The New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit is a yearly payment of $629 for lower-income seniors who get the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), the Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor. It isn’t automatic. You apply once a year, and the deadline for the 2026 benefit is December 31, 2026.
How much you’ll get
| Benefit year | Amount | Application window |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $629 (one payment) | April 1 to December 31, 2026 |
The benefit is a flat $629. It doesn’t change with your income. Qualifying depends on whether you got one of the federal income-tested benefits during 2025.
Example: A 70-year-old in Moncton who got GIS in 2025 and lived in New Brunswick on December 31, 2025 can apply and receive $629.
Example: A married couple who both get GIS and live together get one $629 benefit, not two. If one spouse lives in a nursing home, they live apart, so each can get $629.
Who qualifies
You must have lived in New Brunswick on December 31, 2025. You must also have received one of these federal benefits during 2025:
- the Guaranteed Income Supplement, if you’re 65 or older
- the Allowance, if you’re 60 to 64
- the Allowance for the Survivor, if you’re 60 to 64
People under 60 who get a federal allowance don’t qualify.
If you don’t get GIS or an Allowance but think you should, contact Service Canada first. New Brunswick lists 1-800-277-9914 (English) and 1-800-277-9915 (French) for questions about the federal benefits.
How to apply
- Apply online through the New Brunswick government’s Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit page. This is the fastest way.
- Or print the application, fill it in, and mail it to: Accounts Payable, Service New Brunswick, P.O. Box 1900, Fredericton, NB E3B 5G4.
- Or pick up a paper form at any Service New Brunswick centre.
- Sign up for direct deposit on the form. New Brunswick says applying online with direct deposit gets you paid faster.
If someone is helping you apply, New Brunswick has a Third Party Help Guide on the same page.
What changed in 2026
The 2026 benefit is $629. Applications opened April 1, 2026 and close December 31, 2026. It’s based on federal benefits you got during 2025 and where you lived on December 31, 2025.
Payment late, missing or different?
There’s no fixed payment date. It depends on when you apply. New Brunswick asks you to allow up to 4 weeks for processing from the day you apply.
- Wait 4 weeks after applying. If you mailed your form, add a few days for delivery.
- Then call the Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit line at 1-833-796-0944.
Common reasons for delays or refusals:
- You applied by mail without direct deposit.
- You didn’t receive GIS, the Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor during 2025.
- Your spouse already received the benefit for your household.
- You weren’t living in New Brunswick on December 31, 2025.
Watch for scams. The province never charges a fee to apply, and never asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency or passwords by text or email. Apply only through the government’s page or a Service New Brunswick centre.
Other help you might be missing
- Guaranteed Income Supplement: make sure you’re getting it. It’s the key to this benefit.
- New Brunswick HST Credit: paid with the federal Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit when you file taxes.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: a quarterly federal payment for low-income people.
- New Brunswick Social Assistance: monthly help with basic needs.
- New Brunswick’s Property Tax Deferral Program for Seniors is listed on the same government page.
- Benefit deadlines and our benefits checkup.
Common questions
What is the deadline for the New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit?
December 31, 2026 for the 2026 benefit.
How much is the NB Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit in 2026?
$629, paid once for the year.
Do I have to apply every year?
The benefit is applied for by year, with its own application window and deadline. If you got it before, apply for 2026 too.
How long does it take to get paid?
Allow up to 4 weeks from the day you apply. Applying online with direct deposit is fastest.
Can both spouses get the Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit?
Only if they live apart, for example when one lives in a nursing home. Couples who live together and both get GIS receive one benefit.