CWB payments
CWB money arrives in two stages: advances during the year, and a final settlement when your return is assessed. Understanding which stage you are in explains most payment questions, including why a payment can be smaller than expected or why nothing arrives in a particular month.
The two stages
| Stage | When | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Advance instalments | July, October, and January of the benefit cycle | Up to 50% of the estimated annual benefit, split three ways |
| Final settlement | When your return for the year is assessed | Final entitlement minus advances already received (line 45300 minus line 41500) |
If your final entitlement is larger than your advances, the difference increases your refund or reduces your balance owing. If your advances were larger, the excess is already accounted for on line 41500, so it reduces your refund or adds to what you owe rather than arriving as a separate bill. If you received no advances — because you filed late, because last year's return showed no entitlement, or because you are claiming for the first time — the whole entitlement arrives at settlement, as part of your refund or as a reduction of tax owing. The CWB is refundable, so it can produce a refund even when no tax is payable.
Direct deposit, cheques, and missing payments
The CRA pays by direct deposit where banking information is on file, and by cheque otherwise. Direct deposit is faster and avoids mail delays, and it can be set up or changed in CRA My Account. If a payment is missing, check three things first: whether your return for the relevant year has been assessed, whether your address and banking details are current, and whether an RC210 slip shows advances you may have forgotten. If those check out and the payment is still missing, contact the CRA rather than waiting for the next instalment to catch up: instalments are not topped up automatically.