Last Updated On 10 January 2026, 10:24 AM EST (Toronto Time)
A large number of lower-income workers in Canada will see an extra deposit land on Monday, January 12, 2026: the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit, commonly shortened to ACWB.
It is the advance-payment version of the Canada Workers Benefit, a refundable tax credit that is designed to top up earnings for workers with low income.
For some eligible couples, the January 12 ACWB deposit can reach up to $730 depending on the disability supplements eligibility.
If you are eligible, ACWB can be especially helpful in the post-holiday stretch when household cash flow is tight.
This guide breaks down who qualifies, how the CRA calculates your amount, the full 2026 payment schedule, and the practical steps that can help you maximize what you receive.
Table of Contents
The Canada Workers Benefit, or CWB, is a refundable tax credit for people who are working but earning a low income.
“Refundable” is key: it can still pay out even if you owe little or no income tax at filing time. The CWB has two parts:
- a basic amount
- a disability supplement for eligible workers who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit
ACWB is simply the advance-payment mechanism for the CWB.
Instead of waiting until you file your return and receive your refund, the CRA may send you up to 50% of the CWB you are expected to receive, paid in 3 installments during the benefit year.
The Government of Canada’s benefits calendar lists three ACWB dates for 2026:
- January 12, 2026
- July 10, 2026
- October 9, 2026
Why July 10 and October 9 instead of the 12th?
The CRA’s general rule is that advanced payments are issued on July 12, October 12, and January 12, and if the issuance date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal statutory holiday, payment is made on the last business day prior.
Eligibility is assessed on your tax return. For the basic CWB amount, you generally must meet all of the following conditions:
- you earn working income and your net income is below the threshold set for your province or territory
- you are a resident of Canada for tax purposes throughout the year
- you are age 19 or older on December 31, or you live with your spouse or common-law partner, or your child
You are not eligible if any of the following applies:
- you are enrolled as a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the year, unless you have an eligible dependant on December 31
- you are confined to a prison or similar institution for 90 days or more during the year
- you do not have to pay tax in Canada because you are an officer or servant of another country, such as a diplomat, or you are a family member or employee of that person
Newcomers and temporary residents
Newcomers mean new permanent residents, and yes, they can be eligible if they meet the same CRA conditions as everyone else, especially:
- resident of Canada throughout the year
- working income
- income below the thresholds
Because tax residency for most newcomers begins the first day they live in Canada, many new permanent residents who arrived during the year will need to wait until they have a full-year residency period before the CWB calculation will apply to them for that tax year.
Are temporary residents eligible, including work permit holders and international students
Temporary residents may be eligible if they are residents of Canada for income tax purposes and meet all the CWB rules, including being resident throughout the year.
Important practical notes:
- Work permit holders who live and work in Canada for a full year and file taxes may qualify, depending on income and other rules.
- International students may face the full-time student exclusion if they are enrolled for more than 13 weeks and do not have an eligible dependant at year-end.
- Residency status is determined based on facts, including residential ties and the nature of your stay, not only immigration category.
Your CWB amount depends on:
- your province or territory of residence
- your working income
- your adjusted family net income
- marital status
- eligible dependants
- eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit
Maximum basic CWB amounts
The CRA’s published maximum basic CWB amounts are:
- up to $1,590 for single individuals
- up to $2,739 for families
The basic amount is gradually reduced once adjusted net income exceeds the base threshold, and stops once income exceeds the cut-off.
| Description | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Minimum working income threshold | $3,000 |
| Maximum benefit for single individuals with no children | $1,590 |
| Maximum benefit for families | $2,739 |
| Adjusted net income at which the benefit begins to phase out for single individuals with no children | $26,149 |
| Adjusted family net income at which the benefit begins to phase out for families | $29,833 |
| Secondary earner exemption | $15,955 |
The maximum basic amount can differ for residents of Quebec, Nunavut, and Alberta as listed below depending on their income:
Net income level in 2024, for which you filed taxes in 2025, after which the recipient is not eligible to receive the Canada Workers Benefit
| Canada (excluding Alberta, Quebec, and Nunavut) | Quebec | Nunavut | Alberta | |
| Family with children | $48,093 | $39,969.72 | $65,595 | $48,918 |
| Family without children | $48,093 | $50,150.04 | $65,595 | $48,918 |
| Single with children | $48,093 | $23,915.83 | $65,595 | $48,918 |
| Single without children | $36,749 | $32,356.72 | $65,577 | $36,832 |
Disability supplement maximum amount
The CRA’s published maximum disability supplement is up to $821 for single individuals and up to $821 for families, with phase-out rules based on adjusted income.
| Description | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Minimum working income threshold | $1,150 |
| Maximum supplement | $821 |
| Adjusted net income at which the supplement begins to phase out for single individuals with no children | $36,748 |
| Adjusted family net income at which the supplement begins to phase out for families | $48,091 |
As with the basic amount, maximum disability supplement amounts can vary for certain provinces and territories as listed below:
Net income level in 2024, for which you filed taxes in 2025, after which the recipient is not eligible to receive the disability supplement
| Canada (excluding Alberta, Quebec, and Nunavut) | Quebec | Nunavut | Alberta | |
| Family with children | $53,565 | $44,108.32 | $73,195 | $54,392 |
| Family without children | $53,565 | $54,288.64 | $73,195 | $54,392 |
| Single with children | $53,565 | $28,054.43 | $73,195 | $54,392 |
| Single without children | $42,221 | $36,495.32 | $73,177 | $42,306 |
How ACWB relates to those amounts
If you are entitled to the CWB, the CRA can pay you up to 50% of your CWB in advance as ACWB.
If you are entitled to the disability supplement, the CRA can also pay up to 50% of that supplement in advance.
Those advance payments are issued in 3 installments during the benefit year.
A simple way to think about it:
- total ACWB for the benefit year can be up to half of your estimated annual CWB entitlement
- each installment is approximately one-third of that total advance
While the January 12 deposit is the first ACWB payment of the calendar year, it is also the final advance installment of the benefit period that runs from July to June.
The next cycle starts mid-year, with the first new-cycle ACWB payment scheduled for July 10, 2026.
According to the latest CRA data:
- Maximum CWB for single workers is approximately $1,633 per year (basic benefit) — up slightly from prior levels.
- Maximum CWB for families is approximately $2,813 per year (basic benefit).
- Maximum Disability Supplement — for eligible workers approved for the Disability Tax Credit — is about $843 per year.
Because the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit pays up to 50% of your total estimated annual CWB and disability supplement in advance, the July 10 ACWB deposit could be up to about $468 for families and about $272 for single workers, plus up to about $140 extra per payment if you qualify for the disability supplement.
There is no separate ACWB application.
The CRA sends ACWB automatically after it determines you are entitled to the CWB.
You do not apply for ACWB as a standalone benefit.
You do have to file a tax return and complete Schedule 6
To claim the CWB:
- file your income tax and benefit return
- complete Schedule 6
- enter the result on line 45300 of your return
The November 1 deadline that many people miss
To receive ACWB advance payments for the benefit period that starts in July and ends in June of the following year, the CRA must receive your income tax and benefit return before November 1 of that benefit period.
If you file after that deadline, you may still get the CWB when you file, but you may miss some or all of the advance installments for that cycle.
Direct deposit and keeping your information current
The benefits calendar notes that payments can take a few days, and delays are more common if you are not enrolled in direct deposit and receive cheques instead.
This section is about legitimate eligibility and clean filing, not shortcuts.
File your return early enough to qualify for advances
If you want ACWB deposits during the benefit year, make sure your return is filed and received before November 1 of the benefit period.
Make sure Schedule 6 is actually completed
Many people file a return and assume the credit is automatic without confirming that Schedule 6 has been generated by their tax software.
The CRA’s instructions make clear that the CWB is claimed through Schedule 6 and then entered on line 45300.
Understand what counts as working income
Working income is not only “hourly wages.” Schedule 6 includes employment income, certain taxable scholarships and bursaries, and qualifying self-employment income, among other items.
If income is reported on the wrong line or omitted, you can unintentionally reduce your working income below the thresholds that unlock eligibility.
Watch the $3,000 working-income threshold for the basic benefit
If your family working income is $3,000 or less, you generally cannot claim the basic CWB.
For people with fluctuating gig income or short work periods, this threshold is a common surprise.
For couples, the secondary earner exemption can matter
Schedule 6 includes a secondary earner exemption for couples, capped at $15,955, which affects adjusted family net income and can influence phase-out.
If you may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, get it on file
The disability supplement requires eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit and an approved T2201 on file with the CRA.
If you qualify, it can add up to $821 to your annual CWB, and ACWB can advance up to 50% of that amount.
Know which life changes do and do not affect your ACWB mid-cycle
The CRA states that the only life event changes that affect advanced payments are death, incarceration, or emigration, and other changes like marital status or a move generally are not reflected unless you request a reassessment and the CWB changes.
Practical implication: if your household changes significantly, your advance payments may not match your eventual entitlement until tax filing time.
ACWB is an advance on a refundable credit, so it is reconciled on your tax return.
Schedule 6 includes a step to report ACWB amounts received (from the RC210 slip) and instructs taxpayers to enter the calculated amount on line 41500 of the return.
In plain terms: if you received advances, your refund may be smaller than it would have been if you received the full CWB only at tax time, because part of the benefit was already paid out earlier.
As of January 12, 2026, millions of eligible workers and families across Canada will see their first deposit of the year — worth up to around $593 per household and even higher for those qualifying for the disability supplement.
The next round of indexed, slightly larger payments is scheduled for July 10, 2026, following annual benefit adjustments that reflect rising living costs.
Staying informed, filing on time, and understanding how your income affects eligibility are the simplest ways to ensure you receive the maximum amount you deserve — every January, July, and October.
Why didn’t I get my Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payment in my bank account?
First, confirm the payment status in CRA My Account, then verify your direct deposit details and mailing address are current. If the payment still hasn’t arrived after 10 business days from the scheduled payment date, the CRA instructs you to contact them.
What is RC210 and why did it reduce my tax refund for the Canada Workers Benefit?
RC210 is the statement for advanced Canada Workers Benefit payments you already received. The CRA requires you to report the RC210 amounts on Schedule 6 (Step 4) and carry the result to line 41500, which effectively reconciles the advance payments against your final benefit calculation for the year.
Can the CRA take my ACWB to pay taxes owing or other government debts?
Yes, the CRA explains “offset” (set-off) as applying tax refunds and certain benefit payments against outstanding tax balances or other government debts. If you expected ACWB but have arrears, an offset can reduce or eliminate the deposit.
Do you still get the ACWB if you leave Canada or become a non-resident?
The CRA states you must be a resident of Canada on the first day of the quarter to receive that quarter’s advance payment. If you emigrated or otherwise became a non-resident, ACWB payments can stop for subsequent quarters.
Does ACWB affect bankruptcy or a consumer proposal in Canada?
Federal insolvency guidance indicates the Canada Workers Benefit quarterly amounts are treated as an advance on the debtor’s income tax refund for the ongoing year in insolvency files. How it applies can vary by case, so confirm with your Licensed Insolvency Trustee.
Will everyone get the January 12 ACWB payment
No, only people the CRA has assessed as eligible for the CWB and who are eligible for advance payments receive ACWB.
I am a temporary resident. Can I get ACWB?
Possibly, if you are a resident of Canada for income tax purposes and meet the CWB rules, including being resident throughout the year, having working income, and being under the income thresholds.
I am new to Canada. When could I first qualify for Canada Workers Benefit?
Many newcomers become tax residents from their first day living in Canada, but CWB eligibility generally requires being resident throughout the year, which often means you may only qualify after your first full-year residency period, assuming you meet all other conditions.
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