Seniors in Grey Bruce

Approximately 12.3% of adults, aged 65 and older, in Grey Bruce live on a low income. Income security for seniors in rural areas is further challenged by a lack of access to financial advice, transportation and the increasing digitalization of government services.

Grey and Bruce Counties have one of the oldest populations in Ontario, with
approximately 26% of residents aged 65 and older. Approximately 12.3% of adults aged
65 and older in Grey Bruce live on a low income representing an estimated 5,500 to
5,800 seniors. Specifically, Grey Bruce Public Health reports 11.5% of seniors in Bruce
County and 13.4% in Grey County live on low income indicating that the challenge is
somewhat more pronounced in Grey County. (2021 Census)

While many seniors rely on a combination of Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), workplace pensions, and personal savings, a significant number of older adults depend primarily on government income supports such as OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

Read more about our educational workshop series in our Seniors Retiring on a Low-Income Workshop Report.

Supporting seniors to access the income and benefits they are entitled to not only
improves individual well-being but also strengthens communities as a whole.

The Income and Employment Security Action Group (IESAG) of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force have identified financial literacy, tax filing assistance, benefits navigation, and retirement planning education as important tools for reducing poverty among seniors. Programs that help older adults understand CPP, OAS, GIS, tax credits, and retirement income strategies can increase financial security and help seniors maintain their independence, health, and quality of life.

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force, in partnership with the United Way Bruce Grey, delivered a three-part educational series on May 8th, May 22nd and June 5th, 2026 to seniors. The educational sessions were delivered by social policy expert John Stapleton of Open Policy Ontario. The educational sessions to seniors were delivered through a hybrid model connecting participants across Grey and Bruce Counties.

The videos from those sessions are linked below for open use.

Module 1 – What Seniors Get


Viewers can learn about CPP, OAS, GIS, GAINS, pensions, employment income, and savings. The session focused on understanding how these programs interact and how seniors can maximize their income through informed planning.

Module 2 – Understanding the Tax System


Viewers can learn how income taxes affect benefits and retirement income. Topics included refundable and non-refundable tax credits, filing requirements, RRSPs versus TFSAs, and the importance of annual tax filing for maintaining benefits such as GIS.

Module 3 – The Parallel Universe: The Reality for Low-Income Seniors


This session explores how conventional financial advice often does not work for low-income seniors. Participants learned strategies to protect GIS eligibility, understand benefit clawbacks, and make informed decisions regarding CPP, RRSPs, TFSAs, and employment income.

Thank you to the Community Foundation Grey Bruce for funding this series of workshops as well as two sessions for social service workers in May 2026.