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How do I claim the Canada Workers Benefit?

by TurboTax• Updated 2 days ago

The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) helps working individuals and families through two parts: a basic amount and a disability supplement. If you’re married, only one person can claim the CWB.

You’re eligible for the basic amount of the CWB if:

  • Your family working income is more than:
    • $2,760 if you live in Alberta
    • $6,000 if you live in Nunavut
    • $2,400 if you live in Québec ($3,600 if you have an eligible spouse)
    • $3,000 if you live anywhere else
  • Your family working income is below the net income level set for your province or territory of residence
  • You lived in Canada throughout the year
  • You were 19 or older at the end of the year, or lived with your spouse/common-law partner or your child

You’re not eligible for the basic amount of the CWB if you were:

  • A full-time student for more than 13 weeks in the year unless, at the end of the year, you had an eligible dependant
  • In prison for 90 days or more
  • A tax-exempt foreign diplomat, or the tax-exempt relative or employee of one

You're eligible for the disability supplement if:

  • Your family working income is more than:
    • $910 if you live in Alberta
    • $4,800 if you live in Nunavut
    • $1,200 if you live in Québec
    • $1,150 if you live anywhere else
  • You're eligible for the disability tax credit
  • Have a Form T2201 approved by the CRA

Select your product and follow the steps to claim the CWB in TurboTax.

If you are single

  1. Answer the initial Personal info and Tax profile interview questions if you haven't already. This unlocks the Tax home screen.
  2. Enter all of your working income information, such as T4 slips, and complete all other applicable sections of your return.
  3. To see your CWB amount:
    • From any screen, select View detailed summary.
    • You’ll see your benefit amount at Line 45300 Canada Workers benefit.

If you have spouse/partner

  1. Answer the initial Personal info and Tax profile interview questions if you haven't already. This unlocks the Tax home screen.
  2. Enter all working income information for you (and your spouse/partner if preparing your returns together), such as T4 slips, and complete the other applicable sections of your return.
  3. TurboTax will allocate the CWB to you. To see the CWB amount, from any screen, select View detailed summary. You’ll see your benefit amount at Line 45300 Canada Workers benefit.
  4. If you want the CWB to be claimed by your spouse/partner:
    • From the Tax home screen, select Review > Start/Continue > Continue.
      • If you’re preparing your returns together:
        • At the Do you want to claim the Canada workers benefit? screenscreen, since your spouse/partner is going to claim the credit, for the question: Who is going to claim the Canada workers benefit? select your spouse/partner and continue.

Your CWB has been transferred from your return to your spouse/partner’s return.

  • If you’re not preparing your returns together:
    • At the Do you want to claim the Canada workers benefit? Screen, for the question: Is your spouse claiming the basic Canada workers benefit?, select Yes and continue.

The CWB has been removed from your return and your spouse/partner will claim it on their separately prepared return.

To get the disability supplement, the person claiming the disability amount must also claim the CWB:

  1. At the Tax home screen:
    • If spousal returns have been prepared together: set the tax return toggle at the top of the screen to the person with the disability.
    • Under Add to your return, enter disability, and select Disability Amount.
  2. At the Disability Amount sceen, answer Yes or No to the questions, then continue.
  3. To see your what changed, revisit your View detailed summary. The supplement amount claimed is now included in the amount at Line 45300 Canada workers benefit (CWB).
  1. Complete the Introduction/Profile steps of your return until the Find button appears in the menu.
  2. Enter all working income information for you (and your spouse/partner if preparing your returns together), such as T4 slips, and complete the other applicable sections of your return.
  3. TurboTax will allocate the CWB to you. To see the CWB amount:
    • From any screen, select View detailed summary.
    • You’ll see the benefit amount beside Other credits.
  4. If you want the CWB to be claimed by your spouse/partner:
    • Select Find and enter Canada workers benefit in the search field.
    • Select Canada workers benefit from the search results, then select Go.
    • If you’re preparing your returns together:
      • At the Do you want to claim the Canada workers benefit? screen, since your spouse/partner is going to claim the credit, for the question: Who is going to claim the Canada workers benefit? select your spouse/partner, answer the additional questions, and continue.
      • Your CWB has been transferred from your return to your spouse/partner’s return.
    • If you’re not preparing your returns together:
      • At the Do you want to claim the Canada workers benefit? screen, for the question: Do you want to see if you qualify for the CWB, select No and continue.
      • The CWB has been removed from your return and your spouse/partner will claim it on their separately prepared return.

To get the disability supplement, the person claiming the disability amount must also claim the CWB. To claim the disability supplement:

  1. Select Find, enter and select disability amount, and select Go.
  2. At the Disability amount screen, answer the questions, ensuring the person with a disability is also the one claiming the CWB, then continue.
  3. To see the supplement amount, revisit view detailed summary. The supplement is now included in the Other credits amount.

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