New Advanced Canada Workers Benefit Payment On October 9

The Canada Revenue Agency will deposit the next Advanced Canada Workers Benefit – ACWB payment on Friday, October 9, 2026, delivering the second of 3 annual advance installments to eligible low-income workers across Canada.

This October deposit is the final ACWB payment that will land in bank accounts during calendar year 2026, with the third installment of the current cycle not scheduled until January 2027.

Eligible single workers can receive up to $272.17 with this deposit, while qualifying families can receive up to $468.83, depending on their 2025 income tax return data and adjusted net income.

The payment arrives during a busy month for government benefits, alongside the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit on October 5, the Ontario Trillium Benefit on October 9, the Canada Disability Benefit on October 15, and the Canada Child Benefit on October 20.

What Is the Canada Workers Benefit

The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit designed to supplement the earnings of individuals and families who work but earn a low income.

The federal government introduced the CWB in 2019 as a replacement for the Working Income Tax Benefit, expanding both the maximum payment amounts and the number of Canadians who qualify.

The program has two components: a basic amount available to all eligible workers and a disability supplement for recipients who hold a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate (Form T2201) on file with the CRA.

Workers claim the full CWB on their annual tax return by completing Schedule 6, and up to 50% of the estimated annual benefit is paid in advance through the ACWB across three separate deposits during the benefit year.

The CRA determines ACWB eligibility automatically when a tax return is assessed, so no separate application is required to receive the advance payments.

How ACWB Advance Payments Work

The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit splits up to half of the total annual CWB entitlement into three installments spread across the benefit year, which runs from July through June of the following year.

The first installment for the current benefit cycle arrived on July 10, 2026, the second is scheduled for October 9, 2026, and the third will follow in January 2027.

The advance payments are calculated using the previous year’s CWB entitlement.

When recipients file their next annual tax return, the CRA calculates their actual CWB entitlement for that year and accounts for advance payments already received.

If the final entitlement exceeds the amount applied as advances, the remaining credit may be received through the tax return.

A lower final entitlement does not automatically require repayment of the difference, although payments issued incorrectly may still be subject to recovery.

Every advance payment in the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit period is calculated using information from the recipient’s 2025 tax return, which the CRA began applying when the new benefit year launched in July.

Recipients must be a resident of Canada on the first day of the payment quarter to remain eligible for that installment, and the CRA must have received the income tax return before November 1 of the benefit period.

Maximum CWB and ACWB Payment Amounts for the 2025 Tax Year

The CRA uses the 2025 tax-year CWB maximums to calculate advance payments issued during the current benefit period, including the October 9 deposit.

These amounts were confirmed on the official Canada Workers Benefit page after annual inflation indexation was applied.

Basic CWB Amount

Category	Max Annual CWB	Max ACWB (50%)	Per Installment (÷3)
Single individual	$1,633	$816.50	$272.17
Family	$2,813	$1,406.50	$468.83

Disability Supplement

Category	Max Annual Supplement	Max ACWB (50%)	Per Installment (÷3)
Single individual	$843	$421.50	$140.50
Family	$843	$421.50	$140.50

A single worker who qualifies for both the basic amount and the disability supplement can receive a combined maximum of $412.67 in the October 9 deposit ($272.17 basic plus $140.50 disability supplement).

A qualifying family with one Disability Tax Credit-eligible spouse can receive up to $609.33 in the October installment.

If both spouses qualify for the disability supplement, the combined family payment can reach $749.83, consisting of the $468.83 basic family amount and two disability supplements of $140.50 each.

The maximum amounts listed above apply to most provinces and territories across Canada, but residents of Quebec, Nunavut, and Alberta are subject to different CWB configurations with adjusted maximums and phase-out thresholds approved by the CRA.

Income Thresholds That Determine Your Canada Workers Benefit Payment

The CWB uses a phase-in and phase-out structure, meaning the benefit increases as working income rises from a low starting point and then decreases once adjusted net income crosses a specific threshold.

The CWB does not begin paying its maximum amount as soon as someone earns employment income.

For the 2025 tax year, the basic credit generally begins accumulating at 27% of eligible working income above $3,000 until the applicable maximum is reached.

It then decreases once adjusted net income exceeds the relevant phase-out threshold.

Basic Amount Phase-Out (2025 Tax Year)

Category	Phase-Out Begins	Benefit Reaches $0
Single individual	$26,855	$37,742
Family	$30,639	$49,393

Disability Supplement Phase-Out (2025 Tax Year)

Category	Phase-Out Begins	Benefit Reaches $0
Single individual	$37,740	$43,360
Family (one DTC-eligible)	$49,389	$55,009
Family (both DTC-eligible)	$49,389	$60,629

Workers whose adjusted net income falls between the phase-out start and the zero-benefit threshold receive a partial CWB, which translates into a smaller advance payment on October 9.

Self-employed workers are also eligible for the CWB, provided they earn at least some working income and meet all other requirements, with the same thresholds applying to their adjusted net income.

Who Qualifies for the October 9 ACWB Payment

The CRA requires all of the following conditions to be met for both the CWB and its advance payments.

You must be a resident of Canada throughout the entire 2025 tax year and on the first day of the October payment quarter.
You must be 19 years of age or older on December 31 of the tax year or live with a spouse, common-law partner, or your own child.
You must have earned working income from employment or self-employment during the tax year.
You cannot be a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the tax year, unless you have an eligible dependant.
You cannot be confined to a prison or similar institution for 90 or more consecutive days during the year.
You cannot be an individual who does not pay tax in Canada because of diplomatic privileges or because you are a family member or employee of such a person.

Only one spouse receives the basic family ACWB payment.

When neither spouse qualifies for the disability supplement, the payment goes to the spouse with the higher working income, or the first filer if their working incomes are equal.

When only one spouse qualifies for the disability supplement, that spouse receives both the basic family advance payment and their disability supplement.

If both spouses qualify, only one receives the basic family payment, but each receives their own disability supplement.

Complete ACWB Payment Schedule Through June 2027

ACWB payments follow a 3-instalment schedule each benefit year, with dates published on the CRA benefit payment calendar.

ACWB Payment Dates for the Current Cycle

Payment Date	Installment	Status
January 12, 2026	Final installment of previous cycle	Paid
July 10, 2026	First installment of current cycle	Paid
October 9, 2026	Second installment of current cycle	Upcoming

Installment	Projected Timing	Notes
Third installment of current cycle	January 11, 2027, exact date pending confirmation	Final installment of July 2026–June 2027 cycle

The CRA has not yet confirmed the exact January 2027 ACWB payment date on its official payment calendar.

When a scheduled issuance date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal statutory holiday, the CRA moves the payment to the last business day before that date.

What To Do if Your October 9 Payment Does Not Arrive

The CRA advises waiting 10 working days after the scheduled payment date before making contact about a missing ACWB deposit.

Recipients with direct deposit set up through CRA My Account typically sees the funds appear on the scheduled date itself, while those receiving payments by cheque should allow additional time for mail delivery.

If the payment still has not arrived after 10 working days, you can log into CRA My Account to verify your expected payment amount, confirm your direct deposit details, and check whether any changes to your file may have affected eligibility.

Common reasons for a missing or reduced ACWB payment include a change in marital status that was not reported, a reassessment of the previous tax return, emigration from Canada, or incarceration for 90 or more consecutive days.

Life Changes That Can Affect Your Advance Payments

The CRA applies a limited set of life events to active ACWB payments during the benefit year.

Death, incarceration for 90 consecutive days or more, and emigration from Canada are the three circumstances that immediately end eligibility for remaining advance installments.

Other changes such as a shift in marital status, a new eligible dependant, or a move between provinces will not automatically adjust the ACWB during the current benefit year unless you request a reassessment of your return and the CRA recalculates your CWB entitlement.

Any differences between the advance amounts received and the actual CWB entitlement are accounted for when you file your next annual tax return, though a lower final entitlement does not automatically create a repayment obligation.

How To Verify Your ACWB Payment Status

The CRA offers several tools to confirm whether you are receiving the correct ACWB amount.

CRA My Account displays your expected payment amounts, upcoming deposit dates, and any adjustments the agency has applied to your file.

The CRA’s Child and Family Benefits Calculator on Canada.ca can help eligible workers estimate advance payments based on their income and family circumstances.

You can also sign up to receive benefit and credit payment reminders from the CRA, which arrive approximately one week before each scheduled deposit.

Setting up direct deposit through CRA My Account remains the fastest way to receive your payments on the scheduled date, and it eliminates delays associated with mailed cheques.

The October 9, 2026, Advanced Canada Workers Benefit deposit represents a meaningful financial boost for low-income workers who depend on these advance payments to bridge gaps between paycheques.

With maximum individual installments reaching $272.17 for the basic benefit and $412.67 when the disability supplement is included, these payments can help eligible workers cover groceries, utilities, and transportation costs during a month already packed with rising living expenses across Canada.

The third and final installment of the current ACWB cycle is projected to arrive in January 2027, closing out the advance payment portion before the CRA accounts for all advances on the 2026 tax return filed in spring 2027.

Workers who have not yet filed their 2025 return should do so before October 31, 2026, to preserve their eligibility for that final advance deposit, and those already enrolled should verify their payment details through CRA My Account to confirm the October 9 amount matches expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I receive the October 9 ACWB payment if I started working in Canada partway through 2025?

Yes, provided you were a resident of Canada for the entire 2025 tax year, earned working income above the $3,000 threshold at which the credit begins accumulating, filed your 2025 return with Schedule 6 completed, and met all other eligibility conditions. The CWB does not require a full 12 months of employment income, but earnings must exceed $3,000 before the basic credit starts building at a 27% phase-in rate. The key factor is your total adjusted net income for the year relative to the phase-out thresholds, not the number of months you worked.

Will my ACWB payment be reduced if my income increased between 2024 and 2025?

It depends on whether your 2025 adjusted net income crosses into the phase-out range. The July 2026 to June 2027 ACWB payments are based entirely on your 2025 return, so an income increase from 2024 to 2025 could push your adjusted net income past the $26,855 single or $30,639 family threshold where the basic benefit begins to decrease. If your 2025 income rose above $37,742 as a single worker or $49,393 as a family, you would no longer qualify for any basic CWB amount, and the advance payments would stop accordingly.

What happens if I received ACWB payments during the year but it turns out I was not eligible for the CWB?

The CRA calculates your final Canada Workers Benefit entitlement when you file your annual tax return and accounts for advance payments already received. If your income increased and your final entitlement is lower, that does not automatically mean you must repay the difference. However, advances issued incorrectly because of inaccurate information or a reassessed entitlement may be recoverable. The CRA provides an RC210 statement showing the advance amounts to report on your return.

Does the October 9 ACWB payment count as income that could affect my eligibility for provincial benefits like ODSP or Ontario Works?

The Canada Workers Benefit is a non-taxable refundable tax credit. Under Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program rules, CWB payments are specifically exempt from income calculations. Receiving an ACWB payment therefore does not itself reduce an eligible recipient’s Ontario Works or ODSP income support. However, employment earnings used to qualify for the CWB are assessed separately under the applicable provincial social assistance rules.

Can both spouses in a couple each receive their own separate ACWB payment on October 9?

No, only one spouse per family receives the basic ACWB amount. When neither spouse qualifies for the disability supplement, the CRA sends the basic payment to the spouse with the higher working income, or the first filer if their working incomes are equal. When only one spouse qualifies for the disability supplement, that spouse receives both the basic family advance payment and their own disability supplement. If both spouses qualify for the supplement, only one receives the basic family payment, but each receives their own disability supplement separately.

Fact-Checked: All Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payment dates, maximum amounts, income thresholds, and eligibility criteria cited in this article were verified against the official Canada Workers Benefit page on Canada.ca and the CRA benefit payment dates calendar as of October 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Readers should consult a qualified tax professional or review the CRA’s official CWB eligibility page to confirm their individual eligibility and benefit amounts.

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.