Be Aware, Get Your Share
Federal and Provincial Benefits for Residents
Are you living on a low or modest income or getting social assistance?
Are you aware that if you file your taxes each year you can get your share from government programs?
Families with children
Filing your income tax return is the key to receiving benefits that may give you up to $13,000 in extra money. Your spouse or common-law partner must also file an income return. Here are examples of the extra money that may be available to you as a parent each year:
- Canada Child Benefit up to $6,997 per child each year
- Canada Learning Bond of up to $2,000 ($500 initial bond, $100 per year up to age 15) per child born on, or after, January 1, 2004
- Child Disability Benefit up to $2,985 per child each year
- Canada Workers Benefit up to $2,403 for the parent each year
- Canada Workers Benefit Disability supplement up to $720 for the parent each year
If you file your taxes, and you are eligible for these programs, you may receive payments for each of these programs. But, you will not get this money if you do not file your taxes and continue to apply for the Canada Child Benefit.
Even more money may be available if you have more than one child. For example:
Federal GST/HST Credit
- up to $934 per family with two children
- plus $161 for each additional child
PEI Sales Tax Credit
- up to $220 per family each year
For more information, go to www.cra-arc.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-1193.
Caregivers
If you support a spouse or common-law partner, or a dependant with a physical or mental impairment, the new Canada caregiver tax credit may be available to you.
For more information, visit www.canada.ca.
Single people without children
You may be eligible for up to $3,000 in extra money, including:
- Canada Workers Benefit up to $1,395 for the worker each year
- Canada Workers Benefit Disability credit up to $720 for the worker each year
- Federal GST/HST Credit of up to $467 per year
- PEI Sales Tax Credit of up to $165 per year
Even if you didn’t file your taxes in years past, you may receive benefits for eligible years you missed, as long as you file your taxes for those past years.
Seniors
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides a monthly non-taxable benefit to seniors receiving Old Age Security who have a low income and are living in Canada.
Once you have made an initial GIS application, your income tax information from your federal Income Tax and Benefit Return will be used to renew your eligibility for the GIS or other income tested benefits in the following years.
Get the GIS application online at www.servicecanada.gc.ca (then search GIS) or visit a local Service Canada location. To see the most up-to-date benefit amounts for Old age Security and GIS visit this link or call 1-800-277-9914 for information.
These benefits are in addition to federal GST/HST and PEI Sales Tax Credits.
Post-Secondary Students
Low and middle income students can apply for needs-based support in addition to bursaries.
Recent Post-Secondary Graduates
If you graduated from a post-secondary program before the 2018-19 academic year with more than $6,000 in student loans per annum, you may be eligible for a debt reduction grant to help reduce your provincial student loan balance.
Need a hand to complete your income tax return?
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, a collaboration between community organization-volunteers and the Canada Revenue Agency, may be able to do your taxes for free. This free tax-help program is available to eligible taxpayers who have modest income and simple tax situations.
To see if you qualify for assistance and for details on tax-help clinics call 1-855-516-4405 or visit Canada.ca/taxes-help.
Locations for Free Tax Clinics in 2023
|
LOCATION |
DATE |
TIMES |
APPOINTMENTS |
|
Murphy's Community Centre Room 207 - 200 Richmond St. Charlottetown, PE
|
Mondays - March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th and April 3rd, 17th, 24th. Tuesdays - March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th. |
Monday's 9:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 4:00pm, 6:00pm - 9:00pm Tuesday's 9:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
By appointment (in person clinic). |
|
Charlottetown Library Learning Centre 97 Queen St. Charlottetown, PE |
March 4th - April 29th |
Thursday's 6:00pm - 8:00pm Saturday's 1:00pm - 3:00pm |
For info call 902-368-4642. |
|
Cornwall Public Library 15 Mercedes Dr., Cornwall, PE |
March 7th to April 25th |
Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00pm - 8:30pm |
Drop-off only. For info call 902-629-8415. |
|
Morell Public Library 89 Red Head Rd. Morell, PE |
March 7th to April 29th
|
Tuesday and Thursday 3:00pm - 6:00pm Wednesday 10:00am – 2:00pm Saturday 10:00am – 3:00pm
|
Drop-off only. For info call 902-961-3389. |
|
Hunter River Memorial Library 19816 Route 2, Hunter River, PE |
March 7th to April 25th |
Tuesday 4:00pm - 8:00pm
|
Drop-off only. For info call 902-964-2800. |
|
Kinkora Public Library 45 Anderson Rd. Kinkora, PE |
March 7th - April 28th |
Tuesday 11:00am - 4:00pm |
Drop-off only. For info call 902-887-2172. |
|
Montague Rotary Library 53 Wood Islands Rd. Montague, PE |
March 1st - April 29th |
Monday, Friday and Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm
|
Drop-off only. |
|
O’Leary Public Library 18 Community St. O’Leary, PE |
March 6th - April 29th |
Tuesday 10:00am – 4:00pm
|
Drop-off only For info call 902-859-8788. |
|
St Peters Public Library 1968 Cardigan Road St. Peters, PE |
March 7th - April 27th |
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00am – 1:30pm |
Drop off only For info call 902-961-3415 |
|
St Eleanor's Lions Club 121 East Drive Summerside, PE |
March 9th - April 27th |
Thursday's 9:00am - 4:00pm
|
By appointment |
|
Tignish Public Library 103 School St. Tignish, PE |
March 7th - April 29th |
Tuesday 11:00am – 5:00pm |
Drop-off only For info call 902-882-7363 |
|
Alberton Public Library 11 Railway St. Alberton, PE
|
March 7th - April 29th |
Tuesday 3:00pm – 8:00pm
|
Drop-off only For info call 902-231-2090 |
|
Stratford Public Library 25 Hopeton Rd. Stratford, PE |
March 7th - April 29th |
Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30am – 8:30pm |
Drop-off only For info call 902-569-7441 |
|
Souris Town Hall 75 Main Street. Souris, PE
|
March 1st - April 26th | Wednesday's 9:00am - 2:00pm |
Drop-off and walk in |
|
John Howard Society 205-155 Queen St. Charlottetown, PE
|
February 27th - December 29th | Monday to Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm |
By appointment, drop-off and walk in |
|
Summerside Public Library 57 Central Street Summerside, PE
|
March 6th - April 30th | Walk in clinic Tuesday 6:00pm - 8:00pm Drop off clinics: Monday 12:00pm -8:00pm Tuesday 10:00am -9:00pm Wednesday and Thursday 10:00am-6:00pm Friday and Saturday 10:00am- 5:00pm Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm |
Walk in only on Tuesday's |
|
Borden-Carleton Public Library 244 Borden Avenue Borden-Carleton, PE
|
March 8th - April 30th |
Monday 10:00am - 2:00pm |
Drop off only For info call 902-437-6492 |
|
Kensington Heritage Library 6 Commercial Street Kensington, PE
|
March 7th - April 29th | Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00am -4:00pm Wednesday 10:00am - 6:00pm Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm |
Drop off only. For info call 902-836-3721 |
Other Programs
Some provincial programs require proof of income to be eligible. The only proof that the Government of PEI accepts is the notice of assessment which the Canada Revenue Agency sends after you file an income tax return.
Families can get help from programs like these:
- Dental Public Health provides services to children ages 3-17 who are not covered by private dental insurance.
- Family Health Benefit Drug Program helps low income families cover the cost of approved prescription medications.
- Generic Drug Program is for those under age 65 who do not have insurance to limit cost for eligible generic prescription drugs to a maximum of $19.95.
Seniors can get help from the Seniors Independence Initiative for services like light housekeeping, meal preparation, grass-cutting or snow removal.