What is the 2024 Grocery Rebate in Canada? A Clear Explanation

If you’re a low or modest-income household or individual and are struggling to afford daily essentials like groceries, you may have heard about the 2024 Grocery Rebate in Canada.

The 2023 Grocery Rebate was introduced as part of the ‘Canada 2023 Budget’ as a one-time payment to provide financial support to up to 11 million eligible individuals amidst rising living costs. But will there be a 2024 Grocery Rebate? And has the eligibility criteria changed?

This article will explain everything you need to know about the 2024 Grocery Rebate in Canada, from what it is and how it works to when it’s paid and where to access further information

What is the Grocery Rebate Canada 2024?

The Grocery Rebate was launched in a bid to help negate the rising cost of groceries which, according to Statistics Canada, grew by 9.1% between April 2022 and 2023. This has been attributed to a lack of competition within the Canadian grocery sector.

The payment was issued to low and modest-income Canadians on July 5, 2023, alongside the quarterly GST/HST credit payment, which was based on their 2021 tax return.

There has been no official confirmation from the government about a Grocery Rebate for 2024 but an announcement is expected to be made soon – especially given that inflation and grocery prices have continued to rise.

How much will I receive with the Grocery Rebate 2024?

The 2023 Grocery Rebate payments were equivalent to double the GST/HST credit amount you received in January 2023, which was based on the 2021 tax return. Put simply, you received the Grocery Rebate if you were entitled to GST/HST in January 2023 and filed a tax return for 2021 (even if you had no income to report for that year).

Furthermore, you could qualify for the Grocery Rebate but not GST/HST and vice versa as they are calculated based on different tax years. It is crucial you find out this information before the payment date so you know how much to expect.

If you were single, you could have received a maximum payment of up to:

• $234 (no children)
• $387 (one child)
• $467 (two children)
• $548 (three children)
• $628 (four children)

If you were married or had a common-law partner, you could have received a maximum payment of up to:

• $306 (no children)
• $387 (one child)
• $467 (two children)
• $548 (three children)
• $628 (four children)

We’ve provided a number of examples below:

Category Net Income Rebate Amount

Single mother $30,000 $386.50

Single senior citizen $20,000 $233.50

Couple with two children $35,000 $467

Remember, the Grocery Rebate is designed to be a one-off payment, not a monthly occurrence. Once you’ve received the payment, you won’t receive it again unless the government confirms it will return next year and you meet the eligibility criteria.

If a Grocery Rebate is confirmed for 2024, the amount you’ll receive will likely be determined by your adjusted family net income for 2022 and your individual circumstances in January 2024.

Am I eligible for the Grocery Rebate?

As previously mentioned, the government has yet to announce a Grocery Rebate for 2024. However, to qualify for the 2023 Grocery Rebate, you must have:

• Been entitled to GST/HST credit in January 2023
• Been at least 19 years old
• Met the income requirements (a household income of $38,000 or less or an individual income of $32,000 or less)

When and how will the Grocery Rebate be paid?

The Grocery Rebate is delivered to eligible individuals by direct deposit or cheque through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The CRA will automatically deposit the payment into your bank account if you have opted for direct deposit. Otherwise, a cheque will be mailed to your registered address (this may take longer).

If you are eligible for the Grocery Rebate but didn’t receive it on the expected payment date, you should wait at least 10 days before contacting the CRA for an update.

What other help was announced alongside the Canada Grocery Rebate?

As well as the Grocery Rebate, the government also topped up the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) by $2 billion in an attempt to reduce backlogs and wait times and provide more support to pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms.

The CHT is a federal transfer payment made to provinces and territories to support their healthcare systems. This top-up brought the total amount of funding from $49.421 billion to $51.421 billion.

What are the potential challenges and solutions of the Canada Grocery Rebate?

The Grocery Rebate was introduced as a means of providing some much-needed financial support to eligible Canadians struggling with rising food prices.

However, while the payment was welcomed by many, there are still various challenges that need to be addressed to help those grappling with increasing living costs. We’ve outlined thee main issues below:

Wait times

One of the biggest challenges to arise is the backlog of applications and the subsequent wait times for processing which has left many people waiting months for payment.

The government has addressed this by working quickly to streamline the application process and employing more staff to process applications more quickly and efficiently.

GST/HST eligibility

Another challenge is the confusion around the GST/HST credit amount and the Grocery Rebate amount with some people mistakenly believing that they will receive both benefits which has led to disappointment when only one payment arrives.

To address this issue, the government has been working to clarify the eligibility requirements and the amount individuals will receive for each benefit.

The fixed payments

Some people have expressed concern that the Canada Grocery Rebate payment amount is not enough to cover the rising cost of groceries. While it is designed to provide temporary relief to those who need it most, it does not address the problem of increased food costs and inflation on a wider scale.

The Canadian government has been working to find other ways to support eligible individuals who are struggling with the cost of living, such as increasing the GST/HST credit amount.