Grocery and Essential Benefit: 1)Ottawa’s beefed-up grocery benefit starts paying out today, what Barrie households need to know; 2)More money arrives today for eligible Canadians as Ottawa boosts grocery and essentials benefit arrives today for eligible Canadians
1)Ottawa’s beefed-up grocery benefit starts paying out today, what Barrie households need to know
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Logan Miller, July 3, 2026
Eligible households in Barrie will see extra money land in their bank accounts starting today as the federal government rolls out its first enhanced payment under the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
The benefit, which replaced the GST/HST credit this month, is paid every three months and is meant to help lower and modest income Canadians cover the cost of groceries and everyday essentials.
Boosted payments begin today
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit was previously known as the GST/HST credit.
Eligible households already received a one-time payment worth 50 per cent of the benefit’s annual value back in early June.
Starting with today’s payment, recipients will also see a 25 per cent increase in their quarterly amounts. Ottawa says that boost is here to stay for the next five years, running through 2031.
Support tied to household income and family size
How much a household gets depends on a few things, including marital status and how many kids are in the home.
Annual benefit amounts can range from a few hundred dollars up to more than a thousand dollars per family, and payments are recalculated every July based on the previous year’s tax return.
The program is targeted at lower-income households and is designed to help offset the rising cost of essential goods.
What the payments could look like
The Department of Finance offered a couple of examples of what the changes mean in dollar terms.
A single senior with $25,000 in net income received a one-time top-up of $267 and will get a longer-term increase of $136 for the 2026-27 benefit year, a total bump of $402.
A couple with two children earning $40,000 in net income received a one-time top-up of $533 and will see an increase of $272 for the 2026-27 benefit year, adding up to $1,890 in total support for the year, including the top-up.
Affordability remains a federal focus
Prime Minister Mark Carney first announced the affordability measure in January, framing it as a response to ongoing economic uncertainty and higher prices for necessities.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the goal is to build on what already existed while going further to help Canadians manage costs.
“One of the greatest strengths of Canada is that we look after one another. We believe our economy is strongest when it works for everyone. That’s why we introduced the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit – to help make groceries and everyday essentials more affordable for Canadians while strengthening food security and supporting innovation across Canada’s agriculture and food sectors,” Champagne said.
The enhanced benefit is one of several federal efforts aimed at giving Canadians financial breathing room as household costs continue to climb.
No application is needed. Eligibility is determined automatically through your tax return, and payments are deposited directly or mailed as a cheque on the scheduled date.
*with files from CP
2)More money arrives today for eligible Canadians as Ottawa boosts grocery and essentials benefit arrives today for eligible Canadians
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Staff, July 3, 2026
Eligible households in Barrie and across Canada will see a little extra money deposited starting today as the federal government begins issuing quarterly payments under its enhanced Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
The benefit, aimed at lower-income Canadians, is paid every three months and provides support to help cover the cost of groceries and other everyday necessities.
Boosted payments begin today
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit was previously known as the GST/HST credit.
Eligible households received a one-time payment worth 50 per cent of the benefit’s annual value in early June.
Starting with today’s payment, recipients will also benefit from a 25 per cent increase in quarterly amounts. The federal government says that boost will remain in place for the next five years.
Support tied to household income and family size
How much a household receives depends on several factors, including marital status and the number of children in the home.
Annual benefit amounts can range from a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand dollars per family.
The payments are targeted at lower-income households and are intended to help offset the rising cost of essential goods.
Affordability remains a federal focus
Prime Minister Mark Carney first announced the affordability measure in January, positioning it as a response to ongoing economic uncertainty and higher prices for necessities.
The enhanced benefit is one of the federal government’s efforts to provide additional financial relief to Canadians facing increased household costs.