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$1100 OAS, $1500 GIS, $800 CHB Coming for Canadians: Fact Check and Direct Payment

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Key Takeaway Box:

  • The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment available to seniors aged 65 and older who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is an additional payment for low-income seniors who receive the OAS pension. The Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) is a new program that provides a monthly subsidy to eligible households who are struggling to afford rent.
  • The amount of OAS, GIS and CHB you can receive depends on your income, marital status, and where you live. You can use the OAS estimator and the [CHB calculator] to find out how much you could get.
  • To receive OAS and GIS, you need to apply online or by mail. To receive CHB, you need to contact your provincial or territorial housing provider. You can choose to receive your payments by cheque or direct deposit. Direct deposit is a fast and secure way to get your money without any postal delays.
  • There are some false claims circulating on social media that the federal government is giving out $1100 OAS, $1500 GIS, and $800 CHB to all seniors as a direct payment. This is not true. The amounts of OAS, GIS and CHB vary depending on your situation and are not fixed. The government does not send out direct payments to seniors unless they have applied and qualified for the benefits.
Canadians from all walks of life gather around a large check detailing OAS, GIS, and CHB benefits, against a backdrop of Canadian flag motifs.
Unity in Benefits: Canadians Discover Their Financial Support through OAS, GIS, and CHB.

What is the Canada Housing Benefit and Pension Plan?

If you are a senior living in Canada, you may be eligible for some financial assistance from the federal government to help you with your living expenses. In this article, we will explain what the Canada Housing Benefit and Pension Plan are, who can get them, how to apply, and how to receive your payments. We will also fact check some of the misinformation that is spreading online about these benefits.

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The Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) is a new program that was launched in 2020 as part of the National Housing Strategy. The CHB is a monthly subsidy that helps low-income households pay their rent. The CHB is delivered by the provinces and territories, who set their own eligibility criteria and application processes. The CHB is expected to reach about 300,000 households across Canada by 2028.

The Pension Plan consists of two main components: the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). The OAS pension is a monthly payment that you can get if you are 65 or older and meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements. The OAS pension is not based on your income or how much you have worked. The maximum OAS pension amount for January to March 2024 is $626.49 per month⁹.

The GIS is an additional payment that you can get if you are 65 or older, receive the OAS pension, and have a low income. The GIS amount is based on your income and your marital status. The maximum GIS amount for January to March 2024 is $1,065.47 per month for single seniors, and $641.35 per month for each member of a couple where both receive the full OAS pension⁷.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for the CHB, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or protected person
  • You are renting a home that is below average market rent in your area
  • You are spending more than 30% of your income on rent
  • You are not receiving any other housing subsidy or benefit
  • You meet the income and household size limits set by your province or territory

To be eligible for the OAS pension, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • You are 65 years old or older
  • You are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time we approve your OAS pension application
  • You have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18

To be eligible for the GIS, you need to meet the following criteria⁶:

  • You are 65 years old or older
  • You receive the OAS pension
  • Your income is below the maximum annual income threshold

How to Claim?

To claim the CHB, you need to contact your provincial or territorial housing provider and fill out an application form. You can find the contact information and the application process for your province or territory on the [CHB website]. You will need to provide proof of your income, your rent, and your household size. You will also need to sign a consent form that allows the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to share your income information with your housing provider. You will need to renew your application every year to continue receiving the CHB.

To claim the OAS pension, you can apply online or by mail. You can apply online through your [My Service Canada Account]. You can also print and complete the paper form Application for the OAS and the GIS (ISP-3550) and mail it to the address on the form. You will need to provide proof of your age, your legal status, and your residence in Canada. You can find more information on how to apply on the [OAS website].

To claim the GIS, you can apply at the same time as you apply for the OAS pension. If you are already receiving the OAS pension, you can apply for the GIS online through your [My Service Canada Account]. You can also print and complete the paper form [Application for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (ISP-3025)] and mail it to the address on the form. You will need to provide proof of your income and your marital status. You can find more information on how to apply on the GIS website.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

$1100 OAS, $1500 GIS, $800 CHB Direct Payment

You may have seen some posts on social media claiming that the federal government is giving out $1100 OAS, $1500 GIS, and $800 CHB to all seniors as a direct payment. These posts are false and misleading. The amounts of OAS, GIS and CHB vary depending on your situation and are not fixed. The government does not send out direct payments to seniors unless they have applied and qualified for the benefits.

The only direct payment that the government has made to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic was a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the OAS pension, and an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the GIS. This payment was made in July 2020 and was intended to help seniors cover increased costs due to the pandemic.

Fact Check

To summarize, here are some facts and myths about the Canada Housing Benefit and Pension Plan:

  • Fact: The CHB is a monthly subsidy that helps low-income households pay their rent. The amount of CHB you can receive depends on your income, your rent, and where you live. You need to apply through your provincial or territorial housing provider to get the CHB.
  • Myth: The CHB is a direct payment of $800 that the government sends to all seniors every month. This is not true. The CHB is not a direct payment and is not available to everyone. You need to meet certain criteria and apply for the CHB to receive it.
  • Fact: The OAS pension is a monthly payment that you can get if you are 65 or older and meet the legal status and residence requirements. The amount of OAS pension you can receive depends on how long you have lived in Canada. The maximum OAS pension amount for January to March 2024 is $626.49 per month.
  • Myth: The OAS pension is a direct payment of $1100 that the government sends to all seniors every month. This is not true. The OAS pension is not a direct payment and is not a fixed amount. You need to apply for the OAS pension to receive it.
  • Fact: The GIS is an additional payment that you can get if you are 65 or older, receive the OAS pension, and have a low income. The amount of GIS you can receive depends on your income and your marital status. The maximum GIS amount for January to March 2024 is $1,065.47 per month for single seniors, and $641.35 per month for each member of a couple where both receive the full OAS pension.
  • Myth: The GIS is a direct payment of $1500 that the government sends to all seniors every month. This is not true. The GIS is not a direct payment and is not a fixed amount. You need to apply for the GIS to receive it.

How to Receive Your Payments

You can choose to receive your OAS, GIS and CHB payments by cheque or direct deposit. Direct deposit is a fast and secure way to get your money without any postal delays. To sign up for direct deposit, you need to give your banking information to the payor. For OAS and GIS, you can sign up online through your [My Service Canada Account]. You can also call 1-800-277-9914 or visit a Service Canada office. For CHB, you need to contact your provincial or territorial housing provider and follow their instructions.

Direct deposit is also a way to avoid fraud and identity theft. Some scammers may try to trick you into giving them your personal or financial information by pretending to be from the government or a bank. They may call you, email you, or send you fake cheques or letters. To protect yourself from these scams, you should never give out your personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know or trust. You should also verify the identity and legitimacy of any caller or sender before responding to their requests. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft, you should report it to the authorities and your bank as soon as possible.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explained what the Canada Housing Benefit and Pension Plan are, who can get them, how to apply, and how to receive your payments. We have also fact checked some of the false claims that are circulating online about these benefits.

If you are a senior living in Canada, you may be eligible for some financial assistance from the federal government to help you with your living expenses. However, you need to meet certain criteria and apply for the benefits to receive them. You also need to be aware of the scams and misinformation that are targeting seniors.

We hope that this article has been informative and helpful for you. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. We would love to hear from you.

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Source: (1) Old Age Security payment amounts – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/payments.html. (2) Old Age Security payment amounts – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/payments.html. (3) Guaranteed Income Supplement: How much you couldreceive – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/guaranteed-income-supplement/benefit-amount.html. (4) Guaranteed Income Supplement – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/guaranteed-income-supplement.html.

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