All the benefits cheques you could have received in 2024 so far in Ontario

As winter expenses and holiday costs rise in the coming months, Ontario residents can anticipate another round of benefit cheques, including those distributed throughout 2024. Here’s a summary of the payments you may have received so far this year and what to do if you’ve missed any:

Ontario Works or emergency assistance

For those facing financial difficulties, like buying essentials such as food and paying for shelter, the Ontario government offers assistance known as Ontario Works or social assistance.

Additionally, emergency assistance provides short-term financial support during crises or emergencies.

Eligibility is based on household income, ownership, and family size, and only one application is needed per family.

Applicants must be at least 16 years old, Ontario residents with Canadian status, and willing to participate in employment-related activities.

Emergency assistance is available for those in crisis, such as those affected by COVID-19, facing eviction, leaving an abusive situation, or experiencing a natural disaster.

Applicants must be Ontario residents with Canadian status, not currently receiving social assistance, and have ongoing income. Here are the payments that were sent out:

• December 29
• January 31
• February 29
• March 28
• April 30
• May 31
• June 28
• July 31
• August 30
• September 27
• October 31

Tax assistance for residents

Low-income seniors (65+ years) or individuals with disabilities who have owned and resided in their homes for at least one year can apply for an annual property tax rebate if they meet specific criteria.

To be eligible, every property owner must receive benefits under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Program or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Alternatively, the spouse of an owner receiving GIS or ODSP benefits also qualifies.

Some instances include:

• If a married couple owns the property, either one must receive GIS or ODSP.
• If a married couple, along with a sibling, owns the property, the sibling and either spouse must receive GIS or ODSP.
• If two siblings own the property, both must receive GIS or ODSP.

Qualifying for the tax rebate automatically makes you eligible for a Stormwater Charge Subsidy.

Single-family homes receive subsidies on their Region of Peel water bill, while condominiums receive a mailed cheque from the City of Mississauga.

Applications must be submitted by December 31 of the current tax year, but submission is possible at any point in the year if all required documentation is available.

Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security

The maximum monthly payment for the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) for residents over 65 is $1,306.57.

For the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, individuals between ages 65 to 74 with an annual income of less than $142,609 are eligible for a monthly payment of up to $707.68. Those between the ages of 75 and over with an annual income of less than $148,179 may receive up to $778.45 per month.

The Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments are sent out monthly. Here are the payment dates:

• January 29
• February 27
• March 26
• April 26
• May 29
• June 26
• July 29
• August 28
• September 25
• October 29

Child Tax Credit

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) oversees the tax-free monthly Child Tax Credit benefit, designed for eligible families supporting children under 18. The CCB may incorporate the child disability benefit along with relevant provincial and territorial programs.

The dates for the Child Tax Credit are:

• January 19
• February 20
• March 20
• April 19
• May 17
• June 20
• July 19
• August 20
• September 20
• October 18

The Ontario Child Benefit offers up to $1,607 annually per child, depending on an individual’s family net income and the number of children under 18 years of age in their care.

Ontario Trillium Benefit

The Ontario Trillium Benefit, disbursed on a monthly basis, includes the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit. The payment dates are as follows:

• January 10
• February 9
• March 8
• April 10
• May 10
• June 10
• July 10
• August 9
• September 10
• October 10

Grocery Rebate

The 2023 Grocery Rebate is twice the amount of an individual’s GST/HST credit payment. The calculation considers a person’s family situation and the 2021 adjusted family net income.

The lump sum payment date is as follows:

• July 5

A family of four will receive up to $628 by direct deposit or cheque from the Canada Revenue Agency, while single people without children will get up to $234, and seniors will see a rebate of up to $225.

How to apply: Individuals who filed their tax return are eligible for the payment. More information on the grocery rebate can be found here. 

Climate Action Incentive

Other benefits, such as the GST/HST credit and the Climate Action Incentive Payment Credit, are sent out quarterly, each on separate days. The Climate Action Incentive serves as a carbon tax refund for taxpayers. Here are the dates that the payments went out:

• January 15
• April 15
• July 15
• October 1

The annual payment for a family of four in Ontario could be up to $976.

GST/HST refund

The quarterly payment dates for the GST and HST refunds were:

• January 5, 2024
• April 5, 2024
• July 5, 2024
• October 4, 2024

For individuals who are single, may receive an annual amount of $496.

Those married or have a common-law partner are eligible to receive $650.

Parents with a child under the age of 19 could get $171 per child.

Carbon Pricing Refund

Small and medium-sized businesses in Canada are set to receive long-awaited carbon pricing refunds by the end of this year, according to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

The federal government will distribute over $2.5 billion to approximately 600,000 businesses in December.

These payments will cover carbon price revenues collected from 2019 to 2024 in provinces where the federal fuel charge applies.

The amount each business receives will vary based on location and workforce size. Additionally, the government has finalized a 25 per cent tariff on certain Chinese-made aluminum and steel products, effective Oct. 22, while a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles came into effect on Oct. 20.

If you’ve missed some payments, here’s how you can get them

Residents who have applied for any of these benefits can check the status of their payments online in their “My Account” if they have created an account on the CRA website.

The Canadian government emphasizes that these cheques never expire.

The CRA cannot void the original cheque and reissue a new one unless requested by the account holder. This process involves verification, potentially requiring the completion of forms and the issuance of a replacement cheque if deemed necessary.

If you haven’t received a payment or missed some, the CRA suggests waiting ten days from the payment date before reaching out. Those without a CRA account or who do not have email notifications set up can check on uncashed cheques or missed payments by calling 1-800-959-8281.