Income-tested benefits in 2026: the thresholds that matter
Many federal benefits are paid on a sliding scale of family income, but each one starts to shrink at a different income, uses a different income measure, and reduces at a different pace. Knowing where the lines fall helps you plan.
5 min read
At what income do the main federal benefits stop?
For the periods starting in 2026: the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit starts to reduce at $46,432 and ends between about $60,000 and $85,000 depending on family; the Canada Workers Benefit for a single person ends at $37,742 of income; the Dental Care Plan stops at $90,000; the child disability benefit starts to reduce at $82,847.
The four side by side
These are the figures our calculators use, taken from the Canada Revenue Agency and Government of Canada pages cited on each.
| Benefit | Reduction starts | Reduction pace | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (July 2026 to June 2027) | $46,432 | 5% of income above | Zero between $60,012 (single, no children) and about $85,000 (four children) |
| Canada Workers Benefit (2025 tax year) | $26,855 single, $30,639 family | 15% of income above | $37,742 single, $49,393 family |
| Canadian Dental Care Plan | Co-payment from $70,000 | 0% under $70,000, 40% to $79,999, 60% to $89,999 | $90,000 |
| Child disability benefit (July 2026 to June 2027) | $82,847 | 3.2% (one child) or 5.7% (two or more) of income above | About $191,600 for one child |
Estimate each with the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit calculator, the Canada Workers Benefit calculator, the Dental Care Plan calculator and the child disability benefit calculator.
Different measures of income
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, the Canada Workers Benefit and the dental plan all use an adjusted family net income, but the Canada Workers Benefit also builds on working income, which is earnings from work. The dental plan's measure takes out UCCB and RDSP income received and adds back amounts repaid. Knowing which line of the return feeds each one avoids surprises.
Why the pace matters
A reduction rate is an extra tax on the next dollar. A 15% reduction on the Canada Workers Benefit comes on top of income tax, so in that income range the effective marginal rate is higher than the tax rate alone. The dental plan works differently: it steps rather than slopes, so crossing $70,000 or $80,000 by a dollar changes the share you pay.
Dates to watch
The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the child disability benefit are recalculated every July from the previous year's return. The dental plan's benefit period ends each June 30. Check each tool's source line for the page date.