Zurich Citizens News, 1976-02-25, Page 5Ontario's Guaranteed Annual
Income System - the GAINS
Programme was introduced to
benefit residents over 64 years
of age and people who are blind
or disabled. The benefits for
senior citizens are administ-
ered by the Guaranteed Income
and Tax Credit Branch of the
Ministry of Revenue, whilst the
blind and disabled are taken
care of by the Ministry of Com-
munity and Social Services.
To qualify for assistance under
the GAINS programme, people
must have lived five consecutive
years in Canada, with the last
full year in Ontario, immediat-
ely prior to applying for bene-
fit. Alternatively, one must have
lived in Ontario for one full year
immediately prior to applying
for GAINS and have been resi-
dent in Canada for periods totall-
ing twenty years since reaching
age eighteen, or have lived in
Ontario for periods that add up to
twenty years since reaching
age eighteen.
Items considered income
are earnings from employment,
net income from a profession
or business, income from super-
annuation, retirement pen-
sions, annuity payments and
other sources, including pensions
from any other countries, which
are taxable in Canada. Bank,
Citizens News, February 25176 - Page 5
Jottings by Jack - from Queen's Park
GAINS means guaranteed incorne
bond, mortgage and other int-
erest are included, as are net
dividents and net taxable capital
gains, unemployment insurance
benefits, net rents from property
and income from family allow-
ance. Old Age Security and Guar-
anteed Income Supplement
payments are included, as well
as payments from the Canada
Pension Plan or Quebec Plan.
If total income from all sources
is below the guaranteed minimum
which is reviewed periodically,
a cheque is sent each month
from the Ontario Government
to qualified recipients to make
up the diffcrencu. At the present
time the monthly minimum for
senior citizens is $265 for a single
-person - $530 for a married
couple who both qualify. The cur-
rent minimum for the blind and
disabled is $250.
People over 65 years of age who
receive OAS/GIS payments from
the federal government, need not
apply for the Ontario GAINS
Programme. Their eligibility will
be determined automatically.
Those who do not meet the res-
idency requirements for the Old
Age Security Pension, but appear
to satisfy GAINS requirements,
should request an application
form for GAINS by writing,
visiting or telephoning the
Ministry of Revenue at Queen 's
Park in Toronto (M7A 283).
You may call the Ministry free
of charge. Dial "O" and ask
the operator for ZENITH 8-2000.
If you are blind or disabled
and are now receiving assist-
ance under Ontario's Family
Benefit Programme, you will
receive your benefits cheque
each month, automatically.
You do not have to apply for it.
If you do not receive Family
Benefits, you may qualify for the
special benefits programme.
Applications must be made
through the District Office of the
Ministry of Community and Soc-
ial Services. Dependents of spec-
ial benefits recipients will receive
additional assistance, based on
the size of the fancily and the
ages of the children.
This programme does not apply
to the totally unemployable,
who have been transferred to
Family Benefits from General
Welfare Assistance.
Those who qualify for the spec-
ial benefits programme, Family
Benefits or the federal Guaran-
teed Income Supplement are ent-
itled to receive approved drugs
on prescription, free of charge.
A card should be mailed to you
automatically, but if you qualify
for this assistance and have not
received the drug benefit card,
please contact the Ministry
either Revenue or Community
and Social Services. Ontario
doctors, dentists and pharma
cists have a list of drugs approv-
ed by the Ministry of Health
which may be dispensed free of
charge under the Drug Benefits
programme.
See you next week.
EARLY MALE DOMINANCE - The current kindergarten class at Hensall Public School consists entirely
of boys, 13 of them to be exact. Back, left, Robbie Taylor, Matthew Wright, Danny Kipfer, Scott Bell,
Jeff Clarke, Robbie Elder and Chris Webber. Front, Chris Ingram, John Towton, Wayne Berends,
Shawn Vanstone, Tim Alderson and Brian Moir. News Photo
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