Financial Help

Financial help is available for people and families who need it.  You must apply and be eligible to get financial help from these programs:

• Ontario Works
• Employment Insurance
• Tax Credits and Benefits
• Assistance for Students
• Assistance for Seniors
• Other Financial Help

Ontario Works

If you are in temporary financial need, Ontario Works can provide you with:

• Emergency assistance
• Money to cover food, shelter, clothing and other household items
• Monthly Ontario Drug Benefits card to cover the cost of prescribed medications
• Help finding a job
• And more

Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services provides information about Ontario Works and an eligibility estimator.

To apply for Ontario Works, contact Social Services, Region of Waterloo. 

Employment Insurance

Employment Insurance (EI)  provides short-term financial help to unemployed Canadians while they look for work or upgrade their skills.

Employment Insurance also provides benefits to Canadians who are:

• Sick  
• Pregnant or caring for a newborn or adopted child  
• Caring for a family member who is seriously ill and may die
• Or have other problems

Tax Credits and Benefits

You may be eligible for credits or benefits from the government.

• GST/HST Credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with lower incomes.  It helps cover all or part of the GST or HST they pay.
• Canada Child Tax Benefits (CCTB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to help families with the cost of raising children under age 18.
• The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) is a refundable tax credit that gives tax relief for working individuals and families with lower incomes.

Help for Students

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) offers grants and loans to eligible students.

Private organizations also offer grants or loans to cover training and educational expenses under certain conditions.  For example, Maytree offers the Immigrant Employment Loan Program. 

Find out more about bursaries, grants and scholarships from universities and colleges.

Help for Seniors

There are many programs that provide help seniors:

• The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is available to most Canadians starting at the age of 65. OAS gives more benefits to eligible low-income seniors.
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides additional money, on top of the Old Age Security pension, to low-income seniors living in Canada.
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides contributors and their families with retirement, disability, survivor, death and children’s benefits.

Other Financial Help

Other financial assistance in Ontario includes:

• Rent banks help tenants with last month's rent or rent money that is past due.
• The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) Loan program gives loans to people seeking permanent resident status in Canada but are unable to pay the RPRF.
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offers financial helpand help finding a job to eligible people with disabilities. 

For more information…

• Government of Canada Income Assistance provides information on Government of Canada Income Assistance programs
• Government of Ontario - Money and Taxes
• Financial Assistance at Settlement.Org