to $1,038 per year ($259.50 per quarter).
Who Qualifies?
- You must be 19 or older (or have a spouse or child if under 19).
- You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You do not need to apply filing your tax return is enough.
- The credit is phased out if your family income is too high (e.g., a single person starts losing benefits at around $40,000+, and a family of four at about $60,000+).
2025 Payment Schedule:
The GST/HST credit is paid every three months, usually at the start of the month.
| Quarter | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | 3, 2025 |
| April | 4, 2025 |
| July | 4, 2025 |
| October | 3, 2025 |
Payments are made by direct deposit or cheque.
Tip: Keep your CRA information updated (marital status, children, etc.), as changes can affect your payment amount.
Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The Old Age Security (OAS) is a monthly pension for seniors aged 65 and older, funded by general tax revenues. It is not based on work history or contributions. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is an additional benefit for low-income seniors who receive OAS. Both OAS and GIS are adjusted for inflation every January, April, July, and October.
OAS Payment Amounts:
- Ages 65–74: Up to $727.67 per month
- Ages 75+: Up to $800.44 per month (includes a 10% increase introduced in July 2022)
OAS Clawback (Recovery Tax)
- If your annual income exceeds $86,912, OAS payments start decreasing.
- OAS is fully clawed back at an income of $142,000+ for those aged 65–74 and $148,000+ for those 75 and older.
- Most seniors qualify for full OAS as their income is below these limits.
- OAS is taxable income.
GIS Payment Amounts:
GIS is for low-income seniors who receive OAS. The amount depends on marital status and other income (excluding OAS itself).
- Single, widowed, or divorced: Up to $1,086.88 per month (if annual income is below $22,056).
- Married/common-law (both receive OAS): Up to $654.23 per month each (if combined income is below $29,136).
- Married/common-law (only one gets OAS): The eligible spouse can receive up to $1,086.88 per month, with higher income thresholds.
- Payments decrease as income increases. Even small private pensions or RRIF withdrawals can reduce GIS.
- GIS is non-taxable, meaning it is not included in income tax calculations.
- A senior with no other income would receive OAS + GIS, totaling:
- $1,814 per month (ages 65–74)
- $1,887 per month (ages 75+)
Eligibility for OAS and GIS
OAS Eligibility
- Must be 65 years or older.
- Must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident.
- Must have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18 (for partial OAS).
- To receive full OAS, you need 40 years of residency after age 18.
GIS Eligibility
- Must receive OAS and have low income.
- Must renew GIS each year by filing income taxes.
- GIS stops if you leave Canada for more than six months.
OAS Payments Outside Canada
- If you lived in Canada for 20+ years, OAS can be paid indefinitely while living abroad.
- If you lived in Canada for less than 20 years, OAS stops after 6 months abroad.
2025 OAS & GIS Payment Dates:
Payments are made monthly, usually on the third-to-last business day of each month.
| Month | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | 29 |
| February | 26 |
| March | 27 |
| April | 28 |
| May | 28 |
| June | 26 |
| July | 29 |
| August | 27 |
| September | 25 |
| October | 29 |
| November | 26 |
| December | 22 (early due to holidays) |
Payments are made by direct deposit or cheque.
Seniors have the option to defer their OAS payments beyond age 65, allowing them to receive higher monthly amounts. For every month deferred, the payment increases by 0.6%, which adds up to 7.2% per year. If a senior chooses to delay OAS until age 70, they can receive a maximum increase of 36%. However, it’s important to note that GIS cannot be collected until OAS payments begin. Despite the potential benefits of deferring, most Canadians start receiving OAS at age 65.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Retirement Pension
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a monthly retirement benefit for people who have worked and contributed to CPP during their career. Both workers and employers pay into CPP, and the amount you receive in retirement depends on how much and how long you contributed. Unlike Old Age Security (OAS), which is based on residency, CPP is earnings-based. CPP benefits are adjusted for inflation every January. As of January 2025, the maximum CPP payment at age 65 is $1,433.00 per month. However, this maximum amount is only for those who contributed at the highest level for most of their working life.
Most retirees receive less than the maximum. The average new CPP retirement pension at age 65 was about $808 per month in late 2024. The exact amount you receive depends on your earnings and contribution history. CPP has been enhanced in recent years, meaning younger workers will receive higher benefits in the future, but the full effect will take time.
Starting CPP Early or Late
You can start collecting CPP at any age between 60 and 70. However, the amount changes based on when you start:
- Taking CPP early (before 65): Payments are reduced by 0.6% per month (or 36% lower at 60).
- Deferring CPP (after 65): Payments increase by 0.7% per month (or 42% higher at 70).
Example: If you are entitled to $1,000 per month at 65:
- At 60: You would receive about $640 per month.
- At 70: You would receive about $1,420 per month.
The best time to start CPP depends on factors like health, financial needs, and other income sources.
Who Can Get CPP?
Eligibility Requirements:
- You must be at least 60 years old.
- You must have made at least one contribution to CPP.
- Anyone who has worked in Canada (outside Quebec) and earned more than $3,500 per year will have contributed.
There is no minimum number of years required to get a small CPP pension even a few years of contributions can qualify you. However, to receive a large CPP pension, you need consistent contributions at higher earnings over many years. Unlike OAS, CPP is fully funded by contributions, so there is no clawback for high-income earners you receive the CPP amount you earned. CPP is taxable income.
Applying for CPP
CPP does not start automatically you must apply through Service Canada. The standard age to start is 65, but you can choose any time from 60 to 70.
- If you start before 65, you must stop or reduce your work earnings unless you qualify for the Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB).
- If you start after 65, your pension will be higher due to the deferral increase.
- CPP can be collected while working, but different rules apply based on whether you are under or over 65.
Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB): If you keep working after 60, you can contribute more to increase your future CPP payments.
Drop-out Provisions: If you had low-earning years due to raising children or disability, those years can be excluded from your CPP calculation, potentially increasing your pension.
2025 CPP Payment Dates:
CPP payments are made monthly, usually on the same schedule as OAS.
| Month | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | 29 |
| February | 26 |
| March | 27 |
| April | 28 |
| May | 28 |
| June | 26 |
| July | 29 |
| August | 27 |
| September | 25 |
| October | 29 |
| November | 26 |
| December | 22 (early due to holidays) |
Payments are sent by direct deposit or cheque. If the payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, deposits are made the business day before. The December payment is usually sent early before Christmas.
Disability Benefits (CPP Disability and Others)
CPP Disability Benefit is a monthly payment for people who have contributed to CPP and later become unable to work due to a severe and prolonged disability. It is part of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and is available to contributors under 65 who meet the medical and contribution requirements.
The CPP disability benefit includes a flat-rate amount plus an amount based on your CPP contributions.
- Maximum monthly payment: $1,673.24
- Average payment (late 2024): About $1,539 per month
- Child benefit (for dependent children): $301.77 per child per month
Payments are adjusted for inflation every January, like regular CPP pensions.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for CPP disability, you must:
- Be under 65
- Have made enough CPP contributions (usually 4 of the last 6 years, or 25+ years with 3 of the last 6 years)
- Have a severe and prolonged disability that:
- Prevents you from doing any regular work
- Is long-term (expected to last indefinitely or result in death)
Medical Reports Required: A doctor must confirm your condition in medical reports as part of your application. Service Canada reviews your case to decide if you qualify.
Earnings Limit While on CPP Disability
If you earn too much, CPP assumes you can work and may stop your benefits.
- Earnings limit (2025): $20,153 per year (earning above this may cancel benefits)
- Safe earnings threshold: Up to $7,100 per year (occasional work below this limit usually won’t affect benefits)
If you turn 65 while on CPP disability, your benefit automatically converts to CPP retirement pension. At that point, you can also apply for OAS and GIS.
CPP disability benefits are taxable income.
2025 CPP Disability Payment Dates:
CPP Disability is paid on the same schedule as CPP retirement and OAS. Payments arrive monthly at the end of each month.
| Month | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | 29 |
| February | 26 |
| March | 27 |
| April | 28 |
| May | 28 |
| June | 26 |
| July | 29 |
| August | 27 |
| September | 25 |
| October | 29 |
| November | 26 |
| December | 22 (early due to holidays) |
Payments are deposited directly into bank accounts or sent by cheque.
Child Disability Benefit (CDB)
The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is a tax-free monthly payment for families raising a child under 18 with a severe and long-term disability. It is added to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to help with extra costs.
For July 2024 – June 2025, the maximum CDB payment is $3,322 per year ($276.83 per month per child). Like CCB, it is income-tested, so higher-income families may receive less or none.
To qualify, the child must be approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and the caregiver must qualify for CCB. The benefit stops when the child turns 18 or loses DTC eligibility. Some cases require renewal, so families should keep DTC status updated. CDB is included with CCB payments and follows the same schedule. If DTC eligibility expires, CDB stops. Starting 2025, if a child passes away, CDB and CCB continue for six months.
New for 2025 – Canada Disability Benefit (for Working-Age Adults)
A new financial support program is coming for Canadians with disabilities. The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a federal income supplement for low-income adults with disabilities (ages 18–64). It was passed into law in 2023, and the first payments are expected in July 2025. The CDB is designed to help reduce poverty for working-age Canadians with disabilities. It works similarly to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for seniors. The government has proposed a maximum of $2,400 per year (or $200 per month) for those with the lowest incomes. However, the final rules on how much each person will get are still being decided.
An estimated 600,000 Canadians could benefit from this program.
Who is Eligible?
The government is still finalizing the rules, but here’s what we know so far:
- You must be 18–64 years old.
- You must have a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate.
- Your income must be below a certain level (to be determined).
It is a direct benefit, meaning payments will go directly to eligible individuals, likely monthly or quarterly.
How Much Will You Get?
- The maximum is $2,400 per year ($200 per month).
- The amount will be income-based, meaning people with little to no income will get the full amount, while those with some income may get less.
- The payments will be tax-free.
- The benefit will not replace provincial disability support but will add to it.
When Will Payments Start?
- The government aims to finalize the benefit by June 2024.
- First payments are expected in July 2025.
- Keep an eye on Service Canada and CRA announcements in early 2025 for application details.
If you think you may qualify, have your Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate.