Canada Workers Benefit 2027 calculator: Budget 2026's Build Canada Workers Benefit
Updated November 12, 2026 · Budget 2026 (November 5, 2026) and CRA amounts · Proposal, not yet law
Budget 2026 would raise the Canada Workers Benefit to $1,859 for single workers and $3,143 for families in 2027 and start paying it from the first $500 of earnings, worth up to $675 more for low earners. The catch: advance payments are cut in half. A single person earning $15,000 would get $1,859 for 2027 ($150 more), but only $416.25 of it in advance instead of $832.50.
Your 2027 Canada Workers Benefit
What Budget 2026 changes
| 2027 amounts (federal) | Current law | Budget 2026 proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum, single without children | $1,709 | $1,859 |
| Maximum, families | $2,943 | $3,143 |
| Starts building at working income of | $3,000 | $500 |
| Build-up rate | 27% | 27% (unchanged) |
| Full benefit reached at | $9,330 single / $13,900 family | $7,385 single / $12,141 family |
| Phase-out starts (net income), single | $28,104 | $27,104 |
| Phase-out starts, families | $32,064 | $30,731 |
| Phase-out rate | 15% | 15% (unchanged) |
| Benefit ends at about | $39,497 single / $51,684 family | Same |
| Advance payments for 2027 | 50% of your 2026 benefit | 25%; none from 2028 |
For comparison, the 2026 maximums are $1,665 and $2,869 (CRA). Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut have their own CWB amounts under agreements with Ottawa.
2027 benefit by working income: single, no children
Assumes net income equals working income and the same income in 2026 (for the advance).
| Working income | Current law | Budget 2026 | Change | Paid in advance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $0 | $405 | +$405 | $0 |
| $3,000 | $0 | $675 | +$675 | $0 |
| $5,000 | $540 | $1,215 | +$675 | $135 |
| $7,500 | $1,215 | $1,859 | +$644 | $304 |
| $10,000 | $1,709 | $1,859 | +$150 | $416 |
| $20,000 | $1,709 | $1,859 | +$150 | $416 |
| $27,500 | $1,709 | $1,800 | +$91 | $412 |
| $30,000 | $1,425 | $1,425 | – | $318 |
| $35,000 | $675 | $675 | – | $131 |
Single parents (family amounts)
| Working income | Current law | Budget 2026 | Change | Paid in advance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $540 | $1,215 | +$675 | $135 |
| $10,000 | $1,890 | $2,565 | +$675 | $473 |
| $15,000 | $2,943 | $3,143 | +$200 | $717 |
| $25,000 | $2,943 | $3,143 | +$200 | $717 |
| $31,000 | $2,943 | $3,103 | +$160 | $717 |
| $35,000 | $2,503 | $2,503 | – | $577 |
| $45,000 | $1,003 | $1,003 | – | $202 |
Couples use combined working income and adjusted family net income; the lower earner can exclude up to about $17,149 of their working income from family net income (the secondary earner exemption: $16,714 for 2026, our indexed estimate for 2027).
What you can do
- File your 2026 return on time. The CWB and its advance payments come only through your tax return; even with little income, filing is what pays you.
- Plan for smaller advance cheques in July 2027. If you rely on the July, October and January payments, expect about half as much, with the balance in your 2028 refund.
- Count every bit of work income. Under the proposal, earnings from $500 up count, so part-time and gig income matters more.
- Check the other credits. Low-income workers often also qualify for the grocery and essentials benefit. See your grocery benefit →
Your 2027 paycheque also changes: CPP drops to 5.75%. See your CPP and EI →
Questions people ask
How much is the Canada Workers Benefit for 2027?
Under Budget 2026's proposal, up to $1,859 for a single person without children and $3,143 for families (couples and single parents), up from $1,709 and $2,943 under current law. The benefit starts building once working income passes $500 (instead of $3,000) and grows by 27 cents per dollar.
Who gets more from the Build Canada Workers Benefit?
Anyone with working income above $500 and net income below the phase-out threshold. Low earners gain the most, up to $675, because the benefit starts at $500: a single person earning $5,000 goes from $540 to $1,215. Most others get $150 more (singles) or $200 more (families). Nobody gets less for the year.
What happens to the Advance Canada Workers Benefit?
For 2027 the advance payments would drop from 50% to 25% of your 2026 benefit, and from 2028 they would end. You still get the full benefit, but more of it arrives after you file your tax return instead of in July, October and January.
When is the Canada Workers Benefit fully phased out in 2027?
At about $39,497 of adjusted net income for single people and $51,684 of adjusted family net income for families. The budget lowered the phase-out thresholds to $27,104 and $30,731 so the end points stay the same.
Is the Build Canada Workers Benefit law yet?
Not yet. It was proposed in Budget 2026 (tabled November 5, 2026) for the 2027 and later tax years and needs legislation. We will update this calculator when the bill passes or the CRA publishes the final amounts.
How do I apply for the Canada Workers Benefit?
File your tax return: the CRA works out the benefit from Schedule 6. You generally need to be 19 or older (or live with a spouse or child), be resident in Canada for the whole year, and not be a full-time student for more than 13 weeks unless you have an eligible dependant.
Does this include the disability supplement?
No. People eligible for the Disability Tax Credit can also get the CWB disability supplement. Budget 2026 would lower the income at which it starts from $1,150 to $200 of working income.
Sources
- Budget 2026, Tax Measures: Supplementary Information, Build Canada Workers Benefit (Nov 5, 2026)
- Finance Canada: Budget 2026 key measures
- CRA: indexation adjustment for personal income tax and benefit amounts (2026 CWB amounts)
- CRA: Canada workers benefit eligibility
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