Line 14500 – Social assistance payments

Social assistance payments are payments made to beneficiaries or third parties based on a means, needs, or income test and include payments for food, clothing, and shelter requirements. These payments are shown on a T5007, Statement of Benefits slip, and are usually made to:

• individuals
• impaired individuals in nursing homes or similar accommodations
• elderly individuals (generally 65 years of age or older) whether or not they live in nursing homes or similar accommodations

These amounts are not taxable, but you must include them in your net income to ensure any benefits that you may be entitled to are calculated properly. These benefits include the OAS Supplement, the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax credit, the Canada Child Benefit, as well as certain provincial or territorial tax credits and certain non-refundable tax credits.

However if you lived with your spouse or common-law partner when the payments were received, the one of you who has the higher net income on Line 23600 – Net income (not including these payments or the deductions on Line 21400 – Child care expenses or Line 23500 – Social benefits repayment) has to report all of the payments, no matter whose name is on the slip.

If this amount is the same for both of you, the person named on the T5007 slip (or the prestataire on the federal part of the Relevé 5 slip) has to report it.

Completing your tax return

On line 14500, enter the amount from box 11 of your T5007 slip or the federal part of your Quebec Relevé 5 slip of your tax return.

Claim a deduction on line 25000 for the social assistance payments you entered on line 14500.

Forms and publications

• Federal Income Tax and Benefit Guide

Related topics

• Line 25000 - Other payments deduction