Government Benefits, Tax Credits & Supports
Federal
Allowance for the Survivor: For individuals (aged 60 to 64) whose spouse/partner has died.
Benefits Finder: A tool that helps people find government benefits and services. The site does not collect or track personal information.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB): A tax-free monthly payment. Must file an income tax return.
CPP Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB): Provided to low-income households to assist with housing costs. This benefit is not tied to a specific address but to a person or household.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP): A monthly retirement pension based on contributions for which a person must apply.
Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD): A monthly payment if a person has made enough contributions into the CPP and has a mental or physical disability that regularly stops them from doing any type of substantially gainful work.
Canada Workers Benefit (CWB): A refundable income tax credit for workers.
Child Disability Benefit (CDB): A tax-free monthly payment. Must file an income tax return.
COVID-19 Benefits Finder: Provincial and federal benefits.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC): A non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they pay.
Employment Insurance (EI): Benefits and leave information for workers, families, fishers, and for sickness, as well as how to apply and submit a report.
Goods and Services/Harmonized Sales Tax Credit (GST/HST Credit): A tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset all or part of the GST or HST that they pay. Automatic when income tax return is filed.
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): Monthly non-taxable benefit to Old Age Security (OAS) pension recipients who have a low income and are living in Canada. The GIS Allowance is a benefit for low-income individuals (aged 60 to 64) who are the spouse or common-law partner of a Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) recipient.
Medical Expenses Tax Credit: A non-refundable income tax credit for medical expenses.
Old Age Security (OAS): Not based on contributions. Monthly payment available to seniors aged 65 and older who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements.
Provincial
Ontario Caregiver Credit: A non-refundable tax credit for those who help a spouse, common-law partner, or dependents with a physical or mental impairment. Must file an income tax return.
Ontario Child Benefit (OCB): A tax-free monthly payment. Must file an income tax return.
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Ontario Electricity Support Program: A credit directly to the monthly electricity bill to reduce the cost of utilities for low-income Ontarians.
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS): A monthly, non-taxable payment to low-income Ontario seniors. Provided on top of the federal Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payment.
Ontario Ombudsman: Promotes fairness, accountability and transparency in the public sector by investigating public complaints and systemic issues.
Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB): A refundable tax credit available to low- and moderate-income residents. Must file an income tax return.
OW/ODSP Online Account Access: To report changes or get information about one’s OW or ODSP case.