The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is paid on the 10th of each month. When the 10th falls on a weekend or a statutory holiday, the payment arrives on the last business day before it. For the rest of 2026, the OTB payment dates are October 9, November 10, and December 10.
The OTB combines three provincial credits into one payment, so the amount and the schedule are the same whether you qualify for one credit or all three. This guide covers every 2026 payment date, how much you can receive this year, who qualifies, how to apply, and what to do if a payment is late.
Key Takeaways
- The OTB is paid on the 10th of each month, or the last business day before if the 10th is a weekend or holiday.
- The 2026 payment dates are January 9, February 10, March 10, April 10, May 8, June 10, July 10, August 10, September 10, October 9, November 10, and December 10.
- The benefit combines three credits into one monthly payment: the OEPTC, the NOEC, and the OSTC.
- Maximum amounts for the 2026 benefit year reach $1,488 for the OEPTC, $290 for the NOEC, and $378 per person for the OSTC.
- If your total is $500 or less, you receive one lump-sum payment in July instead of monthly deposits.
What Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is a tax-free monthly payment that helps low- to moderate-income Ontario residents cover energy costs, property tax, and sales tax. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) pays it on behalf of the Government of Ontario, and it combines three provincial credits into one deposit.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
The OEPTC helps with the sales tax you pay on home energy and with your property tax.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
The NOEC helps residents of Northern Ontario with the higher home energy costs in that region.
Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
The OSTC offsets part of the sales tax you pay on everyday purchases.
Your 2025 income tax and benefit return, filed with the ON-BEN form, determines your payments for the 2026 benefit year, which runs from July 2026 to June 2027. You can see the full program details on the Ontario Trillium Benefit page.
OTB Payment Dates for 2026
OTB payments are issued on the 10th of each month. When the 10th falls on a weekend or a statutory holiday, the CRA issues the payment on the last business day before the 10th, according to the CRA benefits calendar. The Ontario Trillium Benefit payment dates for 2026 are:
- January 9, 2026 (the 10th falls on a Saturday)
- February 10, 2026
- March 10, 2026
- April 10, 2026
- May 8, 2026 (the 10th falls on a Sunday)
- June 10, 2026
- July 10, 2026
- August 10, 2026
- September 10, 2026
- October 9, 2026 (the 10th falls on a Saturday)
- November 10, 2026
- December 10, 2026
December 10, 2026 falls on a Thursday, so there is no adjustment that month. The CRA has not published the 2027 dates yet, but the same rule applies: expect payment on the 10th, or the last business day before it.
How Much Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit in 2026?
How much you receive depends on which of the three credits you qualify for, your income, your age, your family size, and where you live. These are the maximum amounts for the 2026 benefit year (July 2026 to June 2027), current on the Ontario Trillium Benefit page.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC):
- $1,307 if you are 18 to 64
- $1,488 if you are 65 or older
- $290 if you live on a reserve or in a public long-term care home
- $25 for time spent in a designated college, university, or private school residence in 2025
Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC):
- $189 if you are single
- $290 for families
The NOEC applies to residents of the Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming districts.
Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC):
- $378 for each adult, plus $378 for a spouse or common-law partner and for each dependent child under 19 on the 1st of the payment month
Because the OTB rolls three credits into one, a household that qualifies for all of them can receive more than $2,000 over the benefit year.
Monthly Payments vs. a Single Payment
Whether you get monthly deposits or one lump sum depends on your total entitlement for the year. For the 2026 benefit year, the thresholds are:
- More than $500: you receive monthly payments from July 2026 to June 2027. You can instead choose a single payment in June 2027 by selecting the single-payment option on Form ON-BEN.
- $500 or less: you receive one lump-sum payment in July 2026.
- More than $2 but less than $10: the payment is increased to $10.
- $2 or less: no payment is issued.
The $500 threshold applies to the 2026 benefit year. It was lower in past years, so an older guide may still show a different figure.
Who Qualifies for the OTB
To receive the OTB, you must be an Ontario resident and qualify for at least one of the three credits. In general, you must be a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2025, and meet at least one condition before June 1, 2027.
OEPTC eligibility
You qualify if you were 18 or older, had a spouse or common-law partner, or are a parent who lives or previously lived with your child. You must also have paid rent or property tax for your main residence, lived on a reserve and paid for home energy, or lived in a public long-term care home and paid for accommodation.
NOEC eligibility
You qualify if you lived in a Northern Ontario district (Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, or Timiskaming) and met the same age and housing conditions as the OEPTC.
OSTC eligibility
You qualify if you were 19 or older, had a spouse or common-law partner, or are a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.
Your eligibility is checked against where you live on the 1st of each payment month. If you move out of Ontario, or from Northern to Southern Ontario partway through the year, your payments adjust from the following month.
How to Apply for the OTB
You do not fill out a separate OTB application. You apply by filing your income tax return and the ON-BEN form each year. Here is how:
- File your 2025 income tax and benefit return, even if you had no income to report.
- Complete the ON-BEN Application Form included with your return.
- File by April 30, 2026 so your payments start on time in July.
- On the ON-BEN form, choose monthly payments, or a single June 2027 payment if your total is over $500.
The CRA reviews your return and confirms which of the three credits you qualify for. If you are approved, payments begin in July 2026.
How Your OTB Is Paid
The CRA pays the OTB the same way it pays your tax refund. If you are set up for direct deposit, your payment goes straight to your bank account. If you are not, the CRA mails a cheque on the 10th of each month, which can take up to 10 business days to arrive.
On your bank statement, the deposit often shows up as "Canada PRO," the CRA's label for Ontario benefit payments including the OTB. If you have seen a Canada PRO deposit and were not sure what it was, that is usually your Trillium payment. Direct deposit is faster and more reliable, and you can set it up through CRA My Account.
Filing Deadlines and Payment Timing
File your 2025 income tax and benefit return by April 30, 2026 to receive your OTB payments on time, starting in July 2026. The key dates for the benefit year are:
- April 30, 2026: deadline to file your 2025 return for on-time payments.
- July 10, 2026: first payment of the 2026 benefit year.
- June 10, 2027: final monthly payment of the benefit year.
If you file late, you still receive the benefit, but your first payment may be delayed until your return is assessed. Contact the CRA if you qualify but do not receive a payment by July 24, or by the 24th of any following month. The CRA also asks that you wait 10 working days from a payment date before contacting them about a missing deposit.
Other Benefits You May Qualify For
If you receive the OTB, you may also qualify for other federal and Ontario programs. Each has its own schedule and rules, so check the dedicated guide for the one you need:
- Canada Child Benefit (CCB): tax-free monthly payments for families with children under 18. See the CCB payment dates.
- GST/HST credit: quarterly payments that offset the sales tax you pay. See the GST payment dates.
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP): monthly retirement and disability payments. See the CPP payment dates.
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): monthly income support for people with disabilities. See the ODSP payment dates.
The Canada Carbon Rebate has ended. The federal fuel charge was removed in 2025 and the final rebate was issued that year, so it is no longer part of the benefits calendar.
Bridging the Gap Between Payments
The OTB helps with recurring costs, but it is not built for emergencies, and the monthly amount is often small. When a bill lands before your next payment, or your OTB is lower than you expected, an interest-free option can cover the gap without the cost of a payday loan.
Bree is the interest-free line of credit we built for Canadians who live between paycheques and benefit payments. You can access up to $750 with 0% interest, no credit check, and no mandatory fees. Funds arrive by direct deposit to your bank account. Standard delivery is free, and an optional express fee can get your money in minutes. You repay on your own schedule.
We accept government benefits like CPP, the CCB, EI, and ODSP as qualified income, which most cash advance apps do not. You need consistent deposits of at least $1,200 a month to qualify. More than 600,000 Canadians use Bree, and it holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from over 8,000 reviews. If your OTB is delayed or does not stretch far enough, see how Bree can bridge the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Ontario Trillium Benefit payments in 2026?
OTB payments in 2026 are issued on January 9, February 10, March 10, April 10, May 8, June 10, July 10, August 10, September 10, October 9, November 10, and December 10. Payments land on the 10th, or the last business day before when the 10th is a weekend or holiday.
What day is trillium deposited?
The OTB is deposited on the 10th of each month. If the 10th falls on a weekend or a statutory holiday, the payment arrives on the last business day before the 10th.
How much is the Ontario Trillium Benefit in 2026?
For the 2026 benefit year, the maximum amounts are up to $1,488 for the OEPTC, up to $290 for the NOEC, and up to $378 per person for the OSTC. Your actual amount depends on your income, age, family size, and where you live.
Why is my Ontario Trillium Benefit so low?
Your OTB may be low because it is income-tested and based on which of the three credits you qualify for. Not everyone qualifies for all three, and a higher income on your 2025 return reduces the amount. If your annual total is $500 or less, you receive it as a single payment in July rather than monthly deposits.
Can I get the OTB if I am a student or have no income?
Yes. You can qualify as a student or with no income, as long as you file your tax return and the ON-BEN form. The benefit is based on your housing and living situation, not only your income, so residents with little or no income can still receive support.
Do I need to reapply for the OTB every year?
Yes. You must file your income tax return and ON-BEN form each year to keep receiving the OTB, even if you have no income. The CRA recalculates your eligibility and amount from your latest return, and there is no separate application.
Conclusion
The Ontario Trillium Benefit delivers monthly support for energy, property tax, and sales tax costs to lower-income Ontario households. For 2026, payments arrive on the 10th of each month, or the last business day before, and the maximum amounts run up to $1,488 for the OEPTC, $290 for the NOEC, and $378 per person for the OSTC. File your 2025 return and ON-BEN form by April 30, 2026 to receive your payments on time from July.
When a payment is delayed or smaller than you counted on, Bree gives Canadians an interest-free line of credit of up to $750 to bridge the gap, with no interest and no credit check. You can see how Bree works, or review related schedules like the Canada RIT deposit guide to understand other payments that land in your account.
Sources
Join our newsletter to get the latest updates
.png)
