Searching for Federal Government Social Assistance Programs

COVID-19 Update Service Canada Centres are open

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Regular Service
OAS pension is a monthly payment available to seniors aged 65 and older who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements

• Funded out of the general tax revenues of the Government of Canada

Monthly payment to people who have contributed to the Canada Pension Plan and who are at least 60 years of age

• amount of benefits is based on the contributor's earnings and contributions to the Plan
• pension is fully indexed each January to reflect increases in the cost of living
• apply for and receive a full CPP retirement pension at age 65 or receive it as early as age 60 with a reduction, or as late as age 70 with an increase
• when a legal or common law marriage breaks down, either spouse can apply to split the pension credits earned by them during the period that they cohabited

Service

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Monthly pension paid to the person who, at the time of death, is the legal spouse or common-law partner of the deceased contributor

Service

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

COVID-19 Update
Service Canada Centres are open to the public

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Regular Service
Program of Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada

• Monthly benefit for dependent children of a deceased contributor

COVID-19 Update Service Canada Centres are open to the public

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Regular Service
Temporary financial assistance and support in finding new employment, able-bodied claimants must be seeking employment to remain eligible

• Service Canada has tools available to help search job listings, create a résumé, choose a career, and assess skills
• Job Bank is an online source for employment information and job postings, see listing BAR2664
• for most people, basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount
• as of January 1, 2020, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $54,200, for a maximum amount of $573 per week
• Individuals not entitled to receive EI benefits, will be contacted by letter or by telephone, a Request for Reconsideration can be submitted, see website for details

Special benefits

• include maternity and parental benefits, compassionate care benefits, benefits for Parents of Critically Ill Children, sickness benefits and more, see website for complete list and details

Family Supplement

• for low income families who receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
• entitlement will be added to EI payment
• amount based on annual net family income, see website for details

COVID-19 Update
Service Canada Centres are open to the public

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Regular Service
One-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor

• amount of death benefit for all eligible contributors is a flat rate of $2,500

COVID-19 Update
Service Canada Centres are open

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Regular Service
Disability benefits

• for people who have made enough contributions to the CPP and who are disabled and cannot work at any job on a regular basis
• benefits may also be available to their dependent children

COVID-19 Update Service Canada Centres are open to the public

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Regular Service
Monthly non-taxable benefit to Old Age Security (OAS) pension recipients who have a low income and are living in Canada

Voluntary, Employment Insurance (EI) program designed to avert temporary layoffs by providing Employment Insurance Income Benefits to eligible clients who willingly agree to work a temporarily reduced work week

• Work-Sharing enables employers to retain workers and avoid layoffs during temporary work slowdowns and employees are able to maintain their skills
• a three-party agreement involving employers, employees and Service Canada

Service

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Monthly allowance available to spouses or common-law partners of Guaranteed Income Supplement recipients
Service

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Benefit available to people

• who have a low income
• who are living in Canada
• spouse or common-law partner is deceased
• allowance continues until the recipient turns 65, remarries, or begins a new common-law marital relationship

Service

• for online service go to Canada.ca/service-canada-home
• for assistance accessing services, complete an online request at Service Request
• for people who do not have internet access call 1-877-355-2657 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm
• for assistance in person, make a request for an appointment by filling out the service request form at Service Request
• clients should not book an in-person visit if they:
  • Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history

Financial Relief Navigator (FRN)

• online tool that provides information and help to access emergency benefits, related to COVID-19, including Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), as well as other benefits and financial relief from governments, financial institutions, utilities, telecoms and internet providers
• Click HERE for more information

Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Plan provides programs in the following three areas:

• Support for Individuals
• Support for Businesses
• Support for Sectors

Support for Individuals
CRB ended Oct 23, 2021, in its place is the Canadian Worker Lockdown Benefit:

• Canadian Worker Lockdown Benefit:
  • will provide $300 per week to workers who are subject to a lockdown, including those who are ineligible for traditional Employment Insurance
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
  • available to those who need to self-isolate due to COVID-19 will continue until Nov 20, 2021 and is proposed by government to extend until May 7, 2022
  • to apply see CRSB Application
  • for other questions about CRSB see, CRSB Questions
• Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
  • available to those who must stop work to care for a child under 12 or a family member who needs supervised care, will continue until Nov 20, 2021 and is proposed by government to extend until May 7, 2022
  • to apply see CRCB Application
  • for other question about CRCB see, CRCB Questions

Canada Student Loans

• see Canada Student Loans - COVID-19 for details
• see Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Ontario Students

Support for Seniors

• Government of Canada has introduced legislation to support low-income seniors who received pandemic benefits. For information about a One-Time Grant for Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Recipients click here.

Provincial Programs
Social Assistance

• Visit Ontario Works and ODSP for up-to-date information and to apply online

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Ontario (WSIB)

• If you believe you contracted COVID-19 while at work, you may file a claim to determine if you are eligible for WSIB coverage, call 1-800-387-0750 or visit WSIB Benefits for more information

Service Ontario

• Service Ontario is reinstating renewal requirements for driver's licences, licence plate stickers, other driver and vehicle products, Ontario Photo Cards and Ontario health cards that were temporarily extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, see Renewal Requirements

OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan)

• Ontario has waived the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage, see Applying for an Ontario Health Card for more details

Utilities Relief
Ontario Energy Board

• See Help for Low-Income Consumers

Telecommunications Relief

• Telus COVID-19 Updates
• Rogers COVID-19 Updates
• If your telecommunications company is not listed here, check their website or contact them directly to learn of any assistance they may be offering

Nurse managed home care, personal and customized, including

• personal support
• foot care
• home support
• nursing care
• companion and appointment support
• palliative care
• respite care
• alzheimers and dementia care
• caregiver support
• wound care
• service care community resource specialist.

COVID-19 (10 November 2021) - All in person Service Canada Centres are closed to the public until further notice

• clients can apply for critical services online
• personal service support for EI and pension applications are available through e-service online and on mobile phones

Available public phone and one-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services with internet access

Labour market information

Assistance locating and applying for:

• Employment Insurance
• Social Insurance Numbers
• Canada Pension Plan
• Old Age Security, passports
• Apprenticeship Incentive Grant
• Canada Education Savings Grant
• Pleasure Craft Licences and others

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services

• labour market information
• information and assistance applying for Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Veterans benefits, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Education Savings Grant and others
• passport receiving agent

For details on all federal and provincial benefits see Canada Benefits directory

Constituency Office able to assist with;

• applications for passports
• Federal Government Program Assistance (CPP, EI, Citizenship and Immigration and other programs)
• Certificates and Mementos for Milestone Events
• attendance at special occasions or school functions
• postal service complaints
• Commissioner of Oath for federal government documents (please call in advance) Certify True Copies for the purposes of applications to government services (originals must be brought to the office)

COVID-19 - Do not come to a Service Canada Centre if you:
•Have any COVID-19 related symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing
•Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
•Are required to self-isolate or quarantine by public health authorities

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services. Internet access and assistance locating and applying for government programs including Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and passports (see separate entries for program details), as well as Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Education Savings Grant and others

Student/youth employment services available May-August through Service Canada Centres for Youth -- see separate entry

COVID-19 Response
Service Canada Centres are open for limited in-person services.

Online service are available at https://eservices.canada.ca/en/service. Complete a service request form online and a Service Canada officer will call you back within 2 business days. If your request cannot be completed over the phone, you will be offered an appointment to visit a Service Canada Centre.

Do not come to a Service Canada Centre if you:

• Have any COVID-19 related symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing
• Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
• Are required to self-isolate or quarantine by public health authorities

Please follow public health advice. Anyone not following public health advice trying to enter the office may be reported to local public health authorities. For more information, visit Canada.ca/covid19.

Regular Service
Employment Insurance (EI) provides benefits to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own (for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs, maternity/parental etc) .

Always apply for EI benefits as soon as you stop working. You can apply for benefits even if you have not yet received your Record of Employment (ROE). If you delay filing your claim for benefits for more than four weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.

Job Bank www.jobbank.gc.ca
www.jobbank.gc.ca - online employment information and job postings

Service Canada programs and services are available online at www.canada.ca
or by telephone at: 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) - TTY: 1-800-926-9105

Scent reduced environment
Service Canada promotes a scent reduced work environment and encourages the limited use of scented products in our offices.

It is highly recommended that you not visit Service Canada Centres unless absolutely necessary.
Can provide help with the following programs by using eServiceCanada:

• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits
• Social Insurance Numbers (SIN)
• Veterans Affairs Canada Services

They will call you back within two business days.
You can complete the following tasks at a Service Canada Centre:

• submit supporting documents
• accept Proof of Identity documents
• authenticate appointed representatives and third parties
• telephone interpretation services
• obtain a temporary access code

Protecting your information
You now need to show valid ID and answer verification questions at Service Canada Centres to access your file.
To be accepted, your valid ID needs to show your legal name, photo, signature and/or date of birth.
Examples of accepted ID include:

• One of the following:
  • a passport (Canadian or foreign) or permanent resident card
  • a Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada
  • a provincial or territorial ID card or drivers license
• or two of the following:
  • a birth certificate (provincial or territorial)
  • a certificate of Canadian citizenship
  • a certificate of registration of birth abroad
  • any other government-issued ID

No ID is required to ask about programs or services.

Service club dedicated to looking after the needs of veterans, their dependents and those serving in the Canadian Forces

• meeting rooms and halls for events
• online store
• charitable foundation hosting various fundraising events and campaigns such as the Poppy

Sponsor of community programs such as:

• sports, youth and seniors programs

Financial assistance to:

• local organizations such as medical centers, medical research and communities affected by natural disasters
• individuals such as educational bursaries, prizes and assistance to hospitalized or homeless veterans

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services

• labour market information
• information and referral on Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Veterans benefits, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Education Savings Grant and others

For details on all federal and provincial benefits see Canada Benefits directory

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services.

Service Request Form
Request a phone call about one or more of the following programs:

• Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Social Insurance Number
• Veterans Affairs Canada Services
• Ukraine immigration measures: Financial assistance

Appointment Booking
Book an appointment at a Service Canada Centre for one of the following services:

• Biometrics Collections
• Passport Services

Apply for a Social Insurance Number Online

Student/youth employment services available May-August through Service Canada Centres for Youth -- see separate entry

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services

• labour market information
• information and assistance applying for Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Veterans benefits, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Education Savings Grant and others
• passport receiving agent

For details on all federal and provincial benefits see Canada Benefits directory

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services

• labour market information
• information and assistance applying for Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Veterans benefits, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Education Savings Grant and others
• passport receiving agent

For details on all federal and provincial benefits see Canada Benefits directory

One-stop service delivery for a wide range of federal programs and services

• labour market information
• information and assistance applying for Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Veterans benefits, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Education Savings Grant and others
• passport receiving agent

For details on all federal and provincial benefits see Canada Benefits directory