Finding support takes some work: provincial benefit programs for seniors have different rules

Ontario’s Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) ensures single pensioners have at least an annual income of $15,071.76, virtually all of it tax-free.

“If you’re on oas and poor enough for Gis, you have to be even poorer to get Gains,” says Maureen Fair, executive director of st. Christopher’s house, a Torontobased community organization.

Even modest amounts of CPP income cancel some or all of Gis and Gains payments. assuming a senior gets oas/Gis, it takes only an additional $2,000 of income from CPP (or a small pension or RRiF withdrawals) to become ineligible for Gains, says Miryam Zeballos, co-ordinator of financial advocacy for st. Christopher’s.

In all provinces, the first $500 of other income won’t affect Gis. in 2008, ottawa amended the old age security act so Gis recipients can earn up to $3,500 a year in employment income that’s exempted from Gis calculations.

“So, if a person has the possibility of working and making $300 a month, they can improve their financial situation a bit,” Ms. Zeballos said.

© The National Post

Keywords: seniors, poverty, GIS