On July 5, 2023, 11 million eligible Canadians received a Grocery Rebate to help pay for rising food prices due to inflation. This rebate was a "top-up" for Canadians who received regularly scheduled quarterly GST/HST credit payments.
The Grocery Rebate arrived at a good time – Statistics Canada reported that as of April 2023, grocery prices had shot up nearly 10% over the previous year.
There was no application necessary to receive the 2023 Grocery Rebate. All that was required was that you had filed your income taxes for 2021.
Key Takeaways
- The Grocery Rebate was on July 5, 2023 to lower-income Canadians who qualify for the GST/HST credit.
- Eligible Canadians received between $234 and $628.
- The amount you received for this rebate depended on your relationship status and the size of your family.
- There was no application process for the Grocery Rebate. All that was needed is for you to have filed your 2021 taxes.
- You can save money on groceries by planning your meals, checking prices in advance, using coupons, and paying with the right credit card.
Will there be another grocery rebate in 2024?
There will not be a Grocery Rebate offered in 2024.
The Federal Government confirmed in July 2024 that the 2023 Grocery Rebate was a one-time plan and would not be issued this year.
How much is the grocery rebate?
The amount eligible Canadians received as part of the Grocery Rebate payment was based on their relationship status and the size of their family. Essentially, it doubled the amount one would have received for their GST payment in January 2023.
Below is an overview of the various family sizes and what the associated Grocery Rebate payments looked like.
| # of children | Payment amounts if you're single | Payment amounts if you're married/have a partner |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $234 | $306 |
| 1 | $387 | $387 |
| 2 | $467 | $467 |
| 3 | $548 | $548 |
| 4 | $628 | $628 |
Who was eligible for the grocery rebate?
Anyone who received a GST credit payment in January 2023 also received a Grocery Rebate amount – eligibility for both payments was essentially the same.
Family size and adjusted family net income were qualifying factors for both the GST/HST credit and the Grocery Rebate.
To receive a Grocery Rebate payment, recipients were required to be a resident of Canada for tax purposes, and have met one of the following criteria:
- Be 19 or older
- Have filed a 2021 tax return
- Have a valid social insurance number
While it wasn’t stated on the government site, a Global News article on the "Grocery rebate rollout" noted another eligibility detail – your annual income amount. Individuals couldn't have made more than $32,000 per year, and a household could only have a combined income of $38,000 to have qualified for the Grocery Rebate.
Do I need to apply for the grocery rebate?
No – the CRA is not currently offering a Grocery Rebate for 2024.
For the 2023 Rebate, you did not have to apply. Everyone who filed their tax return in 2021 was eligible for the 2023 Grocery Rebate and received the payment automatically.
How to save on groceries
As of September 2024, Statistics Canada reported that inflation had increased by 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. But even if inflation continues to rise, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to save at grocery stores and everywhere else you shop.
Use price comparison websites, coupons, and shop with a credit card that provides cash back or rewards, in order to save.
Let's look at these options in a bit more detail.
1. Plan your meals in advance
Planning out your meals before shopping is the first step towards saving money. By planning ahead of time, you'll be able to take advantage of for-sale food items that week.
A few grocery apps that can help with your meal planning include:
- Mealime
- Big Oven
- Paprika
2. Price check as much as you can
Whether it's groceries, electronics, clothing, or just about anything else, checking the prices before shopping can help you save money. Aside from looking at the grocery store's weekly online flyer, there are other ways to price-check.
Be sure to check:
- Store flyers
- Coupon apps
- Use price comparison websites
Take advantage of price-matching policies offered by various retailers. Several grocery stores offer this, such as No Frills. This can save you both time and money by not driving from store to store to get the best deals. It's worth checking out.
One last tip – buy in bulk it if will be cheaper overall. Costco prices are generally fantastic, but not always. Compare these prices to local sales before dropping a bundle of cash all at once.
Bonus: Download thisGrocery Store Price Comparison Spreadsheet so you can easily compare the prices at your local grocery stores.
3. Use coupons whenever possible
Coupons, whether in paper form or digital, can help save you money. Before hitting the grocery store, do the following:
- Go through newspapers and flyers for coupon clippings
- Use handy coupon apps to find deals
- Use coupon-specific websites such as save.ca
FAQ
What is the Canada Grocery Rebate?
The Canada Grocery Rebate was a payment that was provided to eligible Canadians along with the GST/HST credit payment on July 5, 2023. The federal government offered this as a way to help offset rising grocery prices.
When did the grocery rebate start?
The Grocery Rebate was a one-time payment that went out on July 5, 2023. It was not a benefit program, so recipients shouldn't expect to receive it more than once. It wasn’t meant to be a recurring payment.
When was the grocery rebate be paid out?
Eligible Canadians received the Grocery Rebate payment on July 5, 2023. This coincided with the quarterly GST/HST payment date, so recipients should have received both their GST rebate and the grocery rebate on this date.
Who got the grocery rebate in Canada?
If you were eligible for and received GST credit payments, you were also eligible for the Canada Grocery Rebate. You must also have filed your 2021 tax return and you (and your spouse/partner) must have valid SINs.
How much would I have received from the Canadian federal Grocery Rebate?
The Grocery Rebate amount you would have received depended on your relationship status and the size of your family. Payment amounts ranged from $234 for a single person with no children to $628 for someone with a partner and 4 children.
Are we getting the grocery rebate in 2024?
No, there will be no grocery rebate made in 2024. The Grocery Rebate was a payment issued by the federal government in July 2023, but it was never meant to be a recurring or annual payment.
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