Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Poverty Task Force/United Way Community Update #83

Dear Colleagues,

It is the season for budgets and taxes!

BUDGET CONSULTATIONS

  • Ontario budget consultations 2022: the Poverty Task Force participated in a virtual consultation hosted by our respective MPPs Lisa Thompson and Bill Walker with the Ministry of Finance. We were able to advocate for a living wage, sick days, basic income, a full range of housing including transition and supportive housing.  Read our submission here. 
  • Organizations/individuals have until Feb 11th, 2022 to take a survey here  or submit written submissions to submissions@ontario.ca. 
  • Federal pre-budget consultations 2022: the federal government is asking for individuals to complete a survey to highlight their priorities and ideas; and organizations to complete a formal submission online or by uploading a submission here by Feb 25th, 2022.
  • GIS Claw back for Seniors: seniors on low income who receive the Guaranteed Income Support (GIS) and collected CERB are now at risk of losing their housing due to GIS claw backs. The Federal government has announced it will provide a lump sum payment in May 2022. But for many seniors, May will be too late and they may be evicted due to inability to pay rent. 
  • We are asking you to write to the federal government to consider an earlier payment to assist seniors in Grey County and Bruce County. Read our submission here. 
  • National Advisory Council on Poverty: In April 2021, the Poverty Task Force joined a Tamarack Institute engagement with the National Advisory Council to provide feedback on its first report Building Understanding. 
  • Tamarack Institute is hosting a virtual event with the Council on Feb 16th, 12 noon–1pm to explore the rising cost of living; the widening inequality gap; and recommendations from their latest report, Understanding Systems: The 2021 report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty.

FREE INCOME TAX CLINICS

  • Community Volunteer Income Tax Programs in Grey Bruce:  Our Income & Employment Security Action Group is working with 211 to update the list of free income tax programs across Grey and Bruce County. You can call 211 or go to: freetaxclinics.ca  to find the most up-to-date listing on 211. 
FREE INCOME TAX CLINICS POSTCARD (ver 4).png

ID CLINICS

  • ID Clinics: a critical component of filing your taxes has been having proof of address and proof of identity.  
  • In addition, libraries require both for library card applications and they require OHIP cards & ID to print out a vaccine passport. 
  • Creative solutions are being found amongst various social service partners to find ways to provide addresses, store ID and support applications for IDs.. 
    • Challenges exist with the lack of knowledgeable staff being available to support people to apply for documents.  
    • Challenges exist with lack of funding to pay for applications, even when human resources are available to navigate the paperwork. Online payments must be paid using credit cards. 
  • The United Way and the Income & Employment Security Group are reaching out for ideas around ID clinics and application funding. Let us know what your organization is doing! 

Stay well, Jill 

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Income Security Action Group, Partner Activities, Poverty Task Force

Free Tax Filing Services Can Help Grey Bruce residents with Low Income to Boost Their Income

The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a community-based volunteer program that offers tax preparation services to citizens of Bruce and Grey Counties that meet specific income guidelines. The program is free and is intended to provide service to those who would otherwise not be able to afford it.

The income guidelines for the program are as follows:

  • Individual: $35,000 or less
  • Married or Common law couple: $45,000 or less
  • Single Parent with 1 child: $40,000 or less — Add $2,500 per additional child
  • Interest income limited to under $1,000

Alex Ruff, MP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, is encouraging eligible residents of Grey and Bruce Counties to take advantage of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. Across both counties, there are some 24 listings in 19 cities/towns that offer free services.

“The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program provides families and individuals who may be struggling financially, with a service to file their income tax,” said Ruff. “I would like to thank all volunteers for their hard work on this program, and all of the organizations and businesses that have donated to make these clinics possible.”

Community partnerships are important. For over 25 years, volunteers at the Grey Bruce CVITP have been offering clinics in Owen Sound. These clinics are offered by appointment only. Interested individuals should contact Alex Ruff’s office at 519-371-1059, leave your name and phone number with the office staff and a volunteer will contact you after 5:00 p.m. to set up an appointment.

Other CVITP volunteers work in partnership with libraries, community health centres, employment services, etc. across Bruce County and Grey County. Some volunteers support people throughout the year to file their taxes in Grey Bruce.

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force works with 211 to annually list all free clinics for eligible customers; to identify barriers experienced locally and to engage with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), community partners and volunteers to overcome those barriers.

“With the trend of the government flowing more income to low income households through tax benefits and credits it is so important for people to file their taxes,” said Jill Umbach, Poverty Task Force Coordinator. “We want to see people increasing their income. The CRA uses the information from your income tax and benefit return to calculate your GST credit, Ontario Trillium Benefit and Canada Child Benefits.”

The Ontario Childcare Tax Credit and the Low-Income Individuals and Families Tax Credit assists with making life more affordable. Families can now receive up to 75% of their eligible child care expenses. And the Low-Income workers tax credit can get up to $850 in Ontario Personal Income Tax relief (or up to $1,700 for couples).

Other social agencies use an income tax return statement to support applications to other benefits such as the Ontario Seniors Dental Program or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

How to access services:

Visit Ontario.ca/TaxReturn to learn how to get Ontario tax credits and benefits.

Call 2-1-1 for help finding a free tax clinic close to you.

Access the Free Community Income Tax Listing online at: https://brucegreycommunityinfo.cioc.ca/record/GRE0364

CC 211 Grey Bruce

\

 

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Income Security Action Group, Resources

Increasing Income through Filing Your Taxes

The Income Security Action Group of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force encourages everyone to file a tax return. For modest and low income Canadians, filing a tax return helps increase the number of benefits they can collect and may result in an increase in their income. Many Canadians have no idea they would get money back, and they fear being told they have to pay the government for back taxes they cannot afford.  But this is not the case for most people on low income.

Here are three good reasons to file for 2017:

  1. To qualify for programs including the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the GST/HST credit, and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which all pay cash when you qualify.
  2. To take advantage of certain tax credits like the Working Income Tax Benefit.
  3. To recover any tax you may have overpaid from your pay cheque.
  4. If you have not applied to the Ontario Electricity Support Program  you may be missing out on a monthly benefit towards your hydro bill starting at $35.00 and upwards based on your income. A new partnership exists with the United Way of Bruce Grey and Grey Bruce Community Income Tax Clinic to apply.

A recent Community Income Tax Clinics Network meeting with Community Income Tax volunteers,  the Income Security Action Group and Community Voices examined barriers to tax filing (Prosper Canada, 2016):

  • 17% of people have insufficient access to clinics and services
  • 14% of people don’t know where to get help
  • 14% can’t afford commercial tax services
  • 12% not aware of the need to file even if they have no taxable income

The big roadblocks:

  • Poor ACCESS to affordable and relevant services.
  • Insufficient COMMUNICATIONS about the benefits of tax filing and available assistance.
  • Lack of TARGETED APPROACHES to the distinct barriers and needs of different groups.

There are some incredible volunteers that provide free tax services to people on low income all across Grey-Bruce.   But we do have challenges with transportation to clinics; people knowing where and when free clinics are being held; and people who need support to prepare paperwork for filing.

The Canadian Revenue Agency supports programs that prepare taxes for low-income Canadians through its Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.  A list of clinic dates, times and locations can be found by calling 211 or check on line at 211 Information Bruce Grey or The HealthLine.

Our list for 2018 is now up! 2018 Free Income Tax Preparation Assistance List

Do you offer a free clinic? Is your community without any services? Please contact us!

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Income Security Action Group

Filing a Tax Return could mean More Income

Tax season is here.  The Income Security Action Group of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force encourages everyone to file a tax return. For modest and low income Canadians, filing a tax return may actually help increase the number of benefits they can collect and may result in an increase in their income. Many Canadians have no idea they would get money back, and they fear being told they have to pay the government for back taxes they cannot afford.  But this is not the case for most people on low income.

Here are three good reasons to file for 2016:

  1. To qualify for programs including the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the GST/HST credit, and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which all pay cash when you qualify.
  2. To take advantage of certain tax credits like the Working Income Tax Benefit
  3. To recover any tax you may have overpaid from your pay cheque.

“If a tax return is not filed, the family may miss out on benefits that could help increase their income and decrease health inequities,” says Jill Umbach of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force.  “There are some incredible volunteers that provide free tax services to people on low income all across Grey-Bruce. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these services to file this year’s and prior years’ taxes.”

Support in filing your taxes is a hugely important anti-poverty and health intervention.  The Canadian Revenue Agency supports programs that prepare taxes for low-income Canadians through its Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. Take advantage of the free tax clinics throughout Grey and Bruce.  A list of clinic dates, times and locations can be found by calling 211 or check on line at 211 Information Bruce Grey or The HealthLine.   For a listing prepared by the Poverty Task Force:  Volunteer Income Tax Clinics_Listing_March 2017

For More Information:

Jill Umbach

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force
519-377-9406
jill.umbach@gmail.com