For Federal Programs (OAS / CPP)
Call: 1-800-277-9914

For Provincial Programs (ASB)
Call: 1-800-642-3853

Revenue Canada (Income Tax / GST)
Income Tax: 1-800-959-8281
GST: 1-800-959-1953

It's important to let gov organizations know of any address changes to avoid stopping of payments or correspondence.

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Alberta Seniors and Community Supports offers the following income support programs for seniors:

• Alberta Seniors Benefit
• Special Needs Assistance for Seniors
• Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors
• Education Property Tax Assistance for Seniors

To apply for these programs, you must complete a Seniors Financial Assistance application form. 

You are eligible to apply for the seniors financial assistance programs, if you:

• are 65 years of age or older;
• have lived in Alberta for at least three months immediately before applying; and
• are a Canadian citizen, or have been admitted into Canada for permanent residence (landed or sponsored immigrant)

If you meet all of the above eligibility requirements for assistance, your level of assistance will then be determined based upon the specific criteria for each program.

Income verification is a key requirement of the following Seniors Financial Assistance programs:

• Alberta Seniors Benefit
• Dental and Optical Assistance for seniors
• Special Needs Assistance for Seniors

Your limited income information is used to determine benefits - with your consent. It will be obtained directly from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Only the income sources needed to determine your eligibility will be collected.

The Education Property Tax Assistance for Seniors is not income based.

SENIORS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Alberta Seniors and Community & Supports

The Seniors Financial Assistance program is an income supplement in addition to federal income sources including Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Assistance is based on income and the program provides a monthly cash benefit to eligible seniors. 1-877-644-9992

The cash benefit is determined by:

• the type of accommodation you live in
• your marital / cohabitation status
• your income (combined with your spouse/partner's income if applicable)
• eligibility for the federal Old Age Security pension

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for a cash benefit is dependent on a single senior's annual income, or a senior couple's combined annual income. Income levels are for seniors whose income includes full Old Age Security pension.

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SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS

The Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program provides a lump-sum cash payment to eligible low-income seniors. This program provides assistance with allowable one-time or extraordinary expenses. A senior's total annual income and the expense requested are used to determine the annual amount funded. The maximum assistance available is $5,000 in a benefit year.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

To be considered for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program, you must first complete the Seniors Financial Assistance application form. Eligibility for an assistance is dependent on a single senior's annual income, or a senior couple's combined annual income.

AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE

Assistance is available for allowable special needs such as appliances, certain medical expenses and the cost of some home repairs.

Special Needs Assistance for Seniors is a program of last resort. All other sources of funding and support, including informal support, must be used before applying to the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program.

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DENTAL AND OPTICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS

When visiting a dental or optical office, present your Alberta personal health number and advise the service provider that are a senior.

The service provider can confirm your coverage level and eligibility at the time of your appointment. You can also confirm your eligibility and coverage levels:

Dental service: Contact the Alberta Dental Service Corporation

Optical service: Contact Alberta Blue Cross

Dental or optical offices may bill directly for services provided to you. If your service provider accepts this method, you will only be required to pay amounts not covered by your plan.

If your service provider does not accept direct billing, you will have to pay your service provider directly and claim reimbursement by submitting a claim form.

Download the form from:

• Alberta Dental Service Corporation,

• Alberta Blue Cross or

• Get the form from your service provider

Your service provider must also complete a section of this form. You then mail in your form for reimbursement. Be sure to include your personal health number on your claim. Claims must be submitted within 12 months of an expense being incurred.

The Optical Assistance for Seniors program will reimburse eligible seniors for prescription eyeglasses, including lenses and frames dispensed by a recognized optical provider up to the maximum amount based on your eligibility at the time of purchase.

The program does not cover the following optical expenses:

• Contact lenses
• Eye surgery
• Eye exams
• Accessories
• Magnifying devices
• Eye medication
• Non-prescription sunglasses
• Reading glasses not dispensed by optical provider

A senior may receive the maximum optical benefit once every 3 years. The 3-year period begins from the date of the first optical service that is funded.

If you do not use the maximum benefit, you can submit additional expenses before the 3-year period ends.

Special circumstances may be taken into consideration, for example, greater frequency resulting from eye surgery.

• Diagnostic services – examinations and x-rays
• Preventative services – polishing and scaling
• Restorative services – fillings, trauma/pain control/pins
• Extractions – simple and complicated
• Root canals (Endodontics)
• Procedures relating to gum disease (Periodontics) – root planing
• Dentures (Prosthodontics) – full and partial basic dentures

• Bridges
• Crowns
• Braces 
• Implants
• Fluoride Treatment
• Teeth Bleaching
• Inlays (gold or gems)

Please contact your dental provider if you have specific questions regarding your own treatment plan and services required.

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EDUCATION PROPERTY TAX FOR SENIORS

This program provides a rebate to senior homeowners to cover the year-to-year increases to the education portion of their property taxes over their base year amount. This program is not income based.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are applying to the Education Property Tax Assistance for Seniors program for the first time, please submit copies of your property tax notices with your Seniors Financial Assistance application.

The Education Property Tax Assistance for Seniors program has partnered with a number of municipalities to automatically receive property tax information for the seniors enrolled in the program. Therefore you will not need to re-apply each year. If your property tax information is not automatically received through this process, or if the program requires additional information, you will receive a letter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alberta Seniors and Community Supports
Box 3100
Edmonton, AB T5J 4W3
Toll -free anywhere in Alberta;
1-800-642-3853
Edmonton: 780-427-7876
Website: www.seniors.alberta.ca

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INCOME SUPPORT - Before age 65

Alberta Employment and Immigration assists Albertans who have little or no income, or those with special circumstances, through the Alberta Works Income Support Program.

Income Support is a program that provides financial and health benefits and training to Albertans who do not have the means to support themselves. Assets and income are taken onto account to determine eligibility and benefit level. Individuals who receive Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance / Allowance for the Survivor and Canada Pension Plan benefits are unlikely to be eligible for assistance from this program.

For more information on Income Support, contact:
Alberta Works Contact Center
Toll-free anywhere in Alberta:
1-866-644-5135
Edmonton: 780-644-5135
Website: www.employment.alberta.ca
E-mail: iscc@gov.ab.ca

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ASSURED INCOME FOR THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED (AISH) - Before Age 65

Alberta Seniors and Community Supports offers the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. This program provides financial assistance (living allowance), supplementary assistance (child benefits and personal benefits) and health-related assistance to eligible adults with a disability that severely limits their ability to earn a living. The disability must be permanent (all opportunities for rehabilitation and training have been exhausted.) Applicants receiving an Old Age Security pension are not eligible to receive AISH.

For more information about AISH, contact:
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
Toll-free anywhere in Alberta: 1-866-477-8589
Edmonton: 780-644-1364
Website: www.seniors.alberta.ca

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The Government of Canada administers the Old Age Security programs, which includes the Old Age Security Program Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance and the Canada Pension Plan.

Call toll-free from Canada and the United States:
English: 1-800-277-9914
French: 1-800-277-9915
TTY: 1-800-255-4786
Hours of Operation: 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
Website: www.servicecanada.gc.ca

OLD AGE SECURITY PENSION(OAS)

Click Here for Payment Schedule
To be eligible for the federal Old Age Security pension (OAS), you must:

• be at least age 65 (you do not need to be retired);
• be a legal resident of Canada; and
• have lived a minimum of 10 years in Canada after the age of 18. If you are 65 or older and are not covered by the conditions above, you may still qualify for a pension since Canada has social security agreements with many countries. Call Service Canada for information.

You must apply for this pension. If possible, send in your information six months before your 65th birthday.

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GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT(GIS)

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is available to seniors who receive the OAS pension and have little or no other income.

Eligibility for this supplement and the amount of the supplement that you receive depends on:

• marital status, and
• total family income in the previous calendar year. If you are married or living common-law, the income of your spouse or common-law partner is included.

The GIS is added to the federal OAS cheque each month. An application must be submitted to receive this benefit.

To continue receiving GIS benefits each year, you must submit a renewal form or file an income tax return by April 30. Couples must file separate income tax returns.

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ALLOWANCE/ALLOWANCE FOR THE SURVIVOR

The Allowance is paid to the spouse or common-law partner of a senior receiving GIS.

To be eligible you must:

• be age 60 through 64, and
• have lived in Canada a minimum of 10 years after the age of 18.

The amount of the Allowance depends on a couple's combined income in the previous calendar year.

People who may be eligible for the Allowance should apply six months before their 60th birthday. It may be applied for any time between ages 60 and 64 and could continue until the age of 65.

The Allowance for the Survivor is available to widowed spouses or surviving common-law partners who have little or no other income and who are between the ages of 60 and 64.

The amount of Allowance for the Survivor depends on the applicant's income in the previous calendar year. To continue receiving the Allowance for the Survivor, you must file an income tax return by April 30 each year. If you continue to be eligible, your Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor will automatically be renewed. If you do not file your income tax, you must complete a renewal form.

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CANADA PENSION PLAN (CPP)

Click Here for Payment Schedule

Click Here For Monthly and Maximum Payment Amounts

The federal government administers the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The Canada Pension Plan provides you and your family with replacement of partial earnings in the case of retirement, disability or death.

If you have lived or are living outside Canada, you may quality for a pension from that country as well.

There are several different CPP options:

Retirement pension

You can apply for and receive a full CPP retirement pension at age 65 or receive it as early as age 60 with a reduction, or as late as age 70 with an increase.

Post-retirement benefit

If you continue to work while receiving your CPP retirement pension, and are under age 70, you can continue to participate in the CPP. Your CPP contributions will go toward post-retirement benefits, which will increase your retirement income.

Disability benefits

If you become severely disabled to the extent that you cannot work at any job on a regular basis, you and your children may receive a monthly benefit.

Survivor benefits

When you die, CPP survivor benefits may be paid to your estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and children.

Pension sharing

Married or common-law couples in an ongoing relationship may voluntarily share their CPP retirement pensions.

Credit splitting for divorced or separated couples

The CPP contributions you and your spouse or common-law partner made during the time you lived together can be equally divided after a divorce or separation.

Death Benefit 

Provides a one-time payment to (or on behalf of) the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor.

Child Rearing Provision

If you stopped working or received lower earnings to raise your children, you may be able to use the "child-rearing provision" to increase your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits.

Application forms are available at any Service Canada Centre, by calling 1-800-277-9914, or apply online.

EDUCATION AND PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS

The Education Property Tax Assistance for Seniors program provides a rebate to assist senior homeowners with the year-to-year increases in the education portion of their property taxes.

The program is not based on income.

SENIORS LODGE PROGRAM

Lodge accommodation offers single or double bedrooms, meals, housekeeping, linen/laundry and recreational services to seniors.

Seniors whose income falls within local limits and who are functionally independent, with or without the help of existing community based services, are eligible to apply for this program through their local management body. Applicants are prioritized on the basis of need. Community residency requirements may be in place.

The local management body sets lodge rates and administers the lodges. To assist lower-income residents, management bodies must ensure that each resident has a set minimum per month in disposable income after lodge accommodation costs.

For more information about the Seniors Lodge program, contact:
Grande Spirit Foundation
Main Office: 780-532-2905

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Please have your T’4s, T-5’s from Canada Pension, Old Age Security, Alberta Senior’s Benefits, Bank Interest, etc. ready. And any receipts for public transit, optical, dental, and a pharmacist’s printout summarizing the total year’s prescriptions.