SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Canada is a social welfare state. Below is a summary of some of the social assistance programs. Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families with children under 18. The CCTB includes the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS), a monthly benefit for low-income families with children.

Maternity, parental and sickness benefits Employment Insurance (EI) provides maternity and/or parental benefits to individuals who are pregnant, have recently given birth, are adopting a child or are caring for a new-born baby. Sickness benefits are paid to people who are unable to work because of sickness, injury or are in quarantine.

The Canada Education Savings Grant provides an incentive to Canadians to finance the post-secondary education of children by saving in a Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP). The grant can be as much as $400 each year per child and over the years could amount to a total of $7200.

Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) A registered education savings plan (RESP) is an Education Savings Plan (ESP) registered with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) that pays educational assistance payments to eligible students.

For The Old Ages (Seniors) Security

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension is a monthly payment to those who have contributes to the CPP and who are at least 60 years of age.

The Old Age Security pension plan is a monthly payment available to most Canadian aged 65 or older.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly benefit to low-income seniors who are 65 or older and who are receiving the Old Age Security pension.

Home Adaptation for Seniors Independence (HASI) Available to homeowners (and landlords) to pay for minor home modifications that will allow low-income seniors to continue living in their own home independently.

For Students:

Canada Students Loan Program (CSLP). The government of Canada provides loans to help you finance your education. Loans are available for full-time and part-time studies.

Canada Study Grants (CSG) provide financial support to help certain post-secondary students achieve their learning goals. Canada Study Grants are available to post-secondary students who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Millennium Scholarship Fund. The fund provides bursaries to students who demonstrate financial need. Students who apply for financial assistance from their province or territory are automatically considered for a bursary from the Fund.

Summer Language Bursary Program. To provide young children Canadian with opportunity to learn their second official language or, in the case of Francophone minorities, to perfect their mother tongue. Bursaries are granted to students across Canada to enable them to participate in five-week immersion courses in English and French at accredited institutions.

Employment Insurance

Employment Insurance (EI) provides regular benefits to people who have lost their jobs, through no fault of their own, while they look for work or upgrade their skills.

Maternity, parental and sickness benefits Employment Insurance (EI) provides maternity and / or parental benefits to individuals who are pregnant, have recently given birth, are adopting a child or are caring for a new-born baby. Sickness benefits are paid to people who are unable to work because of sickness, injury or in quarantine.

Skills Development. To help individuals obtain skills for employment, ranging from basic to advance, by providing them with financial assistance to select, arrange and pay for their own training.

Self-Employment Assistance. To provide employment insurance-eligible unemployed individuals with financial support, planning assistance, and mentoring to help them start a business.