Canada’s latest cost-of-living package has a silver lining for recent immigrants: the rebranded Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will boost GST/HST rebate payments by 50 percent in 2026 and by 25 percent annually for the five years that follow. CIC News reports that a low-income newcomer could receive up to CA$950 this year (versus CA$533 previously) and CA$700 a year from 2027-2030, provided they file a 2025 tax return and meet income thresholds.
Why it matters for mobility: rising inflation and housing costs have eroded the real value of relocation packages. Extra cash transfers reduce pressure on employers to top-up allowances for groceries and household items, especially for international students, new permanent residents, and work-permit holders who often fall below the CA$56,181 net-income cut-off.
The benefit is automatic for most tax filers, but newcomers arriving after April 30 must submit form RC151 to establish Canadian tax residency and trigger payments. Mobility managers should build this into onboarding checklists alongside health-insurance registration and SIN applications.
![Federal ‘Groceries and Essentials’ benefit offers newcomers up to CA$950 in 2026]()
Meanwhile, newcomers who still need assistance with visa extensions, study permits, or other immigration paperwork can turn to VisaHQ. The company’s user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides tailored checklists, real-time status tracking, and expert support, ensuring applicants stay compliant with IRCC requirements while they concentrate on settling in and making the most of the new benefit.
Eligibility caveats include temporary residents on employer-specific work permits earning above the threshold and newcomers who have not yet filed a Canadian return. Tax advisers stress that subsidy amounts are clawed back as income rises, so employers offering hardship allowances should coordinate with payroll to avoid disqualifying employees.
In the current political climate, Ottawa views targeted consumer-price relief as a way to maintain public support for high immigration levels while addressing affordability concerns often cited by critics. Future federal updates may index the benefit to inflation, but legislation has yet to be tabled.
Why it matters for mobility: rising inflation and housing costs have eroded the real value of relocation packages. Extra cash transfers reduce pressure on employers to top-up allowances for groceries and household items, especially for international students, new permanent residents, and work-permit holders who often fall below the CA$56,181 net-income cut-off.
The benefit is automatic for most tax filers, but newcomers arriving after April 30 must submit form RC151 to establish Canadian tax residency and trigger payments. Mobility managers should build this into onboarding checklists alongside health-insurance registration and SIN applications.
Meanwhile, newcomers who still need assistance with visa extensions, study permits, or other immigration paperwork can turn to VisaHQ. The company’s user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides tailored checklists, real-time status tracking, and expert support, ensuring applicants stay compliant with IRCC requirements while they concentrate on settling in and making the most of the new benefit.
Eligibility caveats include temporary residents on employer-specific work permits earning above the threshold and newcomers who have not yet filed a Canadian return. Tax advisers stress that subsidy amounts are clawed back as income rises, so employers offering hardship allowances should coordinate with payroll to avoid disqualifying employees.
In the current political climate, Ottawa views targeted consumer-price relief as a way to maintain public support for high immigration levels while addressing affordability concerns often cited by critics. Future federal updates may index the benefit to inflation, but legislation has yet to be tabled.
