Zurich Citizens News, 1974-08-15, Page 16THURSDAY, AUGUgT 15, 1974 • ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
PAGE 17
The Ontario Guaranteed
Annual Income System (GAINS)
is administered by the Ministry
of Revenue. It insures an ann-
ual income of $2, 600 for qual-
ifying Ontario residents who are
65 years or over. In the case
of a married couple where
both spouses qualify, the annual
income guaranteed to the couple
is $5200. Blind and disabled
people who qualify for Family
Benefits will also be entitled
to these special benefits.
The great majority of the
elderly who are entitled to
GAINS are already receiving
the Federal Guaranteed Income
Supplement. And as of July,
1974, these people should have
automatically received GAINS
cheques which will raise their
incomes up to the guaranteed
level. These qualified residents
do not need to apply for GAINS.
In order to be eligible for
GAINS, you must be 65 years
of age or older, a resident of
Ontario and meet one of the
following conditions:
(a) a resident of Ontario on
June 30, 1974 and in receipt
of the Guaranteed Income
Supplement (GIS) under the
Federal Old Age Security Act
from the Ontario regional off-
ice of the Department of Nat-
ional Health and Welfare of
the Government of Canada.
(b) a resident of Ontario for
one full year immediately
prior to eligibility; and either:
1) a resident in Canada for
five consecutive years immed-
iately prior to eligibility; or
2) a resident in Canada for
periods totalling twenty years
since reaching age 18; or
3) a resident in Ontario for
periods that add up to 20 years
since reaching 18 years of age.
Every person who qualifies
under the above criteria will
receive a Guaranteed Annual
Income Increment sufficient
to provide an income of $2600
a year to each unmarried res-
ident of Ontario over 65 years
of age and who is in receipt of
the Guaranteed Income Supple-
ment. For a married couple
resident in Ontario with the
same qualifications, a comb-
ined income of $5200 will be
received.
The monthly increment is
the difference between the
monthly guaranteed income
limit and the amount of "Basic
Monthly Income: of the bene-
ficiary. The "basic monthly
income" includes the "Income
for the Base Calendar Year"
and any Federal Old Age Secur-
ity (OAS) or Federal Guaranteed
Income Supplement (GIS) to
which the beneficiary is entitles
The "Income for the Base Cal-
endar Year" is the calendar year
ending immediately prior to
the current fiscal year. (In
the present fiscal year, 1974-75,
the base calendar'year is 1973).
The "Income for the Base Cal-
endar Year" is income in that
year computed in accordance
with the Income Tax Act,
minus any increment, OAS,
GIS, or death benefit under
the Canada Pension Plan or a
provincial pension. This defin-
ition of income is identical to
that used by the federal govern-
ment to determine GIS entitle-
ment.
As previously stated, every
eligible person will automat-
ically be in receipt of a Guar-
nateed Annual Income Incre-
ment sufficient to provide an
income of $2600 to a single
person and a combined income
of $5200 to a married couple
resident in Ontario, where
OPEN DAILY
DINNERS
Mon. to Fri. and Sun.
5.0@ to 7:00
5mh
IMS to 8:00
;,?atALIKFAST
Weeltniimys
7:30 a.m.- Noon
Sat. & Spun.
8:00 o.m. to Noon
LUNCH
Ewart Day
12:00 Ntoon tin. 1:00 p.m.
You Are Always Welcome!
Dining Room Licensed
Under 11.130
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
Mozart's Melody Makers
for your listening and dancing pleasure
Green Forest Motor Hotel
YOUR HOSTS: "PETE" and "CAROLE" DEITZ
HIGHWAY 21 --- GRAND BEND
both spouses qualify for the
guaranteed income. Every
person eligible to receive a
payment will receive a cheque
of not less than $2.50 per
person per month.
All cheques to eligible per-
sons who are currently receiv-
ing GIS should have been mail-
ed in July of 1974, However,
due to delaysin the introduction
of legislation for the Guarant-
eed Annual Income System,
and the consequent delays in
processing applications from
eligible residents, some cheque;
may be received in August of
1974 but these cheques will
cover both the July and August
payments.
In Ontario, there are 270,
000 residents who are in
receipt of the Federal Guaran-
teed Income Supplement who
are eligible for GAINS as well
as 10, 000 elderly persons inel-
igible for the federal supple-
ment but who are eligible for
GAINS. For example, Ontario
residents over 65 who have
lived in Canada for the past
five years are likely to be
eligible for GAINS. If they
are not presently in receipt of
Family Benefits Assistance,
they must apply specifically
for GAINS.
Individuals do not need to
apply to GAINS as long as they
sre 65 or over with an annual
income of less than $2600 and
now receive both the Old Age
Security and Guaranteed In-
come Supplement. However,
persons aged 65 or over'who
meet the Ontario income and
residency requirements but
who do not meet the federal
residency criteria for old age
security and guaranteed income
supplement must make an
application in order to receive
GAINS.
Applications may be obtain-
ed by writing to:
Ontario Guaranteed Annual
Income, Ministry of Revenue
Queen's Park, Toronto,
Whenever an individual or a
business decides that success
has been attained, progress stops
or by telephoning 965-8470
within the Metro Toronto Local
Calling Area or outside of that
area, telephone "0" and ask
the operator for ZEnith 8-2000
( free of charge).
If assistance is required in.
completing an Ontario Guar-
anteed Annual Income applic-
ation form, it can be obtained
on the 10th floor of the Min-
istry of Revenue Offices at 801
Bay Street (Bay and College),
or at local field offices of the
Ministry of Community and
Social Services, or at offices
of the Northern Affairs Branch
of the Ministry of Natural Re-
sources.
Questions and problems shouic
be directed to Ontario Guarant-
eed Annual Income, Ministry
of Revenue, Toronto. For
residents within the Metro Tor-
onto area, the telephone numb-
er is 965-8470. Anyone can
call toll-free from out-of-town
by dialing "0" and asking the
operator for ZEnith 8-2000.
The Ministry will be glad to
answer any inquiries.
Next week, I will discuss
the companion program of
GAINS, the Drug Benefit Plan,
which will begin on September
1, 1974.
RECEPTION
FOR
Gerald and Mary
Townsend
(nee Sills)
Friday, August 23
10 - 1
Seaforth
Community Centre
Music By
IAN WILBEE ORCH.
Ladies please bring lunch.
T
CE
Ninth Annu.aI Lean FeShsv, l
IN ZURICH
Anyone wishing to operate a booth or conc-
ession of any kind at the
BEAN FESTIV
L
on Saturday, August 24, 1974
Should contact:
GLEN WEIDO, PHONE 236-4629
As soon as possible!
FESTIV L
fehi ring
'The
m hers ey
and the
"HARD RITES"
BEAN FESTIVAL NITE August 24
dancing from 8 p. . to 1 ;►i .m.
Sponsored by Zurich Minor Athletic Associati� is