Searching for Federal Government Social Assistance Programs

Provides a monthly benefit to eligible Canadians who are unable to work at any job due to a disability

Financial benefits paid to a deceased contributor's estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children

Death Benefit

• Provides a one-time payment to or on behalf of the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor

Survivor's Pension

• Provides a monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor

Children's Benefit

• Provides a monthly benefit for the dependent children of a deceased CPP contributor

Provides financial benefits to retired seniors

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

• Provides a monthly taxable benefit to retired contributors
• Provides CPP information online

Old Age Security (OAS)

• Provides a monthly benefit available to most Canadians 65 years of age who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements
• Provides OAS information online

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

• Provides a monthly non-taxable benefit to low-income OAS recipients living in Canada

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Provides financial benefits to retired seniors

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

• Provides a monthly taxable benefit to retired contributors
• Provides CPP information online

Old Age Security (OAS)

• Provides a monthly benefit available to most Canadians 65 years of age who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements
• Provides OAS information online

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

• Provides a monthly non-taxable benefit to low-income OAS recipients living in Canada

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Funerals and Burials

• Provides funeral and burial costs based upon need up to a maximum amount

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Operates as the implementation of the Ontario Works (OW) legislation with culturally appropriate provisions for rates, eligibility and program parameters established by the OW program

Employment Assistance

• Helps individuals to obtain employment and financial independence
• Provides job readiness workshops, referrals to job counselling and training programs, access to education programs and use of office equipment such as telephone, fax machine and computer

Financial Support

• Basic Needs, such as food and clothing for individuals and their families
• Shelter costs, based on the size of the family including rent, heat, hydro, gas, water, sewage, and house insurance

Mino-Bimaadizidaa

• Provides life skills, cultural awareness and alternative ways to live a healthy lifestyle as well as to cope and adapt with life stressors
• Consists of four cycles of personal development steps culminating in either treatment programs, education upgrading, and job skills training or employment

Shpiming Nikeyaa Zhaawag (SNZ)

• Provides financial assistance, active measures and addiction services to Niigaaniin clients whose employment potential may be obstructed by substance abuse problems
• Offers case management and support services on an individual basis

Provides a monthly benefit to eligible Canadians who are unable to work at any job due to a disability

Provides financial benefits to retired seniors

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

• Provides a monthly taxable benefit to retired contributors
• Provides CPP information online

Old Age Security (OAS)

• Provides a monthly benefit available to most Canadians 65 years of age who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements
• Provides OAS information online

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

• Provides a monthly non-taxable benefit to low-income OAS recipients living in Canada

Financial benefits paid to a deceased contributor's estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children

Death Benefit

• Provides a one-time payment to or on behalf of the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor

Survivor's Pension

• Provides a monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor

Children's Benefit

• Provides a monthly benefit for the dependent children of a deceased CPP contributor

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

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

Monthly retirement pension, beginning as early as 60 years or as late as 70 years

• full pension if started at 65 years
• reduced pension if started before 65 years
• increased pension if started after 65 years

Post-Retirement Benefit -- for workers 60-70 years who continue to contribute to CPP while receiving a CPP pension

Disability benefits -- for contributors under 65 years

• allowance for dependent children

Survivor benefits -- monthly pension for surviving spouse or common law partner

• children's benefit for dependent children of deceased contributor
• death benefit (lump sum payment to estate, or persons responsible for funeral costs)

Amount of benefits payable is in proportion to contributions

• pension credits earned by either spouse may be divided equally (credit splitting) on termination of marriage or common law partnership

Social Security Tribunal, 1-877-227-8577 -- independent appeal process for Canada Pension Plan decisions

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

Service Overview

• Temporary financial assistance and support in finding new employment
• claimants must conduct a reasonable job search to remain eligible
• Basic benefit rate is 55% of average insured earnings
• maximum weekly benefit $638
• duration of benefits based on insured weeks of work and regional unemployment rate

Working While on Claim

• claimants keep 50 cents of EI benefits for every dollar earned in wages, up to a maximum of 90% of weekly earnings
• claimants may choose instead to earn up to 40% of regular benefits or $75 per week (whichever is higher) with no reduction in EI payment

Family Supplement

• for low income families who receive the Canada Child Benefit (see separate entry)
• amount based on annual net family income
• supplement will be added to EI payment

Special benefits

• 26 weeks sickness benefits
• 26 weeks compassionate care benefits
• 35 weeks for family caregivers to care for critically ill or injured children, and 15 weeks to care for critically ill or injured adults
• 15 weeks maternity benefits
• 40 weeks standard parental, 69 weeks extended parental benefits available to natural, legal or adoptive parents -- benefits can be shared by both parents

Claimants may be able to receive combination of special benefits

My Service Canada Account

• computer access to claim information

Social Security Tribunal, 1-877-227-8577​

• independent appeal process for Employment Insurance decisions

Job Bank www.jobbank.gc.ca

• online employment information and job postings
• employers can post jobs online

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

Old Age Security (OAS)

• Monthly pension to legal residents of Canada 65 years and older
• full pension to those who have lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18
• partial pension may be available

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) -- Monthly supplement for low income OAS recipients living in Canada

Allowance -- Monthly benefit for low income spouses (60-64 years) of GIS recipients; based on combined income of the couple

Allowance for the Survivor -- Monthly benefit for low income widowed spouses 60-64 years

Social Security Tribunal, 1-877-227-8577 -- independent appeal process for Old Age Security decisions

Programs of Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada

Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS), 1-866-668-8297 -- monthly supplement to low income Ontario seniors receiving OAS and GIS

• program of the Ontario Ministry of Finance