Sep 3, 2026
Wildfires in parts of the country continue to disrupt mail delivery, causing delays for a small number of government benefit and credit cheques sent by mail, according to official notices from the Canada Revenue Agency.
While the CRA confirmed that the vast majority of payments arrive on time, local postal interruptions caused by evacuations and severe fire activity have slowed physical deliveries in affected regions. The agency advises recipients waiting on paper cheques to wait 5 to 10 business days past their scheduled payment date before reporting a missing cheque.
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Canadians enrolled in direct deposit are unaffected by postal interruptions and will receive their funds as scheduled.
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Benefit payment schedule for September
Several federal and provincial benefit disbursements are scheduled throughout September:
- Ontario Trillium Benefit: Sept. 10
- Canada Disability Benefit: Sept. 17
- Canada Child Benefit: Sept. 18
- Canada Pension Plan: Sept. 25
- Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement: Sept. 25
- Newfoundland and Labrador Disability Benefit: Sept. 25
- Veteran Disability Pension: Sept. 28
The new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which replaced the quarterly GST/HST credit, does not have a payment scheduled for September. The next disbursement under that program is set for October 5.
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What affected recipients can do
Residents living in fire-affected communities who cannot access their mailed benefit cheques and require immediate financial relief can contact the CRA helpline at 1-800-387-1193 for direct support.
To prevent future delays caused by mail disruptions or natural disasters, federal officials strongly recommend signing up for direct deposit. Switching to direct deposit transfers funds straight to a bank account on payment day, avoiding reliance on physical mail routes.
Recipients can monitor payment statuses, adjust banking details or opt in for automated payment reminders through their CRA My Account portal.
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Leslie Kennedy served as an editor at Thomson Reuters and for Star Media Group, followed by a number of years as a writer and editor and content manager in marketing communications, before returning to her editorial roots. She is a graduate of Humber College’s post-graduate journalism program and has been a professional writer and editor ever since.
