The Newfoundland and Labrador Income Supplement (NLIS) is a tax-free payment for people and families with low incomes, including people with disabilities. You don’t apply for it. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) works it out from your tax return and adds it to your federal Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) deposit in January, April, July and October.
How much you’ll get
The NLIS is built from a basic amount plus add-ons. These are the figures Newfoundland and Labrador lists for the 2025 benefit year, which is based on your 2025 tax return:
| Part of the supplement | Amount a year |
|---|---|
| Basic credit (everyone who qualifies) | $254 |
| Maximum, single person | $520 |
| Add-on for a spouse or common-law partner | $69 (maximum $589 for a couple) |
| Add-on for each child under 19 | $231 |
| Add-on if you claim the Disability Tax Credit | $231 |
The single maximum is built in two steps. Everyone who qualifies gets the $254 basic credit. The other $266 is added at 5.32% of family net income over $15,000, so you reach the full $520 at $20,000 of income. Above $40,000 of family net income, the supplement is reduced by 9% of the income over that line.
Example 1: A single person with family net income of $18,000 gets the $254 basic credit plus 5.32% of $3,000 ($159.60). That’s $413.60 a year, paid in four instalments.
Example 2: A single person with $30,000 gets the full $520, about $130 a payment.
Example 3: A single person with $44,000 is $4,000 over the $40,000 line. The supplement drops by $360 (9% of $4,000), leaving $160 a year.
Who qualifies
- You live in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- You filed a tax return for the previous year. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they must file too.
- Your family net income is low enough that the 9% reduction doesn’t bring your amount to zero.
- You get the disability add-on if you claim the Disability Tax Credit.
How to get it
There’s no application. File your tax return every year, even with no income, and the CRA works out your NLIS along with your CGEB. It comes in the same deposit, or the same cheque if you don’t use direct deposit.
If you think you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit but haven’t been approved, it’s worth applying. Approval adds $231 a year to the NLIS and can open the door to the Newfoundland and Labrador Disability Benefit and the federal Canada Disability Benefit.
What changed in 2026
The NLIS amounts didn’t change in Budget 2026. The payment it rides on did change: in July 2026 the GST/HST credit was renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. The NLIS is now paid with the CGEB, on the same dates.
Budget 2026 did raise the separate Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors’ Benefit by 20% from July 2026. If you’re 64 or older, check that page too.
Payment late, missing or different?
The NLIS arrives in the same deposit as your CGEB, so look for one combined amount. The calendar at the top of this page shows the dates.
- Wait 10 working days after the payment date.
- Check CRA My Account for the payment and your latest benefit notice.
- If it’s still missing, call the CRA at 1-800-387-1193.
- For questions about how the program works, the province’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Branch is at 709-729-3166.
Common reasons for a missing or smaller payment:
- You or your spouse didn’t file a tax return.
- Your income went up, or your income was under $15,000, so only part of the $266 was added.
- You moved or changed banks and didn’t tell the CRA.
Watch for scams. The CRA never charges a fee to pay you a benefit, and never asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency or passwords by text or email. Don’t click links in messages about “refunds”. Sign in to CRA My Account yourself.
Other help you might be missing
- NL Seniors’ Benefit: up to $1,882 a year for low-income seniors 64 and older, paid on the same days.
- NL Child Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit: monthly help for families with children.
- NL Disability Benefit: up to $400 a month for adults 18 to 64 with the Disability Tax Credit.
- NL Income Support: monthly help if you can’t cover basic needs.
- Benefits checkup: a quick way to see what else you might get.
Common questions
When is the Newfoundland Income Supplement paid?
Four times a year, in the same deposit as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: January, April, July and October. The calendar at the top of this page has the exact dates.
Do I have to apply for the NL Income Supplement?
No. You only need to file your tax return each year.
Why is my NLIS less than $520?
Either your family income was under $20,000, so only part of the $266 was added, or it was over $40,000, so it was reduced by 9%.
Is the NL Income Supplement taxable?
No. It’s a tax-free payment.
Can I get the NLIS and the Seniors’ Benefit together?
Yes. They’re separate programs, and both are added to your CGEB payment if you qualify.