Big changes in life often change which benefits you can get. Turning 65, losing a spouse or having a baby can start new payments, stop old ones or change how much you receive. Many of these benefits don’t start on their own, so it helps to know what to do and when.
Each checklist below is written for one life event. It lists the steps in the order to do them, with the form or phone number you need and any deadline. Each one ends with the money you may now qualify for and answers to common questions.
Getting older
- Turning 60: starting CPP early, the Allowance if your spouse gets the Guaranteed Income Supplement, provincial programs that start at 60, and what to plan for before 65.
- Turning 65: Old Age Security (OAS), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), whether to delay, CPP at 65, provincial top-ups, what happens to disability or income assistance, dental care and tax credits.
Family changes
- Having a baby: EI maternity and parental benefits (or QPIP in Quebec), the Canada Child Benefit, provincial child benefits, the Canada Learning Bond and dental care for children.
- Separation or divorce: telling the CRA, how child and tax-credit payments change, shared custody, splitting CPP credits, and OAS and GIS as a single person.
- Death of a spouse or partner: what to do in the first 30 days, the first 3 months and the first year, including the CPP survivor’s pension, the death benefit, final tax returns and help for survivors aged 60 to 64.
Health and work
- Living with a new disability: EI sickness benefits, workplace injury claims, the Disability Tax Credit, CPP Disability, the Canada Disability Benefit, provincial disability assistance and the RDSP.
Moving
- Moving to another province: updating your address, what happens to provincial assistance and credits, health card waiting periods and seniors top-ups.
- New to Canada: getting a Social Insurance Number, filing taxes even with no income, applying for the Canada Child Benefit, health coverage and how residence affects OAS later.
Three things that help in every situation
- File your taxes every year, even with little or no income. Many payments, like the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, are worked out from your tax return. No return can mean no payment.
- Keep your address, bank account and marital status up to date. Tell the CRA and Service Canada when any of these change. Out-of-date details are one of the most common reasons a payment is late or wrong.
- Set up online access. CRA My Account and My Service Canada Account let you see your payments, change your details and apply for many benefits without waiting on the phone.
More tools
- Benefits checkup: answer a few questions to see which programs may fit you.
- Payment calendar: the next payment date for each benefit.
- Where is my payment?: what to do if a deposit is late or missing.
- Deadlines: application and tax dates to keep in mind.
A word of caution: Service Canada and the CRA never ask for a fee, gift cards or your password by text or email. If a message like that says you’re owed money, don’t click the link. Sign in to your account directly or call the number on the official website.