Last week, the Government of Canada announced a one-time grant for seniors who received pandemic benefits which then resulted in a reduction or loss of their Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments. Eligible seniors will receive a payment equal to the annualized reduction of their GIS/Allowance payment.

“Eligible seniors will receive their payment on April 19, 2022,” informed Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury. “There is no need to apply – Service Canada will automatically identify the eligible recipients and make the payment via direct deposit, or by cheque if they have not signed up for direct deposit,” added Lapointe.

All eligibility criteria for the one-time grant must be met and will be assessed by Service Canada.

• Individual was in receipt of the GIS or an Allowance in June 2021
• Individual saw a decrease in their GIS or an Allowance monthly payment between June 2021 and July 2021; and
• Individual received a “pandemic benefit” in 2020 (i.e. the Canada Emergency Response Benefit [CERB], the Employment Insurance Emergency Response Benefit [EI-ERB], the Canada Recovery Benefit [CRB], the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit [CRSB] and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit [CRCB])

Lapointe also notes that Service Canada can expedite payments of the grant. “Anyone who is experiencing severe financial hardship as a result of a reduction of benefits, Service Canada can expedite payment. These payments would be issued to eligible recipients manually a few weeks earlier than April 19, 2022,” said Lapointe.

Service Canada defines experiencing severe financial hardship as a risk of being unable to satisfy basic needs, such as food, medical services or housing.

Lapointe urges anyone who has questions to contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 or her Member office at 705-673-7107.