COVID-19 Social and Community Supports

• The goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit has been increased (external link) to support individuals and families.

• The deadlines to file taxes and complete tax payments have been extended (external link).

• The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) has been increased by $300 per child for those eligible for benefit payments in the month of May 2020. For more information on eligibility for the May CCB benefit increase visit Canada child benefit (CCB) payment increase: CRA and COVID-19 (external link).
• Information available in multiple languages (external link)

• The Support for Families Program is a Provincial monetary support available for those impacted while schools and child care centres are closed.
• Parents can apply for direct funding to offset the cost of buying materials to support their children’s learning, while they practice self-isolation and physical distancing.

Learn more and apply to the Support for Families Program

• On March 25, 2020, the Ontario government announced a temporary top-up (external link) to payments for low-income older adults made through the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) for up to 6 months, beginning April 2020.

If you're an older adult and a homeowner living in Halton Region on a fixed income, you may qualify for the Older Adults Property Tax Deferral Program.

Information on local municipal tax relief programs:

• City of Burlington - COVID-19 Interim Property Tax Relief FAQs (exernal link)
• Town of Halton Hills - Tax Relief Programs and Rebates (exernal link)
• Town of Milton - Service Changes in Response to COVID-19 – Taxes section (exernal link)
• Town of Oakville - COVID -19 Information – Tax section (exernal link)

• Homeowners may be eligible to defer mortgage payments for up to 6 months. Contact your bank or your mortgage professional to find out if you are eligible.

• If you are behind on your electricity or natural gas bill and face having your service disconnected, you may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

Learn more and apply to LEAP

• If you are a Hydro One Customer, a Pandemic Relief Fund (external link) has been established. Contact Hydro One at 1-888-664-9376 to check if you qualify.

• The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is temporarily deferring loan payments and interest accrual for OSAP borrowers (external link).

• To support older adults with costs incurred due to COVID-19, the Canadian Government is providing a one-time tax free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) Pension.
• It is also providing an additional $200 for those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Learn more about the one-time special payment

• The COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program is available for Canadians traveling abroad who do not have an available source of funds to return home.

Learn more and apply to the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program

• The Canada Emergency Student Benefit is for post-secondary students and recent graduates who:
  • are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or for EI; and
  • who are unable to find full-time work due to COVID-19.

Learn more about and apply for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit

• The Canada Student Service Grant is a new national initiative to promote and recognize students’ service contributions to the COVID-19 efforts.
• It provides students with a grant of up to $5,000 to support their post-secondary education costs in the fall.
• Details on eligibility and the application process have not yet been announced.

Learn more about the Canada Student Service Grant

• Services are available online or by calling 311.
• Essential in-person services are available by appointment.
• If you are in an immediate financial crisis, you may qualify for financial assistance through the Ontario Works program or health-related items through the Region's Low Income Program.

• If you are looking to find affordable rental housing in Halton Region’s private market, Halton Housing Help can assist with resources.
• To learn more, visit the Region's Halton Housing Help page or call 311.

• You may be eligible for assistance with rental arrears, hydro arrears and other one-time housing related supports.
• To learn more, visit the Region's Housing Stability Fund page or call 311 to review your eligibility. 

• The Provincial government has implemented temporary changes to the residential rental and eviction process (external link) in Ontario due to COVID-19.

• Shelter services are available online for homeless individuals and families.
• For emergency shelter services, please call 311.

• Halton Region has partnered with local child care operators to offer emergency licensed child care to health care and other frontline workers.

Learn more and apply for emergency licensed child care

Whether you reside with your aging parent, or live separately, caring for aging parents at home during COVID-19 is no easy task. Here are a few tips to help you, as a caregiver, through this difficult time:

What you can do to help the older adult:

• Arrange for groceries, medication or other essential items to be delivered directly to their door
• When caring for, or living with, someone over the age of 70:
• Wash your hands often and clean regularly touched items
• Limit visitors
• Avoid sharing household items such as cups and towels
• Sleep in separate rooms and use separate bathrooms (if able)
• Avoid close contact by practicing physical distancing (2 metres or 6 feet) as much as possible
• When possible, encourage the older adult to book a virtual doctor appointment instead of going into the doctor’s office
• Set the older adult up with a laptop or tablet device. Remember to sanitize it before you give it to them.

*If you think you, or your aging parent, has COVID-19 symptoms, use the Ontario COVID-19 online self-assessment (external link) to help determine how to seek further care. If testing or self-isolation is recommended, follow Public Health Ontario’s guideline for caregivers (external PDF).

What you can do to help yourself as a care giver:

• Create an inventory of all of the tasks you manage. Ask for help if your list is too long to manage alone.
• Take care of yourself first. Your own self-care and well-being is integral in your ability to care for someone else.

Reach out to fellow caregivers for support. No one understands the hardships of caregiving better than another caregiver.

• You or someone you care for may be eligible for care and services at home or in your community. To learn more, contact the Local Health Integration Network at 1-877-336-9090 in Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville and 905-639-5228 in Burlington.
• Distress Centre Halton (external link) provides telephone and online support to people in our community to better cope with crisis, loneliness, and emotional stress.
• For more information, visit the Halton Senior Services Directory (external link).