The benefit is designed to assist low income seniors who demonstrate a certain level of need, regardless of whom their former employer may have been.
Government recognizes that some of our older persons live in difficult financial circumstances.
The new low income seniors' benefit will complement existing income tax benefits for seniors, which include pension income and age credits. Seniors may also be eligible for the low income HST credit introduced by the provincial government when the RST and GST were integrated in 1997. Of the 34,000 beneficiaries, approximately 22,600, or 67 per cent, will be women. Seniors do not need to make special application for the new benefit which will be paid once a year. The first Low Income Seniors' Benefit cheques will be in the mail this fall.