federal · Canada-wide

Canada Workers Benefit + disability supplement

The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit that tops up the earnings of working people with low income. "Refundable" means it can pay out even if you owe no tax. If you are DTC-eligible and working, a disability supplement adds up to $843 more per year.

Check if I qualify

Verified Aug 22, 2026
federal program · Canada-wide

Tax filing

At a glance

Worth:: refundable credit while working low-income
Who:: You lived in Canada all year and have working income (from a job or self-employment).
Apply:: Official program page

What it could be worth

Amount

refundable credit while working low-income

Basic maximum (2025): $1,633 single (phase-out starts above $26,855, so payments shrink past that point; gone at $37,742) · $2,813 family (starts above $30,639; gone at $49,393).
Disability supplement maximum: $843 — reduced above $37,740 (single, gone at $43,360); family phase-outs reach $55,009–$60,629 depending on which spouses are DTC-eligible.
Refundable and advanceable: half can arrive before tax season.

Example: A single DTC-eligible worker earns $18,000. She gets the full $1,633 basic CWB plus the full $843 disability supplement. That is about $2,476 for the year, with half of it in advance payments. The exact amount depends on your income, your province, and your DTC eligibility.

How it benefits you

The basic CWB pays up to $1,633 a year for a single person or $2,813 for a family. It is refundable, so it pays out instead of only lowering the tax you owe.
Disability supplement: up to $843/yr on top, for DTC-eligible workers.
Up to 50% can be paid to you in advance during the year (July, October and January payments), not only at tax time.
Amounts are different for residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta, which run separate programs.

What you need to qualify or apply

Eligibility

You lived in Canada all year and have working income (from a job or self-employment).
Your adjusted net income is within the phase-out range for your family situation.
For the disability supplement: you must be eligible for the DTC in the month you file. The CRA checks this for you. There is no separate application — just file your return and claim it.
You are not eligible if you were in prison for 90 days or more, or if you emigrated or died before the eligibility period.

How to apply

File your income tax return. The CWB is worked out on your return when you report working income.
You must claim Schedule 6 (CWB) with your return to receive it.
Check the disability supplement box on Schedule 6 if you are DTC-eligible.
Advance payments: enrol through your return or the child and family benefits calculator. Payment dates are July 12, October 11 and January 10.

Documents you may need

T4 slips or other slips that report your working income (or your self-employment records).
DTC approval (for the supplement) — the CRA checks this itself, so no extra form is needed.