The Québec work premium [prime au travail] is a refundable tax credit for people who work but earn a low income. You can wait and get it when you file your Québec tax return, or ask Revenu Québec for monthly advance payments. Advance payments arrive no later than the 15th of each month.
How much you’ll get
The amount depends on your work income, your family income and your family situation. These are the maximums for 2026:
| Family situation | Work premium, maximum for 2026 | Adapted work premium, maximum for 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Person living alone | $1,207.33 | $2,294.59 |
| Couple without children | $1,882.45 | $3,559.12 |
| Single parent | $3,122.40 | $4,218.00 |
| Couple with at least one child | $4,057.00 | $5,234.00 |
The premium goes down as your family income gets closer to the limit for your situation. If you qualify for both the work premium and the adapted work premium, you get the larger one.
Advance payments are only part of the premium. They equal 75% of the premium you expect for the year, or 50% if you have a dependent child. You get the rest when you file your return.
Example: a person living alone. Marie expects the full $1,207.33 for 2026. Her advance payments total 75% of that, about $905.50. If she applied by December 1, 2025, that’s 12 payments of about $75.46. The remaining $301.83 comes with her 2026 return.
Example: a single parent. Karim expects the full $3,122.40. With a dependent child, his advance payments are 50%, or $1,561.20, about $130.10 a month over 12 months.
The supplement to the work premium is a separate $200 a month, for up to 12 months in a row, for people who leave social assistance or the Aim for Employment Program for a job. That’s up to $2,400 for a person living alone, or $4,800 for a couple if both spouses start working. Advance payments of the supplement are also $200 a month.
Who qualifies
You may get the work premium if all of these are true:
- You lived in Québec on December 31 and are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person or an Indian under the Indian Act.
- You were 18 or older on December 31, or you had a spouse, a child living with you, or were an emancipated minor.
- You or your spouse had employment income, business income, a research grant or Wage Earner Protection Program payments.
- For 2025, your work income was over $2,400 if you live alone or are a single parent, or over $3,600 combined for a couple.
- Your family income was under the limit. For 2025 the limits were $24,475 (living alone), $38,017 (couple without children), $43,280 (single parent) and $59,369 (couple with a child).
- You weren’t a full-time student, unless you’re the parent of a child living with you.
The adapted work premium is for people with a severely limited capacity for employment. You or your spouse must have received a Social Solidarity or Basic Income Program allowance for that reason in the year or the last five years, or be entitled to the amount for a severe and prolonged impairment. Work income must be over $1,200, and the 2025 family income limits were higher, for example $40,371 for a person living alone.
How to get it
- File your Québec income tax return and complete Schedule P. This is how most people get the premium, all at once.
- For monthly advance payments, apply in My Account for individuals on the Revenu Québec website, or mail form TPZ-1029.8.P-V with a recent pay slip or proof of business income.
- Register for direct deposit. Advance payments are only paid that way.
- Wait for Revenu Québec’s decision, usually within 45 days.
To get advance payments, you must expect a premium over $300 for the year, or over $500 if you have a dependent child. The deadline for 2026 advance payments is October 15, 2026. To get all 12 payments in 2027, apply by December 1, 2026. If you apply later, your amount is spread over the months left.
For the supplement, use form TPZ-1029.8.PS-V and send it to a Services Québec office. For a paper form, call 1 877 767-8773.
What changed in 2026
The maximum premiums went up for 2026. For example, the maximum for a person living alone rose from $1,185.52 for 2025 to $1,207.33 for 2026, and for a couple with a child from $3,983.50 to $4,057.00.
Payment late, missing or different?
Revenu Québec doesn’t publish an exact payment day. It only says each advance payment arrives no later than the 15th. If yours hasn’t arrived by the end of the 15th:
- Check My Account for individuals. It shows your last payments and the status of your application.
- Check with your bank.
- Call Revenu Québec: 418 659-6299 (Québec City area), 514 864-6299 (Montréal area) or 1 800 267-6299 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Common reasons for a missing or smaller payment: you haven’t filed a return for an earlier year when you got advance payments, your income or family situation changed, or your bank details are out of date.
Revenu Québec never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords by text or email. Don’t click links in messages that say you’re owed a refund.
Other help you might be missing
- Québec solidarity tax credit: paid early each month to many low-income households who file Schedule D.
- Canada Workers Benefit: the federal credit for low-income workers, with its own advance payments.
- Québec Family Allowance and the Canada Child Benefit: if you have children under 18.
- Shelter Allowance: up to $170 a month if you’re 50 or older or have a child and spend a lot of your income on rent.
Common questions
When is the Québec work premium paid?
If you asked for advance payments, you get one each month, no later than the 15th. Otherwise, you get the whole premium with your Québec tax refund.
How much is the work premium for a single person in 2026?
The maximum for a person living alone is $1,207.33 for 2026. The adapted work premium can go up to $2,294.59. Most people get less, because the premium goes down as income rises.
Do I have to pay back advance payments?
You may, if you no longer qualify or your situation changes during the year. That’s why advance payments are only 50% to 75% of what you expect.
Can I still apply for advance payments for 2026?
Yes, until October 15, 2026. You’ll get fewer payments, because the amount is spread over the months left in the year.