As a newcomer to Canada, you can apply for some government benefits as soon as you arrive, before your first tax return. For families, the largest is usually the Canada Child Benefit (CCB): up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6. That maximum is for July 2026 to June 2027.
Adults with a low or modest income can also get the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). Temporary residents wait longer for the CCB: they need 18 months in Canada first.
This guide covers each program for newcomers in Ontario: who can get it, how much it pays and which form to use. The amounts are the official maximums for the period shown. Your own amount depends on your income and family.
The short answer
As a newcomer to Canada, you can apply for some benefits as soon as you arrive, before your first tax return. Families can get the Canada Child Benefit (CCB): up to $8,157 a year per child under 6.
Checked October 23, 2026
What is your number?
Check what I qualify for →Free estimate · about 2 minutes · no sign-up
Key facts · 5 facts · checked October 23, 2026ShowHide
- CCB: up to $8,157 a year per child under 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17, for July 2026 to June 2027.
- CGEB: up to $679 for a single person and $890 for a couple, plus $234 per child, for July 2026 to June 2027.
- Apply on arrival: Form RC66 with Schedule RC66SCH for the CCB, Form RC151 for the CGEB.
- Temporary residents need 18 months in Canada and a valid permit in the 19th month for the CCB.
- File a tax return every year, even with no income, to keep your benefits.
Main source: Newcomers to Canada (immigrants): CRA
The most important thing you can do: file a tax return
Before diving into specific programs, here's the single most important piece of advice for newcomers: file a Canadian tax return as soon as you're eligible, even if you had zero income in Canada.
Most benefits, including the Canada Child Benefit, the CGEB and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, are calculated from your tax return. To keep getting them, file a return every year, even if you have no income.
The CRA says newcomers do not have to file until the year after they become residents for tax purposes. Your first return covers the part of the year after you became a resident. For example, if you arrived in September 2026, your first return is for 2026 and you file it in spring 2027.
No income? File anyway. A nil return (reporting $0 income) is what triggers benefit eligibility for most programs.
Benefits you can access as a newcomer
Here's an overview of the major programs, who qualifies, and how to access them:
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. For July 2026 to June 2027, it pays up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and up to $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17. You get the full amount when adjusted family net income is $38,237 or less.
Newcomer eligibility: Permanent residents and protected persons can apply as soon as they arrive. You do not need to wait for your first tax return. Temporary residents must first have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month. See the 18-month rule for temporary residents.
How to apply:
- At birth registration (if your child is born in Canada): consent to share information with the CRA
- Newcomers: mail Form RC66 to your tax centre with Schedule RC66SCH, Status in Canada/Statement of Income
- If your spouse or partner was not a resident for part of a year, also send Form CTB9 for that year
Timeline: CRA typically processes applications within 8 weeks. Once approved, payments are retroactive to the date you became eligible or the date of application, whichever is later.
Example: Priya landed in Ontario as a permanent resident with 2 children, ages 3 and 7, and a family income of $35,000.
- Estimated CCB: up to $15,040 a year ($8,157 + $6,883) for July 2026 to June 2027
- That is about $1,253 a month, paid on top of any employment income and tax-free
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly GST/HST credit)
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026. It is a tax-free payment made four times a year to people with low and modest incomes. For July 2026 to June 2027, it pays up to $679 for a single person and up to $890 for a couple, plus up to $234 for each child under 19.
Newcomer eligibility: You can apply as soon as you arrive, before your first tax return. Use Form RC151, Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Application for Individuals Who Became Residents of Canada. If you can get the Canada Child Benefit, apply with Form RC66 instead, because the CRA uses it for the CGEB too. You must be at least 19, or have a spouse or partner, or be a parent who lives with your child.
How to apply: Without children, use the RC151 web form. With children, mail RC151 with proof of birth, or use RC66 if you can get the Canada Child Benefit. After that, file a tax return every year so the CRA can keep calculating your payments.
Payment dates 2026: January 5 and April 2 (paid as the GST/HST credit), then July 3 and October 5. See all GST/HST credit and CGEB payment dates.
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)
The Ontario Trillium Benefit combines three credits into one monthly payment. They are the Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC), the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC). For the 2026 OTB, paid from July 2026 to June 2027, the OSTC is up to $378 per person. The OEPTC is up to $1,307 for people aged 18 to 64 and up to $1,488 for people 65 or older.
Newcomer eligibility: It is for Ontario residents who file a tax return. The energy and property tax part needs rent or property tax paid for your home in Ontario in the year before. The sales tax part does not need rent.
How to apply: File your Ontario tax return and claim the credits on your Schedule ON-BEN. If you paid rent, you'll need your landlord's name and address (you do not need official receipts).
Tip for newcomers who rent: Many newcomers don't realize that the rent they pay qualifies them for the OEPTC. Even in your first partial year, you can claim the months you paid rent.
Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)
The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit for low-income workers earning above $3,000/year. If you worked in Canada during the tax year, even for part of the year, you may qualify.
How it works: CWB phases in at 27% of working income above $3,000. A single worker earning $20,000 could receive approximately $1,633 for the 2025 tax year, paid partly as advance payments (ACWB) and partly on your tax return.
How to apply: CWB is calculated automatically when you file your tax return. No separate application needed.
Old Age Security (OAS) for newcomers aged 65+
If you arrived in Canada at or near retirement age, OAS eligibility depends on your years of Canadian residence:
- 10+ years after age 18: Eligible for partial OAS (1/40th per year of residence)
- 20+ years after age 18: Can receive OAS even if you leave Canada
- 40+ years after age 18: Full OAS pension
Canada has social security agreements with over 60 countries. If you lived or worked in a country with an agreement, those years may count toward your OAS eligibility.
For newcomer seniors: Even if you're not yet eligible for OAS, you may qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) once you meet the 10-year residency requirement. In the meantime, Ontario-specific programs like Ontario Works may provide bridge support.
Step-by-step: what to do in your first 12 months
Here's the recommended order of actions for newcomers arriving in Ontario:
Month 1 to 2 (right after arrival):
- Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN). You need it, or a temporary tax number, to get benefit payments
- If you have children, apply for the Canada Child Benefit (Form RC66 and Schedule RC66SCH). Do not wait for tax season
- If you have no children, apply for the CGEB with Form RC151
- Open a Canadian bank account and set up CRA direct deposit
- Apply for your Ontario health card (OHIP)
Tax season (February to April of the following year):
- File your first Canadian tax return, even if you had zero Canadian income
- Claim the Ontario Trillium Benefit on Form ON-BEN, with the rent or property tax you paid
- CWB will be calculated automatically from your employment income
After filing:
- Benefits keep arriving: CCB monthly, CGEB four times a year, OTB monthly
- Use Benefit Check to verify you're receiving everything you qualify for
Common misconceptions newcomers have
"I can't get benefits because I haven't been here long enough." False for most programs. Permanent residents and protected persons can apply for the CCB and the CGEB right away. The OTB and the CWB follow from the first tax return.
Temporary residents wait 18 months for the CCB. OAS needs at least 10 years in Canada after age 18.
"I need to be a citizen to get benefits." False. Permanent residents, protected persons and many temporary residents can get most federal and provincial benefits. What matters is being a "resident of Canada for tax purposes" and, for the CCB, your status.
"I had no income in Canada, so I don't need to file taxes." This is the most expensive misconception. Filing a return, even with zero income, is what keeps the CCB, the CGEB and the OTB coming. No return = no benefits.
"My income from my home country will disqualify me." Not necessarily, but it does count. The CRA asks newcomers to report income earned outside Canada for up to two years before they became residents.
You report it on a Statement of Income, in Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada exchange rate. You do not pay Canadian tax on income you earned before you became a resident.
"Settlement agencies will apply for me." Settlement agencies can help with forms and guidance. But you are responsible for filing your own tax return and benefit applications. Many offer free tax clinics during filing season.
How Benefit Check helps newcomers
Benefit Check was designed with newcomers in mind. The calculator:
- Estimates eligibility for 22+ federal and provincial programs in one place
- Shows which programs you can access immediately vs those that require time
- Calculates approximate amounts based on your family size, income, and situation
- Requires no CRA account, SIN, or existing tax history: just answer a few questions
Many newcomers discover programs they have never heard of. One is the Ontario Electricity Support Program, which takes $35 to $75 a month off your electricity bill. Another, if it applies to you, is the Canada Disability Benefit.
FAQ
What government benefits can newcomers to Canada get?
Most newcomers can apply for the Canada Child Benefit, if they have children and meet the status rules, and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit as soon as they arrive. After the first tax return, Ontario residents can also get the Ontario Trillium Benefit, and low-income workers the Canada Workers Benefit. Old Age Security needs at least 10 years in Canada after age 18.
Can I apply for CCB before filing my first tax return?
Yes, if you are a permanent resident or a protected person. Mail Form RC66 with Schedule RC66SCH, Status in Canada/Statement of Income, to your tax centre as soon as you arrive. Your tax returns then keep your amount up to date. Temporary residents must wait until they have lived in Canada for 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month.
Do international students qualify for benefits?
Some. An international student who is a resident of Canada for tax purposes and at least 19 can apply for the CGEB with Form RC151. For the Canada Child Benefit, students are temporary residents, so they must have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month. Each program has its own residency rules.
Does my pre-Canada income affect my benefits?
Yes, it can. To get benefit payments, the CRA asks newcomers to report income earned outside Canada for up to two years before they became residents, on a Statement of Income. Convert it to Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada exchange rate. You do not pay Canadian tax on income you earned before you became a resident.
How long does it take to receive benefits after arriving?
CCB: approximately 8 weeks after application (you can apply as soon as you arrive). CGEB: apply with Form RC151 when you arrive; it is paid four times a year, in January, April, July and October. OTB: after your first tax return is assessed. CWB: paid on your tax return or as advance payments (ACWB) in January, July and October.
Where can I get free help with my first tax return?
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) offers free tax preparation across Canada. Many settlement agencies also run tax clinics for newcomers from February to April. You can find a CVITP clinic near you on the CRA website. Libraries and community centres often host sessions as well.