By Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Dates 2026: Monthly Amounts and Who Gets Them
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) is paid on the 10th of every month — or the last business day before it when the 10th falls on a weekend. The next payment lands Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and the last one of the year on Thursday, December 10. For the benefit year from July 2026 to June 2027, the three credits inside the OTB pay up to $1,307 (or $1,488 for seniors) for energy and property tax, plus $378 per person for sales tax, plus up to $290 more in Northern Ontario. Here are all 12 dates, the full maximums, and who gets them.
All 12 Ontario Trillium Benefit payment dates for 2026
| Month | 2026 payment date | Month | 2026 payment date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Friday, January 9 | July | Friday, July 10 |
| February | Tuesday, February 10 | August | Monday, August 10 |
| March | Tuesday, March 10 | September | Thursday, September 10 |
| April | Friday, April 10 | October | Friday, October 9 |
| May | Friday, May 8 | November | Tuesday, November 10 |
| June | Wednesday, June 10 | December | Thursday, December 10 |
Three dates moved in 2026 because the 10th fell on a weekend: January 9 (the 10th was a Saturday), May 8 (the 10th was a Sunday) and October 9 (the 10th was a Saturday). The CRA administers the OTB for the Government of Ontario and issues the payment; direct deposit lands on the date itself, while a mailed cheque can take up to 10 business days longer.
The OTB is the Ontario piece of a larger calendar — see how it fits with CPP, OAS and the federal benefits in our Canada benefit payment dates for 2026.
The three credits inside the Trillium Benefit
The OTB is not one benefit. It is three Ontario credits, calculated separately and paid together in a single deposit:
| Credit | What it helps with | Maximum, July 2026 – June 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) | Rent, property tax, and the sales tax on energy for your main home | $1,307 if you are 18 to 64 · $1,488 if you are 65 or older |
| Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC) | The sales tax low- and moderate-income Ontarians pay | $378 for you, $378 for a spouse or partner, and $378 for each child under 19 |
| Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) | Higher home energy costs in the north | $189 for a single person · $290 for a family |
Your entitlement for July 2026 to June 2027 is calculated from your 2025 tax return and, for the OEPTC and NOEC, from Form ON-BEN, where you report the rent or property tax you paid on your principal residence. No return — and no ON-BEN where it applies — means no payment, even if your income is low.
Each credit is income-tested separately. The OEPTC, for example, starts to shrink by 2% of adjusted family net income above the applicable threshold, which differs for singles, couples, single parents and senior couples. The result is that there is no single “OTB amount” — two households on the same street can receive very different deposits on the same day.
Worked examples: what the maximums add up to
| Household (at the maximums) | Annual total | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Single renter, age 18–64, southern Ontario: $1,307 OEPTC + $378 OSTC | $1,685 | $140.42 |
| Single senior, 65+: $1,488 OEPTC + $378 OSTC | $1,866 | $155.50 |
| Single person, 18–64, Northern Ontario: $1,307 + $378 + $189 NOEC | $1,874 | $156.17 |
These are maximum illustrations — your own amount depends on your income, your rent or property tax, your age and where you live, and most recipients receive less than the maximum. The examples do show the shape of the benefit: for a low-income Ontario renter, the OTB is roughly a $140 to $156 monthly deposit, every month, on a date you can plan around.
The three payment-size rules most people miss
$500 or less for the year? You do not get monthly payments. If your total annual entitlement is $500 or less, the CRA pays it all as one lump sum in the first month of the benefit year — July 2026 for the current year. This threshold rose from $360, so older articles quoting $360 are out of date.
You can choose to wait. If your entitlement is more than $500, you could choose on your tax return (Form ON-BEN) to wait and receive one single payment at the end of the benefit year instead — on June 10, 2027 for the current year — rather than monthly deposits.
Tiny amounts are rounded. A calculated monthly amount between $2 and $10 is rounded up to $10. At $2 or under, no payment is issued.
Who gets the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
You must live in Ontario, be 18 or older (with limited exceptions for younger people who have a spouse, partner or child), and file a tax return for the year the benefit is based on. The OEPTC additionally requires that you paid rent or property tax on your principal residence in Ontario (or lived on a reserve, in a public long-term care home, or in a designated student residence, each with its own smaller amount). The NOEC requires living in one of the northern districts — Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay or Timiskaming. The OSTC is based on family income and size alone.
Families often receive the OTB alongside the monthly Canada Child Benefit on the 20th and the quarterly Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit — three separate programs, three separate calculations, all driven by the same tax return.
Common mistakes that shrink or stop the OTB
Skipping Form ON-BEN. Filing a return alone is not enough for the OEPTC or NOEC — without the ON-BEN application and your rent or property tax amount, those two credits are simply not calculated.
Not filing at all. The entire benefit year is built from your 2025 return. A late or missing return delays or eliminates the payments.
Forgetting to report a move. Moving out of Ontario, or from the north to the south, changes your credits. Tell the CRA when you move; overpayments are recovered later.
Budgeting a lump sum as monthly income. If your entitlement was $500 or less, it already arrived in July. There is no November deposit coming — check your July statement before assuming a payment is missing.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The final payment of 2026 follows on Thursday, December 10, 2026. Payments are issued on the 10th of each month, or the last business day before it when the 10th is a weekend or holiday.
How much is the Ontario Trillium Benefit per month in 2026?
It depends on your credits and income. At the maximums for July 2026 to June 2027, a single adult aged 18 to 64 in southern Ontario can receive $1,685 a year — about $140.42 a month — combining the $1,307 energy and property tax credit with the $378 sales tax credit. Seniors can reach $1,488 on the first credit, and Northern Ontario adds up to $189 single or $290 per family.
Why did I get one Trillium payment in July instead of monthly payments?
Because your total annual entitlement was $500 or less. The CRA pays small annual amounts as a single lump sum in July rather than splitting them across 12 months.
Do I have to apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit every year?
You are assessed automatically from your tax return each year, but the energy and property tax credit and the Northern Ontario energy credit require Form ON-BEN with your return, reporting your rent or property tax. File both, every year.
Is the Ontario Trillium Benefit taxable?
No. The OTB is a tax-free benefit. You do not report it as income.
What if my OTB payment does not arrive on the 10th?
Direct deposit should land on the payment date, though banks post at different times. If you are paid by cheque, allow up to 10 business days. You can see your exact entitlement and payment dates in CRA My Account.
The bottom line
Two OTB payments remain in 2026 — November 10 and December 10 — worth up to about $140 to $156 a month at the maximums for a single person. The amount on its way to you was decided by your 2025 tax return and your ON-BEN form, which makes filing both, on time, the whole game.
