Who is eligible

Depending on your income and other circumstances, you may be eligible for the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB).

On this page

• Basic amount eligibility
• Disability supplement eligibility

Basic amount eligibility

You are eligible for the basic amount of the CWB if you meet all the following conditions:

• Earn working income and your net income is below the net income level set for your province or territory of residence
• Are a resident of Canada throughout the year
• Are 19 years of age or older on December 31, or you live with your spouse or common-law partner or your child

You are not eligible for the CWB if any of the following applies:

• Are enrolled as a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the year unless, on December 31, you have an eligible dependant
• Are confined to a prison or similar institution for a period of at least 90 days during the year
• Do not have to pay tax in Canada because you are an officer or servant of another country, such as a diplomat, or you are a family member or employee of that person

Who an eligible spouse or common-law partner is

For CWB purposes, an eligible spouse is someone who meets all the following conditions:

• Lives with you as your spouse or common-law partner on December 31
• Is a resident of Canada throughout the year

Your spouse or common-law partner is not an eligible spouse for the CWB purposes if any of the following applies:

• Are enrolled as a full-time student at a designated educational institution for more than 13 weeks in the year unless, on December 31, they have an eligible dependant
• Are confined to a prison or similar institution for a period of at least 90 days during the year
• Do not have to pay tax in Canada because they are an officer or servant of another country, such as a diplomat, or are a family member or employee of such a person

Who an eligible dependant is

For CWB purposes, an eligible dependant have to meet all of the following conditions:

• Is your or your spouse's or common-law partner's child
• Is under 19 years of age and lives with you on December 31
• Is not eligible for the CWB

Disability supplement eligibility

You may be eligible for the disability supplement of the CWB if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You are eligible for the disability tax credit and have an approved Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, on file with the CRA
• Your net income is below the net income level set for your province or territory of residence