Zhooniyaa – are you receiving all the financial benefits that you are entitled to?
By Helen Bobiwash
There are financial benefits available for people who receive a low to moderate income.
Both the federal and provincial governments provide financial support to individuals and families to offset some basic costs. In order to determine if you are eligible, an income tax return must be filed.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) commissioned a study in 2017 to understand The Experiences of Indigenous Communities with Tax Filing. It was found that some Indigenous people don’t file a tax return because they are tax exempt, they have no income to declare, or they have difficulty understanding the process.
In July 2018, CTV News reported that thousands of Indigenous families living on reserve will miss out on the Canada Child Benefit because they don’t file a tax return.
Table 1 lists financial benefits that are available for individuals and families with lower income levels. Are you receiving the benefits that you are entitled to?
Table 1: Summary of Financial Benefits
| Financial Benefit | Maximum Benefit (effective Jan 1, 2019) |
| GST/HST Credit | $433 per year for single individuals.
$568 per year for married or common-law individuals. $149 per year for each child under 19. |
| Working Income Tax Benefit | $1,043 per year for individuals.
$1,894 per year for families. |
| Canada Child Benefit | $541.33 per month for each eligible child under 6 years of age.
$456.75 per month for each eligible child aged 6 to 17. Additional $230.91 per month if an eligible child is disabled. |
| Old Age Security Pension | $601.45 per month. |
| Guaranteed Income Supplement | $898.32 per month for single, widowed or divorced individuals.
$898.32 per month for married or common-law individuals whose spouse/partner does not receive an Old Age Security pension. $540.77 per month for married or common-law individuals whose spouse/partner receives an Old Age Security pension or allowance. |
| Ontario Trillium Benefits | Ontario Sales Tax Credit
$301 per year for each person in the family. Northern Ontario Energy Credit $151 per year for individuals with no children. $232 per year for families. Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit $1,042 per year for non-seniors. $1,187 per year for seniors. |
| Ontario Child Benefit | $116.91 per month for each child. |
All individuals may be eligible to receive the GST/HST Credit, Working Income Tax Benefit and Ontario Trillium Benefits. Families may also be eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit and Ontario Child Benefit. Seniors may be eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement. There are different factors that determine eligibility, but it’s worthwhile to check them out.
For each benefit, there is a maximum income level that a person or family must earn to be eligible. The income level is different depending on the financial benefit and number of people in the family. The amount may be lowered depending on how your income fits under the maximum level.
File Your Income Tax Return
Even if you have no taxable income, file your income tax return to determine if you are eligible for any of the financial benefits. If you file after April 30, benefit payments may be delayed. If you haven’t filed an income tax return in past years, you may be entitled to a lump sum of retroactive benefits such as the GST/HST Credit.
There are many ways to file an income tax return. Complete it on a paper form and mail it. Complete it over the phone using CRA’s File My Return service. You can also complete and file it online using software. Be aware that it will take more time to receive any refund, if the tax return is filed on paper. If you arranged for direct deposit, a tax refund will be received quicker than waiting for a cheque.
There are qualified tax preparers who will charge a fee to prepare your tax return. They may even charge a fee to provide you with an instant tax refund. Be aware that there is a cost to hiring a tax preparer, and the cost for an instant tax refund is usually higher.
There may be a free tax clinic that you can use. Canada Revenue Agency has established a Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVIT). It provides free tax clinics in communities across Canada. At these clinics, trained volunteers will complete your tax return.
Some First Nations and Indigenous organizations offer free tax clinics under the CVIT. In Wiikwemkoong, Enaadmaagehjik has offered a free CVIT clinic CVIT since 2014. Since then, volunteers have completed almost 2,500 tax returns for community member and residents of neighbouring communities. The program has helped individuals access income tax refunds and financial benefits totalling $2.3 million. The free tax clinic is Wiikwemkoong is expected to start in April 2019.
Find out if a free tax clinic is offered in, or near, your community. Check the CRA website they list the volunteer agencies. Many clinics provide the service by appointment only. You may need to call ahead and make an appointment.
If there isn’t a free tax clinic near you, perhaps approach a community organization and suggest that they register with CRA’s program to provide the service.
File your tax return, in whatever way you can. It won’t take away from Indigenous rights, but it may give you access to monies that you are entitled to.