Government Benefits Payment Dates: April 2026 Complete Calendar

April 2026 is one of the busiest months of the year for government benefit payments. Between federal programs and Ontario provincial benefits, up to 9 separate payments land in your account this month — starting with the GST/HST credit on April 2 and ending with ODSP on April 30.

If you rely on multiple programs, knowing which payment lands on which day is the difference between covering your bills on time and scrambling to make up a gap. This is the only calendar that puts every federal and Ontario payment in one place — including programs that most other guides leave out.

Here is your complete April 2026.

That is 9 payments across 7 distinct calendar days. If you qualify for several of these, April delivers money almost every week.

Two critical dates to get right:

The quarterly GST/HST credit lands on April 2, 2026. As of February 2026, this program has been officially renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) under Bill C-19, which received Royal Assent on February 12, 2026.

The name changed but the April payment amount stays the same as previously scheduled:

What's changing next: Bill C-19 includes two significant boosts. First, a one-time 50% top-up of your 2025–26 CGEB amount, to be issued by June 2026. Second, a permanent 25% increase starting with the July 2026 payment cycle, lasting 5 years. For a single person, that means quarterly payments rising from ~$133 to ~$166 starting July.

For the full schedule and eligibility details, see our GST/HST credit payment dates guide.

The OTB pays on April 10, 2026 and combines three Ontario tax credits into one monthly payment:

The combined OTB can deliver up to approximately $269 per month depending on your income, housing costs, and location. If you rent, the OEPTC alone can contribute significantly — and many people who qualify don't realise it because they never filed a tax return or didn't report rent paid.

For everything you need to know about OTB, see our Ontario Trillium Benefit guide.

The CDB pays on April 16, 2026. This is a relatively new federal program providing income-tested payments to working-age Canadians with disabilities who hold a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate.

The CDB is fully exempt from both ODSP and Ontario Works calculations — it does not reduce your provincial benefits. For ODSP recipients, this means the CDB is extra money on top of your $1,408 (single) payment.

If you receive ODSP but haven't applied for the DTC, this is worth investigating. The DTC application requires medical documentation, but once approved, it unlocks the CDB plus other federal credits.

The CCB pays on April 20, 2026. This is the single largest benefit for most families with children:

CCB is income-tested — it reduces as family net income rises above approximately $36,502. But for families on OW or ODSP, CCB is typically paid at or near the maximum, and it is fully exempt from both programs. It does not reduce your social assistance payment at all.

Why July matters: Every July, the CRA recalculates your CCB based on your most recently assessed tax return. If your income dropped in 2025, your CCB will likely increase in July 2026. If you didn't file your 2025 return, your CCB could stop entirely in July. This is why filing your taxes is non-negotiable.

For the full CCB schedule, see our CCB payment dates 2026 guide.

Both CPP and OAS/GIS pay on April 28, 2026.

CPP pays up to $1,507.65 per month at age 65 (2026 maximum). Most people receive less — the average CPP retirement pension is closer to $800–$900/month. The exact amount depends on your contribution history.

OAS pays up to $742.31 per month for people aged 65–74, and $816.54 for those 75 and older. OAS increased by 0.1% for the April–June 2026 quarter (2.1% year-over-year). OAS is not contribution-based — it's funded by general tax revenue and available to nearly all Canadian residents who have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18.

GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement) is an additional payment for low-income OAS recipients. A single senior receiving maximum GIS plus OAS can receive over $1,800 per month combined. GIS is income-tested and recalculated every July based on your tax return — another reason filing taxes matters for seniors.

For seniors' benefit details, see our OAS and GIS payment dates guide.

Veterans receiving a disability pension from Veterans Affairs Canada will see their payment on April 29, 2026. The amount varies based on the assessed level of disability and is separate from other federal benefits like CPP or OAS.

ODSP pays the April benefit on April 30, 2026 — the last business day of the current month. A single person receives up to $1,408 ($809 basic needs + $599 shelter maximum).

This is different from Ontario Works, which already paid the April benefit on March 31. The timing difference exists because OW pays at the end of the prior month, while ODSP pays at the end of the current month. If you're transitioning between programs, expect a gap or overlap in payment timing.

For ODSP rates and the $1,000 earnings exemption, see our ODSP rates guide. For shelter allowance details, see our ODSP shelter allowance guide.

If you're on Ontario Works and you're looking at this April calendar wondering where your payment is — it already arrived. Your April OW payment was issued on March 31, 2026.

This is the single most confusing thing about Ontario benefit payments, and almost every website gets it wrong or ignores it entirely. Here is the rule:

Both programs pay monthly. Both cover the same month. But they arrive 30 days apart.

Why this matters: If you're switching from OW to ODSP (or vice versa), you need to plan for this gap. Going from OW to ODSP means your first ODSP payment arrives at the end of the month instead of the beginning — potentially a 30-day wait without income. Talk to your caseworker about bridging payments if you're making a transition.

For the full OW schedule, see our Ontario Works payment dates 2026 guide.

Not every benefit pays every month. Here are the programs you will not receive in April:

Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB): Only 3 payments per year — January, July, and October. The next ACWB payment is July 10, 2026. For details, see our ACWB guide.

Canada Carbon Rebate: This program has been discontinued. The last payment was April 2025. It will not return in 2026.

Alberta Child and Family Benefit / BC Climate Action Tax Credit: These are provincial programs for Alberta and British Columbia residents. They do not apply to Ontario. The next Alberta payment is May 27, 2026.

The biggest benefits news of 2026 is Bill C-19, which passed on February 12, 2026. Here is what it changes:

Immediate: The GST/HST credit has been renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). The April 2, 2026, payment is already under this new name, though the amount for this quarter remains unchanged.

By June 2026: A one-time 50% top-up based on your 2025–26 CGEB entitlement. For a single person receiving the standard ~$533/year, the top-up would be approximately $266 as a lump sum.

Starting July 2026: The CGEB increases by 25% permanently for 5 years. Quarterly payments for a single person would rise from ~$133 to approximately $166. For a couple, from ~$174 to ~$218.

This is significant for anyone on OW or ODSP because the CGEB is fully exempt — none of it reduces your provincial benefits. The 25% increase means an extra ~$132 per year for a single person, starting July.

Different programs have different agencies and different wait times before you should follow up:

Tip: If you use direct deposit, most CRA payments arrive overnight — between midnight and 6 AM on the payment date. If it's not there by noon, check CRA My Account before calling. Service Canada payments (CPP, OAS) typically arrive the same morning. ODSP and OW timing varies by bank but is usually by 5 AM.

Nobody shows you what April actually looks like for real people. Here are three scenarios using verified 2026 amounts:

Marcus lives alone in Hamilton, pays $700/month rent, and receives ODSP.

Marcus receives 4 separate payments across the month. His ODSP shelter is capped at $599 even though his rent is $700 — he covers the $101 gap from his basic needs. But his total April income from all sources is approximately $1,821, not just the $1,408 ODSP number people usually see.

Fatima lives in Mississauga, earns $800/month part-time, and receives OW. Her two children are ages 3 (under 6) and 7 (6–17).

Fatima's OW payment is reduced because of her earnings (after the $200 exemption and 50% clawback), but her total April income is over $3,100. The CCB alone — $1,229 for two children — exceeds her OW payment. This is why benefit stacking matters more than any single program.

How her OW is calculated: $800 earnings − $200 exemption = $600 subject to clawback. 50% of $600 = $300 deducted. Her base OW (single parent + 2 children, approximately $1,160) minus $300 = ~$860. But her actual OW amount depends on her exact shelter costs and family composition. For a personalized calculation, use the BenefitCheck calculator.

Helen and Robert live in Ottawa. Robert worked for 35 years; Helen worked part-time for 15 years. They own their home.

April 28 is a big day for Helen and Robert — four deposits land at once. If their combined income is low enough to qualify for GIS, their total could be significantly higher. Note that OAS increased 0.1% for the April–June quarter.

For seniors' benefits details, see our OAS and GIS guide.