Trillium Drug Program?

[froglover]

Hello everyone!

I'm working on my sponsorship package for my wife and I'm worried the fact that I'm on the Trillium Drug Program would count as social support and therefore make me ineligible for sponsoring her. Because of some logistical bureaucratic complications I haven't actually received any money from the Trillium Drug Program yet, and because I'm sponsoring my wife for immigration I wasn't planning on using it for now, but I don't want to back out of the program entirely because it's such a pain in the ass to get signed up in the first place. I've heard it doesn't count as social support, but does anyone have any proof of that? I don't want to get in trouble of jeapordize my application over this.

I've tried calling the ICC hotline about this but every single time (even when I'm calling at 8 AM) I get an automated message saying the queue is too long and then it hangs up on me. Are their phone lines even working?

 

[Naturgrl]

Hello everyone!

I'm working on my sponsorship package for my wife and I'm worried the fact that I'm on the Trillium Drug Program would count as social support and therefore make me ineligible for sponsoring her. Because of some logistical bureaucratic complications I haven't actually received any money from the Trillium Drug Program yet, and because I'm sponsoring my wife for immigration I wasn't planning on using it for now, but I don't want to back out of the program entirely because it's such a pain in the ass to get signed up in the first place. I've heard it doesn't count as social support, but does anyone have any proof of that? I don't want to get in trouble of jeapordize my application over this.

I've tried calling the ICC hotline about this but every single time (even when I'm calling at 8 AM) I get an automated message saying the queue is too long and then it hangs up on me. Are their phone lines even working?

May I ask how you are eligible for the program?

 

[froglover]

The Trillium Drug Program is a supplement for people with high prescription drug costs. It comes with a deductible based on household income - mine is somewhere in the $3500-$4500 a year range before it starts covering my costs (they actually gave me two different deductibles which I haven't resolved yet and this is part of why I haven't used it). Anyone can apply for it, your deductible will just vary depending on how much your household makes.

 

[DimT44]

Some examples and information that might be useful for you.

"What is considered social assistance"
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1526&top=14#:~:text=What is considered social assistance

"Any amount appearing on line 14500 is considered social assistance."
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/permanent-residence/non-economic-classes/family-class-assessing-sponsor.html#:~:text=Any amount appearing on line 14500 is considered social assistance.

"As a reminder, as per paragraph R133(1)(k), a sponsorship application can only be approved by an officer if, from the day on which the application has been filed until the day a decision is made, the sponsor is not in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability."
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/permanent-residence/non-economic-classes/family-class-assessing-sponsor.html#:~:text=As a reminder, as per paragraph R133(1)(k), a sponsorship application can only be approved by an officer if, from the day on which the application has been filed until the day a decision is made, the sponsor is not in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/spousal-sponsorship-while-on-pharmacare-drug-benefit.574825/

 

[froglover]

Thank you! It sounds like it's likely not, but I didn't think to call the Trillum Drug people themselves instead of IRCC, which someone in the thread you linked to did in their situation, so I'll give that a shot.

 

[canuck78]

Hello everyone!

I'm working on my sponsorship package for my wife and I'm worried the fact that I'm on the Trillium Drug Program would count as social support and therefore make me ineligible for sponsoring her. Because of some logistical bureaucratic complications I haven't actually received any money from the Trillium Drug Program yet, and because I'm sponsoring my wife for immigration I wasn't planning on using it for now, but I don't want to back out of the program entirely because it's such a pain in the ass to get signed up in the first place. I've heard it doesn't count as social support, but does anyone have any proof of that? I don't want to get in trouble of jeapordize my application over this.

I've tried calling the ICC hotline about this but every single time (even when I'm calling at 8 AM) I get an automated message saying the queue is too long and then it hangs up on me. Are their phone lines even working?

No impact on sponsorship. As already stated you have to pay out of pocket a pretty substantial amount before you get any type of coverage.

 

[froglover]

Yeah just to confirm for anyone who ends up finding this thread while searching for answers - I just called the Trillium people and they confirmed it doesn't count as social assistance.

 

[canuck78]

Yeah just to confirm for anyone who ends up finding this thread while searching for answers - I just called the Trillium people and they confirmed it doesn't count as social assistance.

Trillium is certainly helpful but you still have to pay a significant amount before getting any coverage. Many are unaware that there is a pretty large deductible to pay first.