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Overview
This lesson will help students learn about the benefits and credits the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers and how they may benefit from these payments. Students will be able to test their knowledge through quizzes and practical examples.
The core question is:
- How can you get the benefit and credit payments you are entitled to from the CRA?
Learning objective: Students will develop an understanding of the benefits and credits the CRA administers, what they might be eligible for and how to keep receiving their payments.
Skills to develop
- Identify the benefits and credits they could be entitled to
- Outline some of the basic eligibility criteria of the benefits and credits the CRA administers
- Explain the concepts of tax year and benefit year
- Explain why people who are eligible for benefits must do their taxes each year
- Make connections between their tax return and their benefit and credit payments
Background information
Individuals in Canada do their taxes every year. Doing your taxes has many advantages. One of the main reasons to do your taxes is to get benefit and credit payments you might be entitled to.
The CRA issues benefits and credits in different ways. These amounts can either lower the amount of taxes you might owe on your tax return, or you can receive payments throughout the year.
Learning and activities
Required materials step 1
- Lessons: Accessing your benefits and credits
- Quiz: Accessing your benefits and credits
- Common tax terms
- Benefits Finder
- Optional equipment:
- Computer
- Projector
- Printer
Warm-up exercises step 2
First exercise
Step 1: Explain to students that in Canada, people with a low or modest income (or some specific conditions) are eligible for benefits and credits.
Step 2: Ask students what they know about benefits and credits.
You could ask them:
- What kinds of benefits and credits exist in Canada?
- In which situations could people get money from the government?
- What kinds of things could benefit and credit payments be used for?
Second exercise
Step 1: Explain that the Canadian tax system involves everyone. The taxes we all pay are used to help fund the benefits and credits the CRA administers.
Step 2: Ask students what kinds of benefits and credits they think they might be eligible for. Have them write down their answers and refer to them as they go through the lessons.
Walk through the lessons step 3
Read through the lesson pages with the additional guidance provided below. Students can review material individually, in groups, or as a class.
Lesson A: Available benefits and credits
Before starting the lesson
Your students will learn about some of the most common benefits and credits the CRA administers as they go through the lesson. They will be introduced to the basic eligibility criteria and the steps to apply for these benefits and credits.
Activity
Show your students the Benefits Finder. Ask them to work in teams to find out what benefits are available in their province or territory for different groups of individuals. Have them compare their results.
Some examples of potential scenarios include:
- a 16-year-old high school student who is interested in starting a business
- a 19-year-old with a 1-year-old child who is unemployed and seeking work
- a 21-year-old post-secondary student who is in need of prescription lenses
- a 25-year-old married individual with 2 children who is living with a disability
Lesson B: Don’t miss out on your benefit payments
Before starting the lesson
In this lesson, students will become familiar with the responsibilities of individuals receiving benefits and credits. This involves doing their taxes, keeping their personal information up to date and responding to CRA correspondence.
After finishing the lesson
Discuss with students the differences between the tax year and the benefit year. Explain to them that the CRA needs a tax return from the previous year to calculate their benefits and credits. This is because the CRA uses their family net income to calculate their payments. Also stress the fact that they should update their information with the CRA when their situation changes (moving, marriage, divorce, birth, etc.).
Activity
Review the answers from the warm-up exercise with the students. Discuss if they discovered any new benefits or credits and whether they might be able to access any of the programs now or in the future.
Bring it all together step 4
Direct students to complete the quiz to assess their understanding.
Discuss the importance of knowing what benefits and credits are available so they are aware of what they are entitled to.
Remind students that they have certain responsibilities. They must do their taxes, update their information, and respond to the CRA’s correspondence. These actions will help make sure there are no delays or a stop to their benefits.
Now they know what’s required to make sure they receive the appropriate amount of benefits and credits on time. This way, they will ensure that there are no interruptions on their benefits and credits journey and that they get their payments when they need them.
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