With tax season coming up, it’s time to think about the credits and deductions you may be able to claim. Among the dozens of tax credits out there is the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB). If you’re feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living, or you have a qualifying disability that makes it harder to earn a decent living, you may qualify.
Read on for how the CWB works, who is eligible, and how much you can get.
Key Points
1. The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) replaced the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) in 2019.
2. For the 2025 tax year, single workers can get up to $1,633 and families up to $2,813 from the basic amount.
3. Workers who qualify for the disability tax credit can claim an extra disability supplement of up to $843.
4. The basic amount phases out completely once a single person earns more than $37,742, or a family earns more than $49,393.
What Is The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)?
The Canada Workers Benefit was introduced by the federal government in 2019 as a replacement for the Working Income Tax Benefit, which used to provide over $1 billion in tax benefits to millions of Canadians every year.
Today, the CWB is a refundable tax credit for lower-income workers whose income falls below the level set for their province or territory. Because it is refundable, you can receive it even if you do not owe any tax. It is one of several benefits aimed at lower-income Canadians, alongside credits like the GST/HST credit.
There are two parts to the CWB: a basic amount and a disability supplement.
The money can go toward your debts, rent, groceries, or any other day-to-day expense. If the benefit is not enough to cover everything, a personal loan to consolidate high-interest debt can spread your payments over a longer term and make them more affordable.
Note: You Don’t Have To Wait Until Tax Time
You can get up to half of your Canada Workers Benefit in advance through the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB). The CRA sends it automatically in three payments during the year, based on your most recent tax return, so there is nothing extra to apply for. The remaining amount comes with your refund after you file.
ACWB Payment Dates For The Canada Workers Benefit
If you’re eligible for the CWB, the CRA can pay you up to 50% of your estimated CWB early through the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB). That 50% is paid in three advance installments throughout the benefit period. The remaining amount of your CWB is determined when you file your tax return, based on your actual income and eligibility. If you’re also eligible for the CWB disability supplement, you can receive 50% of that supplement amount as part of your advance payments too.
Here are the ACWB payment dates for 2026.
| Payment | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| First installment | January 12, 2026 |
| Second installment | July 10, 2026 |
| Third installment | October 9, 2026 |
Who Is Eligible For The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)?
The two parts of the CWB, the basic amount and the disability supplement, each have their own eligibility rules.
CWB Basic Amount Eligibility
To qualify for the basic amount, you must:
- Be a resident of Canada.
- Be at least 19 years old on December 31, or live with your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child.
- Earn a net income below the income level for the province or territory you live in.
There is no upper age limit, so older workers can qualify too. If you are a senior who is still working, it is worth reviewing the broader tax considerations for seniors as well.
Here is who counts as an eligible spouse or child.
| Who Is An Eligible Spouse Or Partner? | Who Is An Eligible Child? |
|---|---|
| They live with you throughout the tax year. | Your child is under the age of 19. |
| They meet all the other CWB eligibility requirements. | The child is yours or your spouse or common-law partner’s. |
| The child is not eligible for the CWB on their own. |
Eligibility For The CWB Disability Supplement
On top of the basic amount, you may qualify for a disability supplement of up to $843 for the 2025 tax year. To get it, you must:
- Already be approved for the disability tax credit.
- Earn a net income below the level set in your province or territory.
- Have a Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201) on file with the CRA.
If you need help completing your form, a disability tax credit consultant can guide you through it.
Income Requirements To Receive The CWB
Before you count on the CWB, it helps to know the income limits for the 2025 tax year.1
| Household | Canada (Excluding Alberta, Quebec, And Nunavut) | Quebec | Nunavut | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family with children | $49,393 | $41,048.90 | $67,365 | $50,232 |
| Family without children | $49,393 | $51,504.09 | $67,365 | $50,232 |
| Single with children | $49,393 | $24,561.56 | $67,365 | $50,232 |
| Single without children | $37,742 | $33,230.35 | $67,367 | $37,826 |
As with the maximum amounts, these income limits are slightly different if you live in Alberta, Nunavut, or Quebec.
What Is The Maximum Canada Workers Benefit Payment?
There are two parts to the CWB: the basic amount and the disability supplement. Here are the maximums for the 2025 tax year.1
| Part Of The CWB | Single Individuals | Families |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum basic amount | $1,633 | $2,813 |
| Maximum disability supplement | $843 | $843 |
Basic Amount
The size of your CWB depends on your household income, marital status, household make-up, and your province or territory. Once your income passes the individual or family threshold, the amount shrinks until you no longer qualify. Keep in mind that only one person per family can receive the benefit, and the maximum amounts can be slightly different if you live in Quebec, Alberta, or Nunavut.
Disability Supplement
Whether you are single or part of a family, you can get up to $843 through the disability supplement, and the amount depends on your adjusted net income. As a single person, you need an income of $43,360 or less to receive it. For families, the cut-off is $55,009, or $60,629 if your spouse also has a disability. These amounts can be slightly different in Quebec and Nunavut.
How Much Could You Get? An Example
The CWB builds up as your working income rises, holds at the maximum for a stretch, then phases out as your income climbs higher. Here is how it plays out for a single worker in most provinces.
| Single Worker’s Adjusted Net Income | Approximate Basic CWB |
|---|---|
| $15,000 | The full $1,633 |
| $26,855 | The full $1,633 (phase-out begins) |
| $32,000 | About $1,015 |
| $37,742 or more | $0 |
Once your income reaches the point where you qualify for the full amount, you keep the maximum until your adjusted net income passes $26,855. After that, the benefit drops by 12 cents for every extra dollar you earn, reaching zero at $37,742. Families follow the same pattern, with the phase-out starting at $30,639 and ending at $49,393.
Who Gets The CWB Payments In A Family?
- If neither spouse qualifies for the disability supplement, the basic amount goes to the spouse with the higher income. If both incomes are the same, it goes to the first person who files.
- If only you qualify for the disability supplement, you receive both the basic amount and the disability supplement.
- If both you and your spouse qualify for the disability supplement, one of you receives the basic amount, and each of you receives a disability supplement.
It is also worth knowing which tax bracket you fall under, so you can see how the benefit fits into your overall tax picture.
How The CRA Calculates Your CWB
The Canada Revenue Agency works out your CWB based on your:
- Province or territory of residence.
- Yearly earned working income.
- Adjusted family net income.
- Marital status.
- Eligibility for the disability tax credit (yours, and your spouse’s or partner’s).
- Dependents’ eligibility.
If your spouse or partner is not eligible and you do not have children at home, the CRA calculates your amount as if you were single. And while both partners may be eligible, only one of you receives the benefit. You can choose who, or the CRA will decide for you.
How Do You Apply For The Canada Workers Benefit?
Claiming the CWB is simple, and it happens when you file your income taxes. If you are not sure when you can file your taxes in Canada, it is worth checking the dates so you do not miss out. You can claim it in one of two ways:
- Paper return. Fill out and submit “Schedule 6, Canada Workers Benefit.”
- Tax software. File Schedule 6 electronically through your tax software.
To claim the disability supplement, if your spouse or common-law partner qualifies for the disability tax credit, they claim both their regular CWB and their supplement. If both partners are eligible, only one person claims the regular CWB, but each of you claims the disability supplement on a separate Schedule 6.
If you have a disability and live in Ontario, you may also qualify for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) on top of the CWB.
Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) vs Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB)
When the CWB replaced the WITB in 2019, it brought several improvements.
| Feature | Old WITB | Current CWB |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum for singles | Up to $1,059 | Up to $1,633 |
| Maximum for families | Up to $1,922 | Up to $2,813 |
| Income cut-off (singles) | $19,076 | $37,742 |
| Income cut-off (families) | $28,975 | $49,393 |
| Reduction rate | 15% per dollar over the threshold | 12% per dollar over the threshold |
| How you access it | Extra paperwork required | The CRA assesses it automatically when you file |
In short, the CWB is larger, reaches higher incomes, phases out more gently, and is easier to get, since the CRA calculates it for anyone who files, even if they do not claim it.
Bottom Line
If you are a lower-income worker, you could be leaving real money on the table by not claiming the Canada Workers Benefit. The good news is that the CRA works out your eligibility automatically when you file, so the most important step is simple: file your tax return every year, even if you earned very little. That is what unlocks the CWB and the advance payments that come with it. For more ways to keep more of what you earn, it helps to know the broader tax tips for low-income earners, and the CWB is just one of many government benefits available to Canadians who need a hand.
Canada Workers Benefit FAQs
You need to earn at least $3,000 in working income during the year to qualify for the Canada Workers Benefit.
You are not eligible for the CWB if you were incarcerated for 90 days or more during the tax year, if you are a foreign officer or servant (or their employee or family member) who does not have to pay Canadian taxes, or if you were a full-time student for more than 13 weeks of the year and did not have a child living with you.
For the 2025 tax year, the basic amount is up to $1,633 for single workers and up to $2,813 for families. If you qualify for the disability tax credit, you can get an extra disability supplement of up to $843.
No, only one spouse or common-law partner can claim the basic amount. However, if both spouses qualify for the disability tax credit, one of them claims the basic amount and each of them can claim a disability supplement.
The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit is paid in three installments: January 12, July 10, and October 9, 2026. Any remaining amount comes with your tax refund after you file.
You do not apply separately. Just claim it when you file your income taxes, either online through tax software or by completing Schedule 6 on a paper return. The CRA also assesses your eligibility automatically.
References
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2026). Canada workers benefit: How much you can get. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-45300-canada-workers-benefit-cwb/how-much-you-can-get.html
- Canada Revenue Agency. (2026). Advanced Canada workers benefit (ACWB). Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/advanced-canada-workers-benefit.html
