The Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors’ Benefit is a tax-free payment for lower-income seniors aged 64 and older. From July 2026 the maximum is $1,882 a year, up from $1,551. You don’t apply. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) adds it to your Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) deposit four times a year.
How much you’ll get
The benefit is based on your family net income from the previous year’s tax return.
| Family net income | Seniors’ Benefit a year (from July 2026) |
|---|---|
| $30,409 or less | $1,882 (the maximum) |
| $30,409 to $46,550 | Reduced by 11.66% of income over $30,409 |
| $46,550 or more | Nothing |
The yearly amount is paid in four instalments, in January, April, July and October. At the maximum, that’s about $470.50 a payment.
Example 1: A single senior with family net income of $24,000 is under $30,409, so they get the full $1,882 a year.
Example 2: A senior couple with family net income of $35,000 is $4,591 over the threshold. The benefit drops by $535.31 (11.66% of $4,591), leaving about $1,346.69 a year, or roughly $336.67 a payment.
The benefit is worked out per family, not per person. A couple gets one amount based on their combined income.
Who qualifies
- You live in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- You were 64 or older on December 31 of the tax year. For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, that means 64 or older on December 31, 2025. A couple qualifies if at least one of them meets the age rule.
- Your family net income is under $46,550.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner filed tax returns for the previous year.
How to get it
There’s no form. File your tax return every year, even if your only income is CPP, OAS or GIS. The CRA uses your return to work out the Seniors’ Benefit and pays it with your CGEB, in the same deposit or on the same cheque.
If a family member or tax clinic files for you, make sure the return is sent in each spring. A missed return is the most common reason seniors lose this payment.
What changed in 2026
Budget 2026 raised the Seniors’ Benefit by 20%, on top of the usual indexing, starting in July 2026:
- The maximum went from $1,551 to $1,882 a year.
- The full-benefit income limit went from $30,078 to $30,409.
- The benefit now ends at $46,550 of family net income.
The payment it comes with was also renamed in July 2026: the GST/HST credit is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. The dates stay the same.
Payment late, missing or different?
Look for one combined CGEB deposit. The Seniors’ Benefit isn’t paid separately. The calendar at the top of this page shows the dates.
- Wait 10 working days after the payment date, especially if you get cheques.
- Check CRA My Account, or your CRA benefit notice, to see how the payment is split.
- 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.
- A one-time income boost, such as an RRSP withdrawal or the sale of an investment, raised your family net income.
- You turned 64 after December 31 of the tax year, so payments start the following July.
- Your address or bank account changed and the CRA doesn’t have the new one.
Watch for scams. Seniors are often targeted. The CRA and the province never ask for a fee, gift cards, cryptocurrency or passwords by text, email or phone to pay you a benefit. If in doubt, hang up and call the CRA number above yourself.
Other help you might be missing
- Guaranteed Income Supplement: a monthly top-up to OAS for low-income seniors 65 and older.
- Allowance: for 60- to 64-year-olds whose spouse or partner gets GIS.
- NL Income Supplement: up to $520 a year more for low-income people, paid on the same days.
- Old Age Security and CPP: check you’re getting both.
- Benefits checkup: a quick way to see what else you could get.
Common questions
How much is the Newfoundland Seniors’ Benefit in 2026?
From July 2026, up to $1,882 a year if your family net income is $30,409 or less. It’s reduced above that and ends at $46,550.
When is the NL Seniors’ Benefit paid?
Four times a year, in January, April, July and October, in the same deposit as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. The calendar at the top of this page has the exact dates.
Do I need to apply for the Seniors’ Benefit?
No. File your tax return every year and the CRA checks whether you qualify.
Can I get it at 64, before OAS starts?
Yes. The age rule is 64 or older on December 31 of the tax year, so you can qualify a year before OAS begins at 65.
Do both spouses get $1,882?
No. It’s one benefit per family, based on your combined family net income.