Date: October 6, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Eligible Ontario residents receiving the Ontario Trillium Benefit are set to receive their next payment on Friday, October 9, 2026, as the monthly benefit continues under the 2026–27 payment year.
The payment is arriving one day earlier than the usual October 10 schedule because October 10 falls on a Saturday. The Canada Revenue Agency says Ontario Trillium Benefit payments are generally issued on the 10th of each month, but when the 10th falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the payment is issued on the last working day before it.
The October payment is the fourth scheduled instalment of the 2026–27 benefit year, which began with the July 10 payment and runs through June 2027. The CRA has confirmed October 9, November 10 and December 10 as the remaining OTB payment dates for 2026.
The Ontario Trillium Benefit is not a single stand-alone tax credit. It combines three provincial credits administered by the CRA: the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Northern Ontario Energy Credit and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit. A person only needs to qualify for at least one of the three credits to receive an OTB payment.
The amount an individual receives depends on several factors, including income, age, family size, where the person lives and, for applicable credits, the amount paid in rent or property taxes. Because of these differences, there is no single payment amount that applies to every Ontario resident.
For the 2026 benefit year, OTB calculations are based on information from the taxpayer's 2025 income tax and benefit return. Eligible residents generally do not have to submit a separate application for the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, while people seeking the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit or Northern Ontario Energy Credit must complete the appropriate ON-BEN information with their tax return.
Residents who have already been assessed by the CRA and qualify for the monthly payment schedule should generally receive their October payment automatically. Those receiving payments by direct deposit can expect the funds to be deposited into their bank account, while people without direct deposit may receive a cheque by mail.
Not everyone eligible for the OTB receives monthly payments. If a person's annual 2026 OTB entitlement is $500 or less, the CRA generally issues the entire amount as a single payment in the first payment month, usually July, rather than dividing it into monthly instalments.
People with an annual entitlement above $500 normally receive monthly payments. However, those who selected the lump-sum option on their 2025 tax return can instead receive their full 2026 OTB entitlement at the end of the benefit year, with the payment scheduled for June 10, 2027.
The October 9 payment does not represent a new increase to the OTB. Instead, it is the regularly scheduled fourth instalment of the current benefit year. The benefit calculation for recipients whose circumstances have not changed continues to reflect the information used by the CRA when determining their 2026 entitlement.
People who filed their 2025 tax return late can still qualify for the benefit if they meet the requirements, but their payments may be delayed. The CRA says that when a qualifying 2025 return is assessed after June 19, 2026, the first OTB payment will generally be issued within four to eight weeks after the assessment, followed by payments on the regular schedule.
Ontario residents who have moved, changed their family circumstances or experienced changes in their income should make sure their information with the CRA is current. Changes can affect eligibility or the amount of a person's benefit.
The Northern Ontario Energy Credit is specifically designed for eligible residents of northern Ontario communities and districts. The credit is intended to help offset energy costs, while the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit helps eligible residents with property tax and energy costs. The Ontario Sales Tax Credit provides assistance to eligible lower- and moderate-income Ontario residents.
People turning 18 during the benefit year may also qualify. Ontario says that individuals who turn 18 before June 2027 should file their tax return to be considered for the benefit. For example, someone turning 18 in November 2026 can file their 2025 return and, if eligible, receive the next scheduled payment after reaching age 18.
For residents waiting for their October payment, the CRA recommends checking their CRA My Account to see upcoming benefit payments and confirming that their banking information is correct. The agency also says recipients should wait 10 working days after the scheduled payment date before contacting it about a missing OTB payment.
The October 9 payment is part of a broader schedule of government benefits being distributed to Canadians this fall. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which replaced the GST/HST credit earlier this year, has its next payment scheduled for October 5, while the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit is scheduled for October 9.
For eligible Ontario residents, however, the October 9 OTB deposit is the key date to watch. The next OTB payment after October will be issued on November 10, followed by the December 10 payment. The current benefit year will continue through June 2027 before the CRA begins calculating the next cycle using information from 2026 tax returns.
With household expenses continuing to place pressure on many Ontario families, the Ontario Trillium Benefit remains an important source of tax-free assistance for eligible residents. While payment amounts vary from one household to another, residents can confirm their individual entitlement through their CRA account and should keep their tax and personal information up to date to avoid unnecessary payment delays.