List of government benefits

Benefit

A monthly, taxable benefit that replaces part of your income when you retire. If you qualify, you’ll receive the CPP retirement pension for the rest of your life.

Benefit

The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment you can get if you are 65 and older. You must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after the age of 18.

Benefit

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides additional financial assistance to low-income Old Age Security (OAS) recipients.

Benefit

A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), is a tax-deferred savings plan for retirement.

Benefit

Learn about the administration of annuities currently under payment as well as those to become payable at a later date.

Benefit

The Allowance is a monthly payment available to eligible Canadians who are 60 to 64 years of age and who are the spouses or common-law partners of a Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) recipient.

Benefit

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions you and your spouse or common-law partner made during the time you lived together can be equally divided after a divorce or separation.

Benefit

Provides additional income support for surviving spouses or common-law partners 60 to 64 years old.

Benefit

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) International Benefits program ensures that eligible contributors receive their CPP benefits even if they live outside Canada.

Benefit

Provides financial assistance to children of disabled or deceased CPP contributors

Benefit

Financial support to individuals with severe and prolonged disabilities that prevent them from working.

Benefit

The Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program helps Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit recipients return to work with vocational counselling, financial support for training, and job-search services.

Benefit

Repayment Assistance Plan for student loan borrowers with Disabilities (RAP-D).

Benefit

Financial support for families caring for a child with a disability.

Rebate

A refund for some of the gas you bought if you have a mobility impairment that prevents you from using public transportation.

Benefit

A long-term savings plan to help people with disabilities, who are approved for the Disability Tax Credit, save for the future.

Service

Help to submit and resolve individual complaints about accessibility in federal transportation services through facilitation, mediation or adjudication.

Service

Connects individuals with hearing loss with experienced mentors that help with personal development, career advice, and navigating daily life with hearing loss.

Benefit

Enhances the skills of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Canadians and trains employers to reduce employment barriers for the community. Free online micro-credential courses to upgrade skills and prepare individuals for employment.

Benefit

Financial support for caregivers who are away from work to provide support to a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care.

Benefit

If you disagree with a decision Service Canada made on your Employment Insurance (EI) application for benefits, you can request a reconsideration of that decision.

Benefit

Benefits for individuals unable to work due to illness or injury.

Benefit

Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary financial assistance to individuals who lose their jobs or face reduced work hours.

Service

A free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.

Service

The Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual and rules associated with different types of leave.

Benefit

Information on student loans forgiveness for a borrower who has a severe and permanent disability preventing them from pursuing further post-secondary education and from working.

Grant/Subsidy

A grant towards tuition, textbook, and accommodation costs for eligible students with a permanent disability.

Benefit

The Canada Disability Benefit provides direct financial support to people with disabilities who are between 18 and 64 years old.

Benefit

Benefits that people who work outside Canada for a Canadian company or the Canadian government may be entitled to.

Service

Home and community care services to disabled, ill, or elderly Indigenous and Inuit people living in First Nations and Inuit communities.

Benefit

The interim Canada Dental Benefit is intended to help lower dental costs for eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year.

Benefit

Help to lower dental costs for eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year.

Benefit

Additional monthly payment for a disability pensioner if your illness or injury impacts your quality of life.

Benefit

Monthly payments for a disability pensioner whose health needs require daily personal care support.

Benefit

Monthly payments in recognition of any severe and permanent disability, related to your military service, which creates a barrier to life after service.

Service

If you choose to review or appeal a disability benefits decision made by Veterans Affairs Canada, the Bureau of Pensions Advocates (BPA) a nation-wide organization of lawyers within Veterans Affairs Canada can provide you with free legal advice and representation.

Service

The Operational Trauma and Stress Support Program provides assessment and treatment for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who struggle with operational stress injuries.

Service

Provides professional guidance to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members following illness or injury with the goal of facilitating the achievement of optimal health and wellness.

Benefit

Canadian Armed Forces benefits for you and your family during a time of illness and injury.

Benefit

Repayment assistance Plan for student loan borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.

Finder

Find international scholarship opportunities available for Canadian and international students, researchers and postsecondary institutions.

Service

Call or text 9-8-8. A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Service

Not Myself Today is a practical and proven solution for transforming mental health in your workplace. A nominal, annual subscription gets you and your employees full access to the member-only online portal.

Service

CMHA National offers both Psychological Health and Safety Professional Certificate and our course, Psychological Health and Safety: The Essentials.

Service

Recovery Colleges provide an innovative learning space where anyone can access free courses, webinars, workshops, and events to learn, gain new skills, and connect with others in their community.

Service

A trauma and evidence-informed, peer-led psychological health awareness training program designed by and for first responders across Canada.

Service

Find health support services for individuals affected by the trauma associated with their attendance at an historic Federal Indian Day School.

Finder

Find programs and initiatives that have been put in place by the Government of Canada to address the federal pathway, national action plan and Calls for Justice.

Service

The Hope for Wellness Helpline offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca.

Service

This program provides cultural and emotional support, and mental health counselling services to Survivors of Indian Residential Schools and the families of former students.

Service

Get information on counselling benefits. Find out what is covered, how to access services and how providers can register to offer services.

Benefit

Provides eligible First Nations and Inuit clients with coverage for a range of health benefits that are not covered through other social programs, private insurance plans, or provincial or territorial health insurance.

Service

Supporting Indigenous communities and families as they seek to research, locate, and document burial sites associated with former residential schools.

Finder

Find a treatment centre near you.

Service

Call 1-866-925-4419. The National Residential School Crisis Line is available at all times, free of charge. Free support is also available through the Hope for Wellness chatline at 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box at https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/.

Benefit

Employment Insurance (EI) benefits may be available for apprentices who have been referred by their province or territory to attend full-time technical training (sometimes referred to as block-release training).

Grant/Subsidy

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) provides $1,000 per level (up to a maximum of $2,000) while you train as an apprentice in a designated Red Seal trade.

Grant/Subsidy

A grant for registered apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship training program, and get their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

Loan

With the Canada Apprentice Loan, you can get up to $4,000 in interest-free loans per period of technical training.

Benefit

Allows you to withdraw funds from your RRSPs for education or training.

Benefit

Veterans with service-related medical conditions or disabilities can access tax-free financial payments and support.

Service

Children, youth and young adults from military families can access free mental health and mental wellness support. Text the keyword CAFKIDS to 686868 for service in English. Text the keyword JEUNESFAC to 686868 for service in French.

Benefit

Continued access to services from Military Family Resource Centres to assist medically-released Veterans and their families.

Benefit

Provides support for families and caregivers of veterans

Benefit

A monthly payment for an informal caregiver, such as a family member or friend, who provides you with daily personal care support.

Service

OSI Clinics provide assessment, treatment, prevention and support.

Service

There are peer support networks for members or Veterans of the CAF or the RCMP living with an operational stress injury (OSI).

Service

Rehabilitation services for veterans to improve health and help with adjusting to life at home, in your community or at work.

Service

Provides appeal services to Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP members and their families.

Service

Contributes to the operational effectiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) by supporting the moral and spiritual wellbeing of military personnel and their families – domestically and internationally.

Service

Provides assessment and treatment to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members struggling with alcohol, drugs, and gambling, as well as other addictions.

Service

The program offers specialized mental health services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who are referred by their physician.

Service

The program offers bilingual mental health and administrative services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members on a walk-in basis.

Training

A program offers resilience and mental health training to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members throughout their careers.

Service

The CFMAP offers confidential, voluntary, short term counselling to assist with resolving many of today's stresses at home and in the work place.

Service

365 days a year, 24 hours a day. We listen. . A confidential, personal, bilingual and free service offering information, support, referrals, reassurance and crisis management to the military community.

Benefit

Comprehensive medical and dental services available to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members under the Spectrum of Care.

Service

MFRCs are essentially the heart of their military communities. Dedicated staff are frontline service providers, responsible for connecting military families to a wide range of programs and services.

Service

The Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) invites members of the wider Defence community affected by sexual misconduct to provide their feedback, advice and recommendations on support services and resources available to them.

Service

The Independent Legal Assistance (ILA) program is an initiative to facilitate access to legal services for individuals who have experienced military sexual misconduct.

Service

In partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), the SMSRC is offering a peer support program for those that have been affected by sexual misconduct and/or military sexual trauma (MST).

Service

Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) provides support services to those directly or indirectly affected by sexual misconduct

Finder

If you have been affected by or observed sexual misconduct, or are supporting someone who has been affected by sexual misconduct, you can use the search tool below to find support and care services in your area.

Service

Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) is a peer support network for CAF members, Veterans and their families experiencing an operational stress injury (OSI).

Benefit

Access for Veterans to group health insurance through the Public Service Health Care Plan.

Benefit

Coverage for veterans for travel expenses related to healthcare services or benefits.

Benefit

Coverage for treatment of certain mental health conditions. Available as soon as you apply for a VAC disability benefit.

Service

Connects veterans and their families with professionals for support and assistance.

Benefit

Financial support to veterans for health-care services such as prescription drugs, psychological counselling, and more.

Benefit

Provides benefits to self-employed fishers who are actively seeking work.

Benefit

Opportunity to access EI special benefits for people who run their own business or control more than 40% of their corporation’s voting shares.

Service

Provides tools and resources for improving essential skills.

Benefit

Provides financial protection for unpaid wages, vacation pay, and severance

Benefit

Offers health care coverage to refugees and protected persons upon arrival in Canada.

Benefit

Provides a monthly pension to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

Benefit

Provides a one-time lump-sum payment to the estate or surviving family members of a deceased CPP contributor.

Benefit

This program helps eligible on-reserve residents and Status Indians in Yukon to cover daily living costs and access pre-employment supports.

Service

Supports Indigenous people in gaining skills and finding employment.

Training

A dynamic, funded program for young Canadians aged 12 to 18 across the country. Join the Sea, Army or Air Cadets and participate in exciting and challenging activities that you can’t experience anywhere else.

Benefit

Provides a tax-free payment for Canadian Forces Members who have completed the Rehabilitation Program and are able to work but have not been able to find a job or currently have a low-paying job.

Training

A challenging and rewarding program for youth in remote communities across Canada. The program integrates practical skills and cultural practices in a fun and friendly environment.

Training

The Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous Entry Program (CAFIEP) offers a three-week program for Indigenous peoples who are considering a career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Volunteer

There are many ways adults can serve the Cadet Program whether it is as a member of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, an officer or non-commissioned member of the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service, or as a volunteer.

Training

Five summer training programs that are six weeks in duration, combining a variety of Military training and Indigenous cultural teachings. Participants will be paid during their participation in the program.

Service

Services for veterans transitioning to civilian careers

Benefit

Canadians who have been the victim of a serious violent crime in a foreign country may be eligible for financial assistance through the Victims Fund.

Benefit

The Victims Fund offers financial assistance to registered victims (and their support person) who wish to attend hearings for the offender who harmed them in order to help victims participate more fully in the criminal justice system.

Service

Register as a victim of crime with either the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) or the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

Finder

For contact information for the provincial or regional victim services in your area, you can search the national online Victim Services Directory (VSD).

Rebate

A tax-free quarterly payment to help eligible individuals and families offset the cost of the federal pollution pricing.

Service

Free tax clinics where volunteers complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation.

Benefit

Details about TFSA, a tax-advantaged savings account for Canadians.

Benefit

Pilot programs that let qualified caregivers come to Canada with the goal of becoming permanent residents

Service

If you don’t meet the requirements for permanent residence, or can’t apply under the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker pilots, you may be able to work temporarily as a caregiver

Finder

Look for free newcomer services to help you look for a job, get a language assessment, register for language classes, find a place to live, sign up for kids school and learn about community services.

Internship

Provides internship opportunities for new immigrants to gain Canadian work experience.

Service

Free English and French language classes for permanent residents and protected persons.

Benefit

A program that enables First Nations students to attain the academic level required for entrance into degree and diploma credit programs, as prioritized and directed by First Nations.

Finder

The Indigenous bursaries search tool is a searchable list of 536 bursaries, scholarships and incentives aimed at Indigenous students across Canada.

Benefit

Financial assistance to First Nations students who are enrolled in eligible post-secondary programs.

Benefit

Promotes the equitable representation of Indigenous people in the legal profession by providing bursaries to Métis and non-status Indians who wish to attend law school.

Benefit

The Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year (ILOY) gives you a highly positive and productive academic year of educational and leadership experience at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario.

Benefit

Matches contributions to Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) to help save for a child’s education.

Benefit

Financial assistance to: people who are away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child

Benefit

A tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.

Service

A parenting program for parents of children aged 0-5 years.

Benefit

Offers funding for education and post-military employment goals.

Benefit

Eligible members, including Primary Reservists, may claim full or partial reimbursement of certificates, single courses, diplomas, or degrees.

Benefit

The Veterans Independence Program provides annual tax-free funding for services such as grounds maintenance, housekeeping, meal preparation, personal care, and professional health and support services to help eligible veterans remain independent at home.

Benefit

Temporary duty, travel, relocation, and accommodation benefits for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Benefit

You can receive up to $500 to get advice from a financial professional on how to invest and manage your lump-sum award from Veterans Affairs Canada.

Funding/Loan

Provides contributions for pre-retrofit activities needed to plan, prepare, and apply for retrofit funding. It also offers forgivable and low-interest loans to help affordable housing providers complete deep energy retrofits on existing multi-unit residential buildings.

Grant/Subsidy

Grant towards eligible retrofits like home insulation, windows and doors, heat pumps and solar panels as well as resiliency measures.

Loan

Offers interest-free financing from $5,000 to $40,000 to help complete major retrofits recommended by an energy advisor.

Benefit

A registered plan which allows first-time home buyers to save to buy or build a qualifying first home tax-free (up to certain limits).

Rebate

Provides a rebate for part of the GST/HST paid on the purchase of a new or substantially renovated home.

Benefit

Allows first-time homebuyers to withdraw funds from their RRSPs for a down payment.

Benefit

Provides mortgage insurance for homebuyers with a down payment of less than 20%.

Benefit

Helps eligible homeowners with median income or less who are currently heating their homes with oil make the transition to a better, more efficient option.

Loan

Property financing and loan renewals for affordable housing projects in First Nation communities.

Loan

Insured loans to help First Nation members living on-reserve to get access to financing for housing projects and renovations.

Loan

Ministerial Loan Guarantees are used to secure loans to build, purchase or renovate on-reserve housing.

Benefit

Funding and financing to build new housing for Indigenous communities on-reserve and off-reserve in Canada.

Benefit

Funding for major repairs, emergency repairs and adaptations to improve the health and safety of on-reserve housing.

Benefit

Funding and financing to repair and renew on-reserve and off-reserve housing for Indigenous communities.

Loan

Financial help to refugees selected for resettlement. The loans are used to cover the costs of: transportation to Canada, and additional settlement costs (if needed) once you are in Canada.

Benefit

Financial resettlement help to Convention Refugees Abroad. In some cases, they offer this help to members of the Country of Asylum Class who have been: identified as refugees with special needs and admitted to Canada as government-assisted refugees.

Benefit

Assisting CAF members in adjusting to housing costs in different locations within Canada.

Service

Services to help you manage the property of a minor or a dependent adult who usually lives on a reserve or the estate of a deceased family member or friend who usually lived on a reserve.

Benefit

The Inuit Child First Initiative ensures Inuit children have access to the essential government funded health, social and educational products, services and supports they need, when they need them.

Service

Update, report a birth or report a death in the Indian Register.

Service

CEM provides services for the education of children of CAF members both inside and outside of Canada.

Benefit

The War Veterans Allowance (WVA) is a tax-free, monthly benefit to help low-income war Veterans and their dependents or their survivors.

Benefit

Offers financial assistance to parents who have taken time off work and experienced a loss of income due to the death or disappearance of a child.

Benefit

Claims and reimbursements for the family, spouse or estate of a deceased Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member.

Benefit

Funeral and burial assistance is provided through the Last Post Fund – a non-profit organization – to help pay for funeral and burial services, including a military gravestone, for eligible Veterans.

Service

Spiritual support when Veterans or their families are dealing with end of life issues or bereavement.