Searching for Federal Government Social Assistance Programs

Employment insurance benefits are paid if you are unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine.

Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to people who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill and who has a signifcant risk of death within 26 weeks (six months). A maximum of six weeks of compassionate care benefits may be paid to eligible people.

Contributory, earnings-related social insurance program. It ensures a measure of protection to a contributor and his or her family against the loss of income due to disability.

Access to Government of Canada services, benefits, and documentation

Employment Services - Assistance with career planning and counselling including resume and interview assistance and student and youth employment services. Access to online Job Bank

Employment Insurance - Basic income protection program for employed workers

Financial Benefits - Information and forms for federal pensions and benefits including the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Disability Benefits, and Survivor Benefits

Social Insurance Number (SIN) application -Personal identification number for access to various Canadian government programs

Services for Business - Services regarding employees and safety, including records of employment; wage subsidies; labour market information; labour standards; occupational health and safety and workplace equity

Service Canada Centre:

• Labour market, employment and vocational training information
  
• Referral to job search assistance and accessing information, forms and services
  
• Information on and applications for Social Insurance Numbers (SIN)
  
• Employment Insurance (EI): reviews, processes and supplies information on applications for employment insurance benefits
  
• Compassionate Care Benefits may be paid up to maximum of 6 weeks to individuals absent from work to provide care or support to individuals who are gravely ill; individuals receiving EI are also eligible
  
• Information about services online for youth
  
• Information and applications for Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement
  

Services Offered:


* All Canadians Job Bank

* Labour Market Information

* Pleasure Craft Licensing

* Social Insurance Number Application


- Employers and Organizations Hiring Foreign Workers

* Human Resource Management

* Record of Employment


- Newcomers to Canada Foreign Credentials Referral


- People with Disabilities Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits


* Seniors Allowance for the Survivor Program

* Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension

* Old Age Security

*Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)


-Death Benefit


- Workers Employment Insurance Regular Benefits


- Workers who have Lost their Jobs Targeted Wage Subsidies

A one-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor.
If an estate exists the executor should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death.
If no estate exists or if the executor does not apply, payment may be made to: the person or institution responsible for paying funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or common-law partner of the deceased, the next-of-kin of the deceased.
Individuals who are eligible for this benefit may also be eligible for the Surviving Child's Benefit or the Survivor's Pension which both offer monthly payments to children, spouses, and common-law partners of deceased CPP contributors.

Provides temporary regular financial 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) and are available for and able to work, but can't find a job; able-bodied claimants must be seeking employment to remain eligible.
Applications should be submitted as soon as employment ends. Individuals can apply for benefits even if they have not yet received their Record of Employment (ROE)
Visit the website for specific details.

Old Age Security (OAS)

Monthly pension to persons 65 or over regardless of income or assets

• must be legal resident of Canada for at least 40 years to receive full pension
• also full pension for persons who were 25 years or older as of July 1, 1977, and who resided in or had a visa to enter Canada that was valid on that date, or who had resided legally in Canada prior to that date and after reaching age 18, and who resided in Canada immediately before approval of the application

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Supplement added monthly to Old Age Security for those with limited or no income

• amount of supplement is adjusted quarterly
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)
• not payable outside Canada beyond a period of 6 months regardless of how long the person lived in Canada

Allowance

Monthly allowance for spouses 60-64 years of Old Age Security pensioners receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement

• based on combined income of the couple
• allowance is adjusted quarterly
• residence requirements
• proof of age required
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Allowance for the Survivor

Monthly allowance for widowed spouses 60-65 years

• death, marriage and applicant's birth certificate required
• based on limited or no income
• deceased spouse need not have received Old Age Security
• apply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Programs of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada)

A monthly, taxable benefit that replaces a portion of the applicants income upon retirement. Those who qualify for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will receive the retirement pension for the rest of their life.
Individuals aged 60 to 69 can continue to work while receiving CPP. CPP contributions will then go toward post-retirement benefits (PRB) which will increase income upon retirement.

A one-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor.
If an estate exists the executor should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death.
If no estate exists or if the executor does not apply, payment may be made to: the person or institution responsible for paying funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or common-law partner of the deceased, the next-of-kin of the deceased.
Individuals who are eligible for this benefit may also be eligible for the Surviving Child's Benefit or the Survivor's Pension which both offer monthly payments to children, spouses, and common-law partners of deceased CPP contributors.

Provides temporary regular financial 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) and are available for and able to work, but can't find a job; able-bodied claimants must be seeking employment to remain eligible.
Applications should be submitted as soon as employment ends. Individuals can apply for benefits even if they have not yet received their Record of Employment (ROE)
Visit the website for specific details.

Old Age Security (OAS)

Monthly pension to persons 65 or over regardless of income or assets

• must be legal resident of Canada for at least 40 years to receive full pension
• also full pension for persons who were 25 years or older as of July 1, 1977, and who resided in or had a visa to enter Canada that was valid on that date, or who had resided legally in Canada prior to that date and after reaching age 18, and who resided in Canada immediately before approval of the application

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Supplement added monthly to Old Age Security for those with limited or no income

• amount of supplement is adjusted quarterly
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)
• not payable outside Canada beyond a period of 6 months regardless of how long the person lived in Canada

Allowance

Monthly allowance for spouses 60-64 years of Old Age Security pensioners receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement

• based on combined income of the couple
• allowance is adjusted quarterly
• residence requirements
• proof of age required
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Allowance for the Survivor

Monthly allowance for widowed spouses 60-65 years

• death, marriage and applicant's birth certificate required
• based on limited or no income
• deceased spouse need not have received Old Age Security
• apply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Programs of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada)

A monthly, taxable benefit that replaces a portion of the applicants income upon retirement. Those who qualify for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will receive the retirement pension for the rest of their life.
Individuals aged 60 to 69 can continue to work while receiving CPP. CPP contributions will then go toward post-retirement benefits (PRB) which will increase income upon retirement.

Access to Government of Canada services, benefits, and documentation

Employment Services - Assistance with career planning and counselling including resume and interview assistance and student and youth employment services. Access to online Job Bank

Employment Insurance - Basic income protection program for employed workers

Financial Benefits - Information and forms for federal pensions and benefits including the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Disability Benefits, and Survivor Benefits

Social Insurance Number (SIN) application - Personal identification number for access to various Canadian government programs

Services for Business - Services regarding employees and safety, including records of employment; wage subsidies; labour market information; labour standards; occupational health and safety and workplace equity

A one-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor.
If an estate exists the executor should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death.
If no estate exists or if the executor does not apply, payment may be made to: the person or institution responsible for paying funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or common-law partner of the deceased, the next-of-kin of the deceased.
Individuals who are eligible for this benefit may also be eligible for the Surviving Child's Benefit or the Survivor's Pension which both offer monthly payments to children, spouses, and common-law partners of deceased CPP contributors.

Provides temporary regular financial 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) and are available for and able to work, but can't find a job; able-bodied claimants must be seeking employment to remain eligible.
Applications should be submitted as soon as employment ends. Individuals can apply for benefits even if they have not yet received their Record of Employment (ROE)
Visit the website for specific details.

Old Age Security (OAS)

Monthly pension to persons 65 or over regardless of income or assets

• must be legal resident of Canada for at least 40 years to receive full pension
• also full pension for persons who were 25 years or older as of July 1, 1977, and who resided in or had a visa to enter Canada that was valid on that date, or who had resided legally in Canada prior to that date and after reaching age 18, and who resided in Canada immediately before approval of the application

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Supplement added monthly to Old Age Security for those with limited or no income

• amount of supplement is adjusted quarterly
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)
• not payable outside Canada beyond a period of 6 months regardless of how long the person lived in Canada

Allowance

Monthly allowance for spouses 60-64 years of Old Age Security pensioners receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement

• based on combined income of the couple
• allowance is adjusted quarterly
• residence requirements
• proof of age required
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Allowance for the Survivor

Monthly allowance for widowed spouses 60-65 years

• death, marriage and applicant's birth certificate required
• based on limited or no income
• deceased spouse need not have received Old Age Security
• apply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Programs of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada)

A monthly, taxable benefit that replaces a portion of the applicants income upon retirement. Those who qualify for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will receive the retirement pension for the rest of their life.
Individuals aged 60 to 69 can continue to work while receiving CPP. CPP contributions will then go toward post-retirement benefits (PRB) which will increase income upon retirement.

Offers a wide variety of services for Canadian Veterans and their families. This includes: programs to assist them after an injury or during the transition from military to civilian life, allowances and benefits, income support payments, rehabilitation, health care benefits and funding for long term care.

Offers volunteers who assist individuals who are unable to complete income tax and benefit returns. Volunteer tax preparation clinics are offered in various locations across Canada, generally between February and April of each year. Some clinics operate year-round. Full list of clinics available on the website.
The following returns are not eligible for this service:

• returns for deceased persons
• individuals who file for bankruptcy
• self-employed individuals
• individuals who report capital gains or losses
• individuals who report employment expenses, or business or rental income and expenses

A one-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor.
If an estate exists the executor should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death.
If no estate exists or if the executor does not apply, payment may be made to: the person or institution responsible for paying funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or common-law partner of the deceased, the next-of-kin of the deceased.
Individuals who are eligible for this benefit may also be eligible for the Surviving Child's Benefit or the Survivor's Pension which both offer monthly payments to children, spouses, and common-law partners of deceased CPP contributors.

Provides temporary regular financial 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) and are available for and able to work, but can't find a job; able-bodied claimants must be seeking employment to remain eligible.
Applications should be submitted as soon as employment ends. Individuals can apply for benefits even if they have not yet received their Record of Employment (ROE)
Visit the website for specific details.

Old Age Security (OAS)

Monthly pension to persons 65 or over regardless of income or assets

• must be legal resident of Canada for at least 40 years to receive full pension
• also full pension for persons who were 25 years or older as of July 1, 1977, and who resided in or had a visa to enter Canada that was valid on that date, or who had resided legally in Canada prior to that date and after reaching age 18, and who resided in Canada immediately before approval of the application

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Supplement added monthly to Old Age Security for those with limited or no income

• amount of supplement is adjusted quarterly
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)
• not payable outside Canada beyond a period of 6 months regardless of how long the person lived in Canada

Allowance

Monthly allowance for spouses 60-64 years of Old Age Security pensioners receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement

• based on combined income of the couple
• allowance is adjusted quarterly
• residence requirements
• proof of age required
• reapply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Allowance for the Survivor

Monthly allowance for widowed spouses 60-65 years

• death, marriage and applicant's birth certificate required
• based on limited or no income
• deceased spouse need not have received Old Age Security
• apply when income taxes are filed (end of April)

Programs of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada)

A monthly, taxable benefit that replaces a portion of the applicants income upon retirement. Those who qualify for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will receive the retirement pension for the rest of their life.
Individuals aged 60 to 69 can continue to work while receiving CPP. CPP contributions will then go toward post-retirement benefits (PRB) which will increase income upon retirement.