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Home / Resources / Toolkits
Prosper Canada May 2020
Benefits and Credits Toolkit
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Benefits and credits provide income and financial support for many individuals. This toolkit contains information on common tax credits and benefits, benefits for specific populations, and practitioner resources including case studies and information on identification documentation for accessing benefits.

We are grateful to West Neighbourhood House in Toronto, Ontario for their contribution in the development of the practitioner resources in this toolkit and to Momentum in Calgary, Alberta for their content consultation support.

Worksheet resources in this toolkit are available as fillable PDFs. Please open with Adobe Acrobat Reader for full functionality.

Prosper Canada launched the Benefits wayfinder on January 19, 2022. 

Latest update on March 20, 2023: Make sure you maximize the benefits you are entitled to if you are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

Update on April 8, 2022: The toolkit is now available in French. 

English

What are tax credits and benefits
Reasons to file a tax return
List of common benefits
Getting government payments by direct deposit
Common benefits and credits Benefits pathways (for practitioner reference only – some illustrations presented are Ontario benefits)
Pathways to accessing government benefits
Overview of tax benefits and other income supports (adults, children, seniors)
Overview of tax benefits and other income supports (people with disabilities or survivors)
Income support programs for immigrants and refugees
Glossary of terms – Benefits 101
Resources – Benefits 101
Key benefits you may be eligible for
Make sure you maximize the benefits you are entitled to if you are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

Common benefits and credits

Resource links:
Benefits and credits for newcomers to Canada – Canada Revenue Agency
Benefit Finder – Government of Canada
Electronic Benefits and credits date reminders – Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Income Assistance Handbook – Government of Northwest Territories
What to do when you get money from the government – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)

General emergency government benefits information & navigation
Financial Relief Navigator tool (Prosper Canada)
Changes to taxes and benefits: CRA and COVID-19 – Government of Canada

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Apply for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA – Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Questions & Answers on CERB – Government of Canada
What is the CERB? – Prosper Canada
FAQ: Canada Emergency Response Benefit – Prosper Canada (updated June 10th)
CERB: What you need to know about cashing your cheque – FCAC
COVID-19 Benefits (summary, includes Ontario) – CLEO/Steps to Justice
COVID-19 Employment and Work – CLEO/Steps to Justice

GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit
COVID-19 – Increase to the GST/HST amount – Government of Canada
Canada Child Benefit Payment Increase – Government of Canada
Benefits payments for eligible Canadians to extend to Fall 2020 – Government of Canada

Support for students
Support for students and recent graduates – Government of Canada
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) – Government of Canada

Benefits and credits for families with children

Resource links:
Child and family benefits – Government of Canada
Child and family benefits calculator – Government of Canada

Benefits and credits for people with disabilities
RDSP, grants and bonds

Resource links:
Canada Pension Plan disability benefit toolkit – Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Disability benefits – Government of Canada
Disability tax credit (DTC) – Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Free RDSP Calculator for Canadians – Plan Institute
Future Planning Tool – Plan Institute
Creating Financial Security: Financial Planning in Support of a Relative with a Disability (handbook) – Partners for Planning
Nurturing Supportive Relationships: The Foundation to a Secure Future (handbook) – Partners for Planning
RDSP – Plan Institute
Disability Tax Credit Tool – Disability Alliance BC
Disability Inclusion Analysis of Government of Canada’s Response to COVID-19 (report and fact sheets) – Live Work Well Research Centre

Benefits and credits for seniors

Resource links:
Canadian Retirement Income Calculator – Government of Canada
Comparing Retirement Savings Options – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
Federal Provincial Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum – Employment and Social Services Canada (ESDC)
Retiring on a low income – Open Policy Ontario
RRSP vs GIS Calculator – Daniela Baron
Sources of income for seniors handout – West Neighbourhood House
What every older Canadian should know about: Income and benefits from government programs – Employment and Social Services Canada (ESDC) 

ID categories and examples
Documents to support proof of residency in Ontario
Documents needed to access tax credits and benefits
Documents needed to access social assistance

Applying for benefits: case study (Abdullah)
Applying for benefits: case study (Ben)
Applying for benefits: case study (Clothilde)
Applying for benefits: case study (Martina)
Applying for benefits: case study (Valeria and Jan)

French

Que sont les crédits d’impôt et les prestations?
Pourquoi produire une déclaration de revenus?
Processus d’accès aux prestations (simple, complexe ou laborieux)
Aperçu des prestations et crédits d’impôt et des autres mesures d’aide au revenu
Aperçu des prestations et crédits d’impôt et des autres mesures d’aide au revenu : personnes handicapées ou survivants
Programmes d’aide au revenu pour immigrants et réfugiés – Admissibilité et processus de demande
Glossaire – Prestations et credits
Ressources : Prestations et credits
Principales mesures d’aide auxquelles vous pouvez être admissibles
Assurez-vous de maximiser les prestations auxquelles vous avez droit si vous êtes Autochtone, Inuit ou Métis

Prestations et crédits courants
Prestations et crédits courants – liens vers les ressources 

 

Prestations et crédits pour familles avec enfants
Prestations et crédits pour familles – liens vers les ressources 

Prestations et crédits pour personnes handicapées 
Régimes enregistrés d’épargne-invalidité (REEI), subventions et bons pour personnes handicapées
Prestations et crédits pour personnes handicapées – liens vers les ressources 

Prestations et crédits pour les personnes âgées
Prestations et crédits pour les personnes âgées – liens vers les ressources 

Pièces d’identité à fournir pour accéder aux prestations
Preuves de résidence en Ontario
Documents nécessaires pour accéder aux crédits d’impôt et aux prestations

Faire une demande de prestation : étude de cas – Ben
Faire une demande de prestation : étude de cas – Valeria et Jan
Faire une demande de prestation : étude de cas – Clothilde
Faire une demande de prestation : étude de cas – Abdullah
Faire une demande de prestation : étude de cas – Martina

Get it
Author: Prosper Canada
Topic: Tax filing and benefits
Publisher: Prosper Canada
Location: Canada
Format: Toolkit
Content Type: Prosper Canada Toolkits
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Related Tags
CanadaCase studiesChildrenDisabilityDisability Tax CreditFamiliesFinancial topicsImmigrantsNewcomersSeniorsSocial assistanceTax benefitsTax creditsTax filing