$600 Cost of Living Payments for Low-Income Seniors: Fact or Fiction?

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Key Takeaways

The $600 cost of living payments for low income seniors is a false claim that has been circulating on social media and online platforms.
The true source of this claim is a one-time payment of CAD 600 that was announced by the Alberta government in November 2023 for residents receiving certain social assistance programs, including seniors.
The federal government of Canada has also provided some financial support to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a one-time payment of $300 or $500 in May 2020 and an increase in the GST credit in November 2022.
Seniors who need financial assistance can apply for various federal and state programs that offer monthly cash payments, health insurance, housing subsidies and other benefits.

Many seniors in Canada are struggling to cope with the rising costs of living, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them may have come across a claim that says they are eligible for a $600 cost of living payment from the government. But is this claim true or false? Let’s find out.

The Origin of the $600 Cost of Living Payments Claim

The claim that low income seniors can receive $600 cost of living payments from the government has been spreading on social media and online platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. Some of the posts and messages that make this claim look like this:

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"Good news for low income seniors. The government is giving $600 for cost of living payments. Apply now before it's too late."

"Did you hear about the $600 for low income seniors for cost of living payments? It's true. I just got mine. Here's the link to apply."

"Attention seniors: You may be eligible for a $600 cost of living payment from the government. Don't miss this opportunity. Click here to find out more."

However, these posts and messages are false and misleading. They are either scams that try to trick seniors into giving away their personal or financial information, or hoaxes that try to create confusion and misinformation.

The true source of this claim is a one-time payment of CAD 600 that was announced by the Alberta government in November 2023 for residents receiving certain social assistance programs, such as the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support, Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), Seniors Financial Assistance and Families with Children Under 18. This payment was part of the Alberta Inflation Relief Initiative, which aimed to help low-income Albertans cope with the rising costs of living due to inflation¹.

The Alberta government stated that this payment was not a new program, but a one-time supplement that would be distributed over the course of six months, starting from December 2023 to May 2024. The payment would be automatically deposited into the bank accounts of eligible recipients, and no application was required¹.

However, some people misunderstood or misrepresented this announcement and started to spread the false claim that low income seniors across Canada could receive $600 cost of living payments from the federal government. This claim has no basis in reality and should not be believed or shared.

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The Federal Government’s Financial Support for Seniors

While the federal government of Canada has not provided any $600 cost of living payments for low income seniors, it has offered some financial support to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these measures include:

A one-time payment of $300 or $500 in May 2020 for seniors who qualified for the Old Age Security (OAS) or the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) respectively. This payment was meant to help seniors cover the increased costs of living due to the pandemic, such as groceries, transportation and medication².
An increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit in November 2022 for low- and modest-income Canadians, including seniors. This credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps offset the GST or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that people pay on goods and services. The increase was estimated to provide an extra $234 for single seniors and an extra $467 for couples with two children on average³.
A 10% increase in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) survivor’s pension and the CPP disability benefit in January 2023 for eligible beneficiaries. This increase was intended to provide more income security and dignity for seniors who have lost their spouses or have become disabled⁴.

These measures are in addition to the regular benefits that seniors can receive from the federal government, such as the OAS, the GIS, the CPP, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor. These benefits provide monthly cash payments to seniors based on their age, income, marital status and other criteria.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Seniors

Seniors who need financial assistance can also apply for various federal and state programs that offer monthly cash payments, health insurance, housing subsidies and other benefits. Some of these programs are:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A federal program that provides monthly payments to low-income seniors who are at least 65 years old or people with disabilities. As of 2022, eligible individuals may receive up to $841 per month. Some states have a State Supplement Program (SSP) that provides additional income to SSI recipients⁵.
Medicare: A federal health insurance program that covers hospital stays, doctors’ visits and other medical services for seniors who are at least 65 years old or people with certain disabilities. There are also programs that can help seniors pay for their Medicare costs, such as the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help.
Medicaid: A joint federal-state health insurance program that covers medical care and long-term care services for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Each state has its own eligibility rules and benefits package for Medicaid, so seniors should check with their state’s Medicaid agency for more information.
VA Benefits for Elderly Veterans: A range of benefits and services for veterans who served in the U.S. military, such as health care, pensions, disability compensation, burial benefits and more. Some of these benefits are also available to the spouses, dependents and survivors of veterans.
State Assistive Technology Programs: Programs that help seniors access the devices and equipment they need to live independently, such as mobility aids, hearing aids, vision aids and cognitive aids. Each state has its own assistive technology program that can provide information, referrals, loans, grants and other services.

Conclusion

The claim that low income seniors can receive $600 cost of living payments from the government is false and misleading. It is based on a one-time payment of CAD 600 that was announced by the Alberta government in November 2023 for residents receiving certain social assistance programs, including seniors. This payment was not a new program, and it was not available to seniors across Canada.

The federal government of Canada has provided some financial support to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a one-time payment of $300 or $500 in May 2020 and an increase in the GST credit in November 2022. These measures are in addition to the regular benefits that seniors can receive from the federal government, such as the OAS, the GIS and the CPP.

Source: (1) Seniors to receive up to $500 in a one-time payment to offset added …. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/seniors-supports-covid19-1.5565743. (2) Making Life More Affordable – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2022/11/making-life-more-affordable.html.