NOTE – SOME MISSED BENEFITS MAY BE OBTAINED RETROACTIVELY
The following benefits are variable amounts based on family circumstances.
Income tax must be filed to obtain them.
CLIMATE ACTION INCENTIVE PAYMENT:
Individual must be at least 19 years old. If younger than 19, they must have (or previously had) a spouse or common-law partner or are (or previously were) a parent and live (or previously lived) with your child.
Benefit is received as quarterly payments
ONTARIO TRILLIUM BENEFIT:
To qualify, the individual must be a resident of Ontario and at least 18 years of age or currently or previously married or in a common-law relationship
The annual OTB entitlement is usually divided by 12 and the payments are issued on the 10th of each month.
GST/HST CREDIT:
The individual must be a Canadian resident for income tax purposes in the month prior and at the start of the month in which the CRA makes a payment, must be 19 years of age or older or have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner.
Payments are sent on the fifth day of July, October, January, and April.
In 2023, the government introduced a one-time Grocery Rebate to provide financial support to eligible individuals and families. The rebate was issued in July alongside the regular quarterly GST/HST credit payment.
CANADA CHILD BENEFIT (CCB):
The CCB is based on family net income.
It is not taxable.
To receive the Canada Child Benefit, the parent must live with a child under the age of 18 and be primarily responsible for their day-to-day care and upbringing. If the parent shares custody with an ex-partner, each parent receives 50% of the amount allocated if the child lives about equally with both parents.
Parents apply through the Canada Revenue Agency and will automatically be assessed for additional benefits from Ontario based on family income.
CANADA WORKERS BENEFIT (CWB):
To top-up the incomes of the lowest-paid workers, the Canada Workers Benefit provides up to $2,616 total for an eligible family, and $1,518 total for eligible single workers, split between three advance payments this fiscal year (in July 2023, October 2023, and January 2024), and a final payment after the 2023 tax return is filed.
To qualify for CWB, an individual must be: a Canadian resident, 19 years of age or older on December 31 or if under the age of 19, have a spouse or common-law partner, or an eligible dependent.
Those who received the Canada Workers Benefit in 2022 will automatically receive their advance payments from the Canada Revenue Agency, with no need to apply.
BENEFITS FOR SENIORS – THE GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT (GIS):
The Supplement is based on income and is available to low-income Old Age Security pensioners. It is not taxable.
In many cases, individuals are notified by letter when they could start receiving their first payment. This letter will be sent the month after they turn 64. In other cases, they may have to apply.
BENEFITS FOR SENIORS – GAINS:
The GAINS program pays out a benefit to low-income seniors in Ontario on a monthly basis. The purpose of the program is to ensure that the elderly in Ontario receive a guaranteed minimum income.
If an individual currently receives the OAS pension and GIS, they do not have to apply. Their GAINS benefits will be determined based on their filed income tax return.
BENEFITS FOR SENIORS – ALLOWANCE:
If an individual is eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, their spouse or common-law partner may be able to receive the Allowance benefit if the spouse or common-law partner is 60 to 64 years of age, a Canadian citizen or a legal resident, residing in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18 and if the couple’s combined annual income is less than the maximum annual income threshold for the Allowance.
BENEFITS FOR SENIORS – ALLOWANCE FOR THE SURVIVOR:
An individual could receive the Allowance for the Survivor if they are 60 to 64 years of age, their spouse or common-law partner has died and they have not remarried or entered into a common-law relationship. Their annual income must be less than the maximum annual income threshold for the Allowance for the Survivor.
