Canada Workers Benefit
Up to $1,633 single or $2,813 family for 2025, plus a disability supplement. Who qualifies, how it is calculated and the advance payments.
The short version
- The Canada workers benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit for people who work but earn a low income. You get it even if you owe no tax.
- For 2025 returns: up to $1,633 for a single person and $2,813 for a family, plus up to $843 more with the disability tax credit.
- It builds up at 27% of working income over $3,000, then shrinks by 15% of net income over $26,855 (single) or $30,639 (family). Most provinces; Alberta, Nunavut and Quebec have their own amounts.
- You must be 19 or older on December 31 (or live with a spouse or child), and live in Canada all year. Full-time students for more than 13 weeks don't qualify unless they have a dependant.
- Up to half is paid in advance, automatically, in July, October and January, if last year's return shows you qualify. Claim the rest on Schedule 6.
Canada Workers Benefit
The Canada workers benefit is the government's way of saying work should pay more than not working. It tops up low wages, and it's one of the most-missed benefits in the country, mostly by people who think a return isn't worth filing when they made $14,000. At that income, a single worker in most provinces gets the full $1,633. That's a good return on an evening with tax software.
How Much You Can Get (2025 Tax Year)
| Situation | Working income | Net income | Estimated CWB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $8,000 | $8,000 | $1,350 (still building up) |
| Single | $15,000 | $15,000 | $1,633 (the maximum) |
| Single | $32,000 | $32,000 | about $861 |
| Single | over $37,742 | $0 | |
| Family | $30,000 | $35,000 | about $2,159 |
| Family | over $49,393 | $0 |
Most provinces and territories; Alberta, Nunavut and Quebec have different amounts. Working income means employment income plus net self-employment income. "Family" means you have an eligible spouse or an eligible dependant. For 2026, the maximums rise with indexation to about $1,665 single and $2,869 for a family; CRA hadn't posted the full 2026 table when we checked.
Not sure if you qualify?
Tell the assistant your province, your working income, your spouse's income and whether you were a student. It works out your CWB and the advance payments you should be getting.
Who Qualifies
- Age: 19 or older on December 31, or living with a spouse, common-law partner or your child.
- Residency: resident in Canada for the whole year. Newcomers and people leaving partway through don't qualify for that year; see taxes for newcomers.
- Working income: more than $3,000, and net income under the cut-off.
- Not: a full-time student for more than 13 weeks in the year (unless you had a dependant on December 31), in prison for 90 days or more, or a diplomat.
- Disability supplement: an approved disability tax credit certificate (form T2201); see disability tax credit.
Advance Payments
CRA pays up to half of the CWB in advance, in three payments, to people whose previous return shows they qualify. There's no application. In 2026 the dates were January 12, July 10 and October 9; see benefit payment dates. The rest comes as part of your refund when you file. If your income rises and you get more in advance than you're entitled to, the difference is taken off your refund or added to what you owe, so a big raise mid-year can make April less fun.
CRA says you owe back advance CWB?
Upload the notice. The analyzer explains why the advance payments were reduced, what you owe and whether the calculation looks right.
Getting It Right
- File every year. The CWB is only paid through a return. Filing late? You can still claim back years; see unfiled tax returns.
- Couples: only one spouse claims the family amount, but both incomes count. The spouse with the higher working income usually claims it; software works it out.
- Side income counts: net self-employment income is working income; see side hustle taxes.
- RRSP contributions lower net income and can raise the CWB if you're in the phase-out range.
- Other benefits: the same return brings the Groceries and Essentials Benefit and, with children, the Canada child benefit. The what can I claim tool checks them all at once.
Canada Workers Benefit Questions
How much is the Canada workers benefit?
For the 2025 tax year, up to $1,633 for a single person and $2,813 for a family in most provinces, plus up to $843 for the disability supplement. It phases in at 27% of working income over $3,000 and is reduced by 15% of net income over $26,855 (single) or $30,639 (family).
Who is eligible for the Canada workers benefit?
Residents of Canada for the whole year who are 19 or older on December 31 (or live with a spouse or child), earn working income over $3,000 and have net income under the cut-off. Full-time students for more than 13 weeks without a dependant, people in prison 90 days or more, and diplomats are excluded.
Do I need to apply for advance CWB payments?
No. CRA automatically pays up to half of the benefit in advance in July, October and January if your previous year’s return shows you qualify.
How do I claim the Canada workers benefit?
On your tax return, using Schedule 6. Tax software fills it in from your income and family details.
Is the Canada workers benefit taxable?
No. It is a refundable tax credit, so it reduces your tax or is paid to you as a refund, and it is not added to your income.
Sources: CRA, CWB: how much you can get; CWB: who is eligible; Benefit payment dates. Checked October 2026. Amounts are for the 2025 tax year, the latest CRA had published when we checked. The 27% phase-in rate is the rule in place since 2021 as we understand it; CRA's page shows the maximums and thresholds but not the rate, so treat the examples under the maximum as estimates.
Last reviewed October 5, 2026 against CRA and Government of Canada sources. How we check our facts.