More money is always welcome.
That's what will be happening Friday as people who receive the federal government's GST rebate will get a one-time top up amounting to 50% of the past year's benefits.
Moving forward, the payments, starting quarterly on July 3, will be called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and will permanently be 25% bigger than past GST rebates.
The new name is apropos because inflation has pushed up the cost of groceries to the point where people are forced to buy less, buy cheaper and change the way they eat.
"The federal government has recognized that affordability is a real challenge," said Kelowna's Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr, who is also secretary of state for defence procurement.
"We're very much focused on affordability. That's why there was a (middle-class) tax cut for 22 million Canadians, the 10 cent a litre excise tax and 18 cent a litre consumer carbon tax have come off gas and the GST rebate will become the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit going forward."
Fuhr said more than 12 million Canadians, 1.65 million British Columbians and over 20,000 people in Kelowna quality for GST rebates/grocery and essentials benefit -- a scheme meant to put money back in the pockets of low-and-moderate income earners.
However, the reality is a minority of Canadians receive the full rebate.
To get the full rebate of $1,890 this year for a family (couple with two kids), the family's income has to be $45,521 or less.
For an individual to get the full rebate of $950 this year, the threshold is an income of $11,337 or less.
The rebate is clawed back quickly and incrementally as income goes up.
Friday's payment will only be the one-time GST rebate top up amounting to half of the total GST rebate people received from July 2025 to July 2026.
The 50% one-time top up could be as much as $533 for a family of four or $267 for a single senior.
Moving forward, starting July 3, the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will be paid out quarterly with payments to follow Oct. 5, Jan. 5 and April 5.
For a qualifying family of four, the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit means they can receive up to $1,890 this year (which includes the one-time top up) and then about $1,400 a year for the next four years.
A qualifying single person will receive up to $950 this year, including the top up, and about $700 a year for the next four years.
You don't have to apply for the GST rebate or new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
If you filed an income tax return and qualify, Revenue Canada calculates your payment and activates it with the federal government.
Most recepients have the payment electronically deposited right into their bank account.
If not, the Government of Canada will still issue cheques that you'll receive in the mail.
