Canada Workers Benefit (CWB): How it Works, Eligibility & Advance Payments

The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is an improved version of the Working Income Tax Benefit. It’s designed to help over two million low-income workers and their families with the rising costs of basic necessities. Find out if you qualify for the CWB, how much you could be entitled to, and how to apply.

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Over the past few decades, the cost of living has skyrocketed throughout the country while wages have stagnated. More Canadians are finding it harder to make ends meet at the end of every month and struggle to pay for necessities such as rent, childcare, and healthy food for their families. To combat this, the government has implemented the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), a tax benefit designed to put more money in the pockets of low-income workers.

What is the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)?

Formerly known as the Working Income Tax Benefit, the Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit that provides financial support for low-income workers and their families. The CWB also includes a disability supplement for eligible Canadians.

How much can I receive from the CWB and CWB Disability Supplement?

Maximum Yearly Amount

(Excludes Alberta, Nunavut, and Quebec)

$24,975 (Single Individuals)

The amount of your CWB payments depend on your province of residence, marital status, working income, net income, eligible dependents, and eligibility for the disability supplement.

Please note that maximum amounts and net income levels are different if you live in Alberta, Nunavut, and Quebec. Check out the government’s calculation sheets and the child and family benefits calculator to find out exactly how much you’re eligible for.

Who qualifies for the Canada Workers Benefit?

• a Canadian resident
• 19 years of age or older on December 31 – If you’re under the age of 19, you can still qualify if you have a spouse or common-law partner, or an eligible dependant.

You cannot claim CWB if you are:

• a full-time student for more than 13 weeks in the year
• in prison for 90 days or more during the year
• not required to pay tax in Canada

To qualify for the CWD Disability Supplement, you must:

• have an approved Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201) on file with the CRA
• earn working income
• be eligible for the Canada Workers Benefit

How do I apply for the Canada Workers Benefit?

You can apply for the CWB in three easy steps:

1. When it’s time to file your taxes, fill out Schedule 6 (Canada Workers Benefit) – this can be done using free certified tax software. Complete step 3 in Schedule 6 if you want to apply for the disability supplement.
2. Take the amount from line 42 of Schedule 6 and enter it on line 45300 of your income tax and benefit return.
3. File your return to the CRA. Be sure to include your completed Schedule 6 forms if you’re mailing it in.

Can I request advance CWB payments?

You don't have to wait for tax season; the CRA can give eligible Canadians up to 50% of the benefit as an advance payment. The CWB advance payment dates for 2024 are:

January 12, 2024

There are two ways to request advance payment:

• Log into your CRA account and complete the Canada Workers Benefit advance payments application.
• Fill out the Canada Workers Benefit payments application (Form RC201) and then mail it to the Sudbury Tax Centre. Remember to complete Part 3 of the form if you want to apply for the disability supplement. The form needs to be in by August 31 and you only need to send one application if you and your spouse or common-law partner are both eligible for the CWB.

Can I get a loan while receiving the Canada Workers Benefit?

The CWB can actually increase your chances of getting a loan as lenders see the benefit as income. Take a look at this article for more information on loan options and how to get a CWB loan from a lender you can trust.

Related articles

• How To Get A Loan With The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)

• Disability Tax Credit: Who Qualifies, How Much Is It, And How To Apply

• How Much Can I Get With The Canada Child Benefit?

About the Author

Jessica Steer

Financial Content Writer

Jessica Steer is a Content Writer at Spring Financial. She has years of personal finance experience, particularly with personal loans and credit-building solutions. Along with this, she has written hundreds of financial articles featured in several online publications.

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