Canada Workers Benefit: 2025 Amounts, Who Qualifies and Advance Payments
The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit for people who work and earn a low income. You claim it on your tax return, and part of it can arrive in advance during the year.
- Amounts checked October 28, 2026
- By Krish Paul
- 9 min read
On this page
This guide covers who qualifies, the 2025 amounts, how income changes what you get, and how the advance payments work.
The short answer
For the 2025 tax year, the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) pays up to $1,633 if you are single or $2,813 for a family, plus up to $843 more if you qualify for the disability tax credit. You claim it on your tax return. It shrinks by 15 cents for every dollar of adjusted net income above $26,855 for a single person or $30,639 for a family.
Those figures apply everywhere except Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut, which have their own amounts. If you are eligible, the CRA pays up to half of the benefit in advance in July, October and January, with no extra application.
Who qualifies for the Canada Workers Benefit
The CRA eligibility page says you must meet all of these conditions for the basic amount:
- You have working income. Under the Income Tax Act, that means employment income, income from a business you run, and certain taxable scholarships, research grants and training payments. Pensions, EI and investment income are not on that list, but they still count toward your net income.
- Your net income is under the limit for your province or territory.
- You lived in Canada for the whole year as a resident.
- You are 19 or older on December 31, or you live with your spouse, common-law partner or child.
You cannot claim the CWB if any of these apply:
- You were a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the year, unless you had an eligible dependant on December 31.
- You were confined to a prison or similar institution for at least 90 days in the year.
- You do not have to pay tax in Canada because you are a diplomat or similar official of another country, or a family member or employee of one.
When you count as a family
You claim the family amount if you have an eligible spouse or an eligible dependant. An eligible spouse lives with you on December 31 and was a resident of Canada all year. An eligible dependant is your child, or your partner’s, who is under 19, lives with you on December 31, and is not eligible for the CWB themselves. A spouse who was a full-time student for more than 13 weeks, or in prison for 90 days or more, does not count as eligible.
The disability supplement
You can add the disability supplement if you are eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC), with an approved Form T2201 on file with the CRA, and your net income is below the supplement limit. If you do not have DTC approval yet, you cannot get the supplement.
How much you can get for the 2025 tax year
The CRA amounts page lists these figures for the 2025 tax year, which is the return most people filed in spring 2026.
| Part of the benefit | Single | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Basic amount, maximum | $1,633 | $2,813 |
| Basic amount starts to shrink above | $26,855 | $30,639 |
| No basic amount above | $37,742 | $49,393 |
| Disability supplement, maximum | $843 | $843 |
| Supplement starts to shrink above | $37,740 | $49,389 |
| No supplement above | $43,360 | $55,009 |
Source: CRA, How much you can get, modified 2026-04-08. Income means adjusted net income, or adjusted family net income for a family. If both spouses are eligible for the DTC, the family supplement ends at $60,629 instead of $55,009.
Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut
These three have their own versions of the benefit, so the income limits are different. Here are the net income levels above which no basic amount is paid for 2025, from the CRA eligibility page.
| Household | Rest of Canada | Quebec | Alberta | Nunavut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family with children | $49,393 | $41,048.90 | $50,232 | $67,365 |
| Family without children | $49,393 | $51,504.09 | $50,232 | $67,365 |
| Single with children | $49,393 | $24,561.56 | $50,232 | $67,365 |
| Single without children | $37,742 | $33,230.35 | $37,826 | $67,367 |
Source: CRA, Who is eligible, modified 2026-04-08. The maximum amounts in these three also differ, and the CRA does not list them on its amounts page. Use the Schedule 6 version for your province or territory.
How your income changes the amount
The formula is set out in section 122.7 of the Income Tax Act. It works in two stages. The CRA figures above are the indexed results for 2025.
- It builds up as you earn. You get 27% of your working income above $3,000, until you reach the maximum. For a single person in 2025 that happens at about $9,048 of working income.
- It shrinks as your income rises. Once your adjusted net income passes the threshold, the benefit goes down by 15% of the income above it. For a family, the threshold applies to the combined income of you and your spouse.
- The supplement works the same way. It builds at 27% of working income above $1,150 and shrinks by 15% above its own threshold. If both spouses qualify for the DTC, each supplement shrinks at 7.5% instead.
The $3,000 and $1,150 starting points are written into the Act and are not on the list of amounts that section 117.1 adjusts for inflation each year. The maximums and the income thresholds are adjusted.
A worked example
Take a hypothetical single person in Ontario with no children. In 2025 she earned $30,000 from a part-time job and had no other income, so her adjusted net income is also $30,000.
- Build-up: 27% of her working income above $3,000 is far more than $1,633, so she starts from the full $1,633.
- Reduction: her income is $3,145 above the $26,855 threshold. 15% of $3,145 is $471.75.
- Result: $1,633 minus $471.75 is $1,161.25 for the 2025 tax year.
If she qualifies for advance payments, up to half of the benefit is paid ahead of time across the three payments. Half of $1,161.25 is about $580.
Now take someone at the other end. A single person who earned only $6,000 from work gets 27% of the $3,000 above the starting point, which is $810. Their income is well under the threshold, so nothing is taken off.
Basic amount at different incomes
| Income, all from work | Basic CWB for 2025 |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $540 |
| $8,000 | $1,350 |
| $15,000 | $1,633 |
| $26,855 | $1,633 |
| $30,000 | $1,161.25 |
| $34,000 | $561.25 |
| $37,742 | $0 |
Hypothetical amounts for a single person with no eligible dependant, outside Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut, calculated by Gizly. Your own result comes from Schedule 6 on your return.
How to claim it
There is no separate application. You claim the CWB on your return. According to the CRA claim page, paper filers fill out Schedule 6 and enter the result on line 45300. If you file online, your certified tax software does the schedule when you answer its questions.
- Couples: only one of you can claim the basic amount. If one spouse is eligible for the DTC, that person claims both the basic amount and the supplement. If both are eligible, each claims their own supplement on a separate Schedule 6.
- File even with a small income. The CRA says you should do your taxes every year even if you owe nothing. Without a return, it cannot calculate your benefits.
If your income is modest and your taxes are simple, a volunteer at a free tax clinic may be able to file for you. The CRA also invites some lower-income people to file through SimpleFile by answering a few questions, as its page for modest-income individuals explains.
Advance payments and payment dates
The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) pays up to 50% of your CWB ahead of time. If you get the disability supplement, half of it is paid along with the basic advance. You do not apply. The CRA decides when it processes your return.
- The benefit period runs from July to the following June. To get advance payments in a period, the CRA must receive your return before November 1 of that period.
- There are three payments a year. The CRA listed these dates for 2026: January 12, July 10 and October 9. The January 2027 date was not yet posted when we checked.
- The rest comes at tax time. The remaining part is settled when you file your return for that year.
After the year ends, the CRA sends an RC210 slip showing the advance payments you received. You report that total on line 41500 of your return, and Schedule 6 accounts for it. The line 41500 page says you can also view the slip in My Account.
If a payment is late or wrong
The CRA’s payment dates page says to wait 10 working days after the payment date before you contact it. Check My Account first. It shows your next payment and your RC210 slip. If you moved or changed banks, update your address and direct deposit details there too.
Common mistakes that cost people the CWB
- Not filingThe CWB only comes through your return. No return means no benefit and no advance payments.
- Missing the student ruleMore than 13 weeks of full-time study rules you out, unless you have an eligible dependant on December 31.
- Both spouses claiming the basic amountOnly one of you can. Decide who claims it before you file.
- Forgetting the RC210 slipAdvance payments must be reported on line 41500, so your return is correct.
- Skipping the DTCThe supplement needs an approved Form T2201. Apply for the DTC first if you think you qualify.
Other benefits that use the same return
Several other benefits are worked out from the same return, so one filing can unlock more than one payment. If you have children, check the Canada Child Benefit. On a low income, also check the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. If you are approved for the DTC and are 18 to 64, look at the Canada Disability Benefit. If you lose your job, EI regular benefits may replace part of your earnings, although EI itself is not working income for the CWB.
On recent changes: the Spring Economic Update 2026 refers to the government’s commitment to introduce automatic federal benefits for lower-income people. That is a commitment, not a rule in force. For now, you still need to file a return to get the CWB.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Canada Workers Benefit for 2025?
For the 2025 tax year, the basic amount is up to $1,633 for a single person and up to $2,813 for a family. If you qualify for the disability tax credit, you can also get a disability supplement of up to $843. Amounts are different in Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut.
Who qualifies for the Canada Workers Benefit?
You need working income, net income below the limit for your province or territory, and Canadian residence for the whole year. You must be 19 or older on December 31, or live with a spouse, common-law partner or child. Full-time students for more than 13 weeks without an eligible dependant, people in prison for 90 days or more, and diplomats cannot claim it.
At what income does the Canada Workers Benefit stop?
Outside Quebec, Alberta and Nunavut, no basic amount is paid for 2025 once adjusted net income passes $37,742 for a single person or $49,393 for a family. The disability supplement stops at $43,360 for a single person.
How do I apply for the Canada Workers Benefit?
There is no separate application. You claim it on your income tax return using Schedule 6, and the result goes on line 45300. Tax software fills in the schedule for you if you answer its questions.
When are Canada Workers Benefit advance payments made?
Advance payments are made three times in each benefit period, in July, October and January. In 2026 the dates were January 12, July 10 and October 9. You do not apply for them. The CRA decides when you file your return.
Do I have to report Canada Workers Benefit advance payments?
Yes. The CRA sends you an RC210 slip showing the advance payments you received. You report the total on line 41500 of your return for that year. You can also see the slip in CRA My Account.
- Sources, checked October 28, 2026: CRA: Canada workers benefit, line 45300 (modified 2026-01-20); CRA: Who is eligible (modified 2026-04-08); CRA: How much you can get (modified 2026-04-08); CRA: How to claim (modified 2026-06-12); CRA: Line 41500, advance payments (modified 2026-01-20); CRA: Benefit payment dates (modified 2026-10-14); CRA: Modest income individuals (modified 2026-08-03); Income Tax Act, section 122.7 (current to 2026-09-30); Income Tax Act, section 117.1 (current to 2026-09-30); Spring Economic Update 2026, chapter 2.
- Method: The worked examples, the income table and the chart were calculated by script with the 27% and 15% rates in section 122.7 and the CRA 2025 maximum and thresholds. As a second check, the same rates reproduce every CRA cut-off: $37,742 and $49,393 for the basic amount, and $43,360, $55,009 and $60,629 for the supplement.
Important: This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your CWB is worked out on your own return, so confirm it with the CRA. Gizly is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. See our affiliate disclosure.
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