If you work and earn a low income, the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) can pay a single person up to $1,633 and a family up to $2,813. These are the amounts for the 2025 tax year, claimed on the return filed in 2026.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays it when you file your taxes. Up to half can come early as the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB). This guide covers who qualifies, how much you can get, the disability supplement and how to claim it.
- Basic CWB: available to all eligible workers
- CWB disability supplement: an additional amount for workers eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC)
You claim the CWB when you file your yearly tax return. If you qualify, the CRA can also pay up to 50% of your CWB early through the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB). See ACWB payment dates for 2026 and how the advance works.
What CWB pays · 2025 tax year
up to$1,633a year
for a single worker · 2025 tax year, return filed in 2026
Familiesup to $2,813 a year
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Key facts · 5 facts · checked October 23, 2026ShowHide
- 2025 tax year (return filed in 2026): up to $1,633 for a single person and $2,813 for a family.
- 2026 tax year (return filed in 2027): up to $1,665 single and $2,869 family, after a 2.0% inflation increase.
- Disability supplement: up to $843 for 2025 and $860 for 2026 with an approved disability tax credit.
- For 2025 the basic amount starts to shrink above $26,855 of net income for a single person and $30,639 for a family.
- Advance payments came on January 12, July 10 and October 9, 2026.
Main source: Canada workers benefit: How much you can get (Government of Canada)
Who Qualifies for the Canada Workers Benefit?
Basic Eligibility
You may qualify for the CWB if you meet all of the following:
- You are a resident of Canada throughout the tax year
- You are 19 or older on December 31, or you live with a spouse or common-law partner, or you are a parent living with your child
- You had working income (employment or self-employment) during the year
- Your net income is below the limit for your family status and province or territory
- You are not enrolled as a full-time student at a designated institution for more than 13 weeks in the year (unless you have an eligible dependant on December 31)
- You are not confined to a prison or similar institution for 90 days or more during the year
Income Thresholds (2025 Tax Year)
These are the 2025 tax year amounts, claimed on the return filed in 2026, for every province and territory except Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta:
You need at least $3,000 of working income to get the basic amount.
The basic amount then shrinks as your net income rises:
| 2025 tax year | Single person | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Most you can get (basic amount) | $1,633 | $2,813 |
| Starts to go down above (adjusted net income) | $26,855 | $30,639 |
| Nothing above (adjusted net income) | $37,742 | $49,393 |
| Minimum working income | $3,000 | $3,000 |
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Who does not qualify. You cannot get the CWB if any of these apply:
You were a full-time student at a designated school for more than 13 weeks in the year, unless you had an eligible dependant on December 31. You were in prison or a similar institution for 90 days or more in the year.
Other cases where you cannot get it
You do not pay tax in Canada because you are a diplomat or an officer of another country. The same applies to a family member or employee of such a person. You also need working income: pensions, social assistance, Employment Insurance and investment income do not count.
Residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta can get the CWB, but their amounts are different. Check the CRA's Schedule 6 for your province or territory.
How Much Can You Get?
Basic CWB Amounts
| Basic CWB | Single person | Family |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 tax year (return filed in 2026) | Up to $1,633 | Up to $2,813 |
| 2026 tax year (return filed in 2027) | Up to $1,665 | Up to $2,869 |
| Phase-in | 27% of working income over $3,000 | 27% of working income over $3,000 |
| Phase-out | 15% of net income over the limit | 15% of family net income over the limit |
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CWB Disability Supplement
You may be approved for the disability tax credit (DTC), which means the CRA has your approved Form T2201. Then you can also get a disability supplement:
| Disability supplement | Most you can get | Starts to go down above (single) | Starts to go down above (family) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 tax year | $843 | $37,740 | $49,389 |
| 2026 tax year | $860 | $38,495 | $50,377 |
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The supplement builds up and shrinks the same way as the basic amount, with its own limits. For the 2025 tax year, a single worker approved for the DTC can get up to $2,476 in total: $1,633 plus $843.
Phase-In and Phase-Out Explained
The CWB is worked out in two stages. Phase-in: for every dollar of working income over $3,000, you get 27 cents, up to the maximum. A single person reaches the full $1,633 at about $9,050 of working income.
Phase-out: once your adjusted net income passes the limit ($26,855 for a single person in 2025), the benefit drops by 15 cents for every dollar over it. A single person gets nothing above $37,742.
How the CWB Is Calculated: Step by Step
Here's a concrete example for a single worker:
- Inputs:
- Working income: $18,000
- Net income: $18,000
- Province: Ontario
- Step 1, phase-in: 27% × ($18,000 minus $3,000) = 27% × $15,000 = $4,050
- But the maximum for a single person for 2025 is $1,633, so the phase-in stops at $1,633.
- Step 2, phase-out: net income ($18,000) is below the $26,855 limit, so there is no reduction.
- Result: this worker gets the full CWB of $1,633 for 2025.
- If the same worker earned $32,000:
- Phase-in: still capped at $1,633
- Phase-out: 15% × ($32,000 minus $26,855) = 15% × $5,145 = $771.75
- CWB: $1,633 minus $771.75 = $861.25
How to Claim the CWB
You claim the CWB on Schedule 6 of your tax return. File your yearly return and report all working income: employment income from your T4 slips and self-employment income on Form T2125.
Most tax software fills in Schedule 6 for you. If you file on paper, fill out Schedule 6 and attach it. The CRA decides whether you qualify when you file your return.
The CWB is part of your refund. If you got advance payments (the ACWB), you report them from your RC210 slip on Schedule 6, and the CRA pays the rest of your CWB.
Disability supplement: you need an approved Form T2201 (Disability Tax Credit Certificate) on file. If only one spouse has the DTC, that person claims both the basic amount and the supplement. If you think you qualify for the DTC but have not applied, ask your medical practitioner about Form T2201.
CWB vs. ACWB: What's the Difference?
The two are often confused. The ACWB is not a separate benefit: it is part of your CWB, paid early.
Here is how they compare:
| Feature | CWB | ACWB |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Yearly refundable tax credit | Advance payments of up to 50% of your CWB |
| When you get it | At tax time, with your refund | 3 payments a year: July, October and January |
| How to get it | Claim it on Schedule 6 of your return | Automatic, no application |
| Amount | Your full yearly amount | Up to half of it, paid early |
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When you file, the CRA compares the advances you got with your full CWB. You report the advances from your RC210 slip on Schedule 6.
Think of the CWB as the total benefit and the ACWB as a way to get up to half of it early. Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) 2026: payment dates and how advances work
Provincial Differences
The CWB amounts and thresholds above apply to most provinces and territories. Three jurisdictions have their own specific CWB parameters:
- Quebec: the CWB has its own amounts for Quebec residents, set with the province.
- Nunavut: the CWB has its own amounts for Nunavut residents.
- Alberta: the CWB has its own amounts for Alberta residents.
If you live in one of these places, the CRA uses that province's or territory's amounts, and you use the Schedule 6 made for it. BenefitCheck estimates federal benefits for anyone in Canada; provincial programs are calculated for Ontario only for now.
Worked examples
Example 1: single gig worker
Example: a 27-year-old delivery driver who moved from Montreal to Ontario in November 2025, so he files as an Ontario resident. His 2025 net self-employment income was $14,500. He is single with no children.
CWB calculation
- Phase-in: 27% × ($14,500 minus $3,000) = $3,105, so he reaches the $1,633 maximum
- Phase-out: $14,500 is below the $26,855 limit, so there is no reduction
- CWB for 2025: $1,633 (the maximum)
- After his 2025 return is assessed, the CRA can also send up to half of his CWB early as advance payments in July, October and January.
He may also get the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (the former GST/HST credit) and the Ontario Trillium Benefit. See GST/HST credit eligibility for 2026 and Ontario Trillium Benefit eligibility for 2026.
Example 2: family with the disability supplement
Example: a couple in Hamilton with two children. One partner works as a janitor and earns $24,000; he has an approved disability tax credit certificate (Form T2201). The other partner does not work. Their adjusted family net income is $24,000.
Basic CWB (family)
- Phase-in: 27% × ($24,000 minus $3,000) = $5,670, so they reach the $2,813 family maximum
- Phase-out: $24,000 is below the $30,639 family limit, so there is no reduction
- Basic CWB for 2025: $2,813
- Disability supplement:
- The working partner qualifies for the DTC, so he claims both the basic amount and the supplement
- Maximum for 2025: $843
- Total CWB and supplement for 2025: $3,656
Once their return is assessed, the CRA can pay up to half of their next CWB early as advance payments (the ACWB). That includes half of the supplement, and the rest is settled when they file their next return. They can also get the Canada Child Benefit for both children. How to check CCB eligibility in 2026
Questions people ask
What to Do Next
File your tax return every year and report all working income. The CRA uses it to work out your CWB and your advance payments. To get advances for a July to June period, the CRA must receive your return before November 1 of that period. Why filing your taxes keeps your benefits coming
If you have a disability, apply for the DTC. Ask your medical practitioner to fill out Form T2201. The disability supplement is worth up to $843 for 2025 and $860 for 2026.
Check your notice of assessment after filing to confirm the CWB was included. Then use BenefitCheck to see your estimated CWB and the other benefits you may qualify for. How the government benefits calculator works
Questions people ask
Can I get CWB if I'm self-employed?
Yes. Net self-employment income counts as working income for CWB purposes. You'll need net income above $3,000 after business expenses. Report your self-employment income on your tax return as usual.
I only worked for part of the year. Do I still qualify?
Yes. There is no rule that you must work the full year. If your working income for the year is more than $3,000 and your net income is below the limit, you qualify. Even a few months of work can make you eligible.
Can I get CWB and social assistance at the same time?
Yes. Getting social assistance (Ontario Works, ODSP and similar programs) does not stop you from getting the CWB, as long as you also have working income. Social assistance does not count as working income, so you need at least $3,000 from a job or self-employment.
My spouse doesn't work. Can we still get the family CWB?
Only one spouse needs working income. The CWB family amount is based on the family's combined net income. If one spouse works and the other doesn't, the working spouse's income is used for both the phase-in (working income) and the phase-out (family net income).
What if the CRA didn't include CWB in my assessment?
The CRA is supposed to automatically calculate the basic CWB even if you don't complete Schedule 6. If you believe you were missed, check your Notice of Assessment. If CWB isn't listed, you can request a reassessment or call the CRA. For the disability supplement specifically, you must have a valid T2201 on file.
How much is the Canada Workers Benefit in 2026?
For the 2025 tax year, claimed on the return filed in 2026, the basic CWB is up to $1,633 for a single person and $2,813 for a family. For work in 2026, claimed in 2027, the CRA raised the maximums to $1,665 and $2,869. A worker approved for the disability tax credit can also get a supplement of up to $843 for 2025 and $860 for 2026.
When is the Canada Workers Benefit paid?
The CWB is paid when you file your tax return, as part of your refund. Up to half can come early as the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit, in three payments a year. In 2026 these came on January 12, July 10 and October 9. You do not apply for the advance: the CRA sends it if your return shows you are entitled.
Is the Canada Workers Benefit indexed for 2026?
Yes. The CRA raised the 2026 CWB amounts by 2.0% for inflation. The basic maximum went from $1,633 to $1,665 for a single person and from $2,813 to $2,869 for a family. The single phase-out starts at $27,392 of adjusted net income instead of $26,855. You claim the 2026 amounts on the return you file in 2027.