Senior Benefits

[Therespkinb]

Hi all ,
My parents landed in Canada recently as refugees and they are a PR now. They are both seniors above 65 and disabled. What kind of benefits they may be entitled for?

Thanks

 

[Naturgrl]

Since they didn’t pay into the system, there will be few income benefits at the federal level for them. What province and what sort of care are they looking for? Welfare and disability support may be options at the provincial level. For disability support, they need to be assigned a caseworker to review their files, at least in Ontario.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/seniors.html

 

[canuck78]

Hi all ,
My parents landed in Canada recently as refugees and they are a PR now. They are both seniors above 65 and disabled. What kind of benefits they may be entitled for?

Thanks

If they have any assets they are usually required to exhaust almost all their assets to qualify for any support. If they arrived as visitors they must have been able to show some assetts. In 10 years they will qualify for OAS and perhaps GIS. You will likely have to help support them because even if they get some government support it is usually not enough to live on in many cities.

 

[Therespkinb]

Since they didn’t pay into the system, there will be few income benefits at the federal level for them. What province and what sort of care are they looking for? Welfare and disability support may be options at the provincial level. For disability support, they need to be assigned a caseworker to review their files, at least in Ontario.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/seniors.html

Im located in Ontario and looking at things like drugs discounts, dental care. I was reading about the ODSP and Ontario works. When do they qualify for it and what’s the best program to start with?

 

[Therespkinb]

If they have any assets they are usually required to exhaust almost all their assets to qualify for any support. If they arrived as visitors they must have been able to show some assetts. In 10 years they will qualify for OAS and perhaps GIS. You will likely have to help support them because even if they get some government support it is usually not enough to live on in many cities.

Assets as cash? Is there a threshold where they consider low or high to be eligible?
How about OW and ODSP?

 

[Copingwithlife]

Assets as cash? Is there a threshold where they consider low or high to be eligible?
How about OW and ODSP?

You want to do research online

https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/directives/odsp/is/2_5_ODSP_ISDirectives.aspx

There’s a specific section regarding refugees


Refugees are expected to pursue income support through the federal Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). Any income support received through the RAP is deducted dollar-for-dollar when determining the amount of income support a person may be eligible to receive under ODSP.

The Minister may enter into information sharing agreements with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of information and may share the information with a delivery partner under the Ontario Works Act if necessary.

https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/directives/ow/3_1_OW_Directives.aspx

 

[canuck78]

Assets as cash? Is there a threshold where they consider low or high to be eligible?
How about OW and ODSP?

Any support programs are programs of last resort. You can have minimal cash or assets to get government support. These programs are programs of last resort not programs that allow you to keep a lot of your savings while receiving government payments. Since your parents have not worked in Canada they are not entitled to normal pension benefits like CPP. If they are over 65 they have access to subsidized drug cost for the specific medications covered by the government. They will have a yearly deductible plus a fee per prescription.

 

[canuck78]

You want to do research online

https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/directives/odsp/is/2_5_ODSP_ISDirectives.aspx

There’s a specific section regarding refugees


Refugees are expected to pursue income support through the federal Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). Any income support received through the RAP is deducted dollar-for-dollar when determining the amount of income support a person may be eligible to receive under ODSP.

The Minister may enter into information sharing agreements with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of information and may share the information with a delivery partner under the Ontario Works Act if necessary.

https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/directives/ow/3_1_OW_Directives.aspx

RAP is normally for initial set-up costs like basic furnishings. Given that they already have PR I’m not sure if they would still qualify for RAP.