I am receiving Rent Subsidy right now which we call Geared To Income Rent Subsidy. I would like to sponsor my wife to live in Canada. Is Rent Subsidy considered as " In a receipt of Social Assistance" for purposes of the IRCC Sponsorship Application ? I am already a retired pensioner.
What is considered "Social Assistance?"
- Thread starter Caroliner1978
- Start date
A rent subsidy could be considered a form of social assistance. Would call your province or municipality to see how you qualify and whether it is through a social assistance office. You also need to advise the program that you are married.
Thank you so much Palos for your input on my question! Actually my daughter who has a good job can sponsor my wife, but it will be weird since I am still around as the husband, unfortunately I have that dilemma about my Rent Subsidy question . Too bad the IRCC is unreachable to immigration questions as they only have Call Center machines that will only directs one to their IRCC Website.
Thank you Canuck78 for your input on my question!. Too bad the IRCC Help line is just Call Centre machines which only direct one caller to their IRCC Website instead. At least IRCC is the final answer to every Immigration question, but unreachable !
Your daughter would need to wait until the parent sponsorship program reopens and then hope she is selected since there are limited spots available. Much much much easier for you to sponsor your wife than your daughter. At this point we have no idea if the parent sponsorship program will even reopen this year.
Your daughter cannot sponsor your wife....only you can. I would not even mention anything about Rent Subsidy in your application. If you are getting a pension, its not considered welfare, end of story. They only look at your income tax to make sure your income isn't from social assistance and also they check if you've ever defaulted on a previous sponsorship obligation - that's all they do...its not a Mossad investigatation into your background.
Good point Scylla ! I have 2 RN daughters here in Canada which could easily qualify as Sponsor, but as you said the program is close right now and most importantly I agree with your analysis that I am better of in the position to be the Sponsor of my wife as I am the legitimate husband, except that Rent Subsidy question in the Sponsorship Application which I am having right now if its considered as Social Assistance . One member suggested I just go ahead and apply and probably tick No in the question and see the process evolve.
What a practical answer you gave me Phalos, thats the best answer I got from this Forum so far, straight to the point ! Yes, ill go with you, I'll proceed with my Sponsorship application of my wife and tick the box NO, meaning I am NOT in the receipt of welfare social assistance, if that is the meaning of the Sponsorship Application question. Thanks so much Phalos, I appreciate, gave me moral boost!
Receiving subsidized rent essentially means that your income does not allow you to rent privately without consuming a very large portion of monthly income. It is relevant because you are adding another person thus more expenses. To sponsor a spouse you have to show that you can support another person. The provincial social services offices are contacted as part of every application.
Thank you Canuck78 ! My wife is also about to retire from another country and she has more Pension money to receive and Bank Savings more than the pension I am receiving right now from Canada. Two heads will be better than one when it comes to expenses and probably since my wife income will be added to the Household Income, by then we will not be qualified anymore for the subsidized Geared to Income Rent. We have 2 Nurses daughters but Immigration prefers the husband to sponsor the wife, so here i am asking for help advice.....
Thanks Canuck78 ! If only immigration people can answer directly my question, but they are unreachable and when you call their number which is a Call Centre machine, they will just refer you to the IRCC Website for the answer....I'm helpless...