Canadian seniors to receive one time tax-free payment this week

“It is important that we help seniors in Canada through this difficult time. With this one-time tax-free payment, we are continuing to support seniors to ensure they are able to get the essentials they need. As we go through this unprecedented challenge, we are providing a variety of measures that support seniors and ensure they know that we are with them and they are not left behind.”

– The Honourable Deb Schulte, Minister of Seniors

• The large majority of OAS pensioners, nearly 85%, have after-tax income below $50,000. Seniors receiving the GIS live on incomes below $18,600 a year for singles and below $24,576 a year for couples.

• 6.7 million seniors who are eligible for the OAS pension and 2.2 million who are eligible for the GIS will benefit from this payment.

• The Government has taken a number of other actions to support seniors through the COVID-19 pandemic, such as:

  • Providing a one-time top-up payment through the GST credit in April. More than 4 million low- and middle-income seniors benefitted from this top-up, receiving a total of $1.3 billion in financial support. Close to 85 per cent of single seniors and almost half of senior couples benefited from this payment.
  • Temporarily extending GIS and Allowance payments if seniors’ 2019 income information has not been received. This will ensure that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive their benefits when they need them the most. To avoid an interruption in benefits, seniors are encouraged to submit their 2019 income information as soon as possible and no later than by October 1, 2020.
  • Providing seniors flexibility with their Registered Retirement Income Funds, by reducing minimum withdrawal requirements by 25 per cent for 2020. This will help preserve assets during a volatile market.
  • Investing an additional $20 million to expand the New Horizons for Seniors Program to support organizations that offer community-based projects that reduce social isolation, improve the quality of life of seniors, and help them maintain a social support network.
  • Contributing $9 million through United Way Centraide Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors. These services include the delivery of groceries, medications, or other needed items, or personal outreach to assess individuals’ needs and connect them to community supports.
  • Investing $100 million to improve access to food for Canadians, including seniors, facing social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Creating a $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund to support charities and non-profit organizations to adapt the services they provide to vulnerable groups, including seniors, in response to COVID-19.
  • Introducing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 24 weeks to eligible workers, including seniors, who have stopped working due to COVID-19. Pension income does not affect eligibility to the CERB.

Associated links

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• One-time tax-free payment for seniors
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

For media enquiries, please contact:

Daniel Pollak
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Seniors
343-551-7558
daniel.pollak@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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