Subsidies and financial help
Our accommodation advisors are here to help
Our accommodation advisors will accompany you free of charge in your requests for financial assistance from governments, ensuring that you receive all the income to which you are entitled, including the tax credit for home support.
Did you know that it is thanks to the Savoie Family, in close collaboration with the late Mr. Robert Chagnon, founding member of the ARRQ (now known as the Regroupement québécois des residences pour seniors – RQRA), that the government implemented in 2000 the tax credit for home support in residences? Thanks to it, people aged 70 and over in Quebec can receive financial assistance to reimburse 15% to 65% of their eligible expenses related to maintenance services.
domicile in residence, even if they are autonomous.
Tax credit for home-support services
If you are aged 70 or more, the tax system will grant you financial assistance in the form of a refundable tax credit (a credit that can be paid to you even if you have no income tax payable) for expenses relating to home-support services.
The objective of the tax credit is to help you stay in your home longer and, in doing so, prevent or delay your transfer in the Health and Social services network.
The tax credit is equal to 30% of eligible expenses paid for home-support services.
To be eligible to the tax credit for home-support services of a senior, you must:
- be at least 70 years old;
- be a resident in Quebec on December 31st of the current year.
If you turned 70 during the year, you can claim the tax credit only for expenses incurred for home-support services rendered or to be rendered after your 70th birthday.
You can claim your tax credit when filing your income tax return or apply for advance payments.
If you claim your tax credit when filing your income tax return, review the Income Tax Guide (TP-1.G) and fill out Schedule J of your income tax return.
Old Age Security pension
The Old Age Security pension (OAS) is a monthly payment Canadians can get if they are 65 and older and meet residency and legal status requirements. To be eligible to the OAS, you must apply for it.
Old Age Security pension can be compared to a large “pie” divided in 40 equal slices. If you are eligible to a “full pension”, you are entitled to all 40 slices every month. If you are eligible to a “partial pension”, you will receive a certain number of slices, but never 40. The factors that determine whether you are eligible to a full or a partial pension depends on the number of years you lived in Canada since the age of 18. Read the following for more information.
Generally, if you meet the requirements of one of the two categories below, you are entitled to a full pension:
- Category 1: You have lived in Canada for at least 40 years since the age of 18.
- Category 2: You were 25 years old on July 1st, 1977 or before that date and, at that time: you resided in Canada; OR you did not reside in Canada but have resided here for a certain time since the age of 18; OR held a valid immigration visa; AND have resided in Canada during the ten years immediately before the approval of your OAS pension application.
Three elements are considered in order to determine if you are eligible to Old Age Security pension: your age, your legal status and the number of years you have resided in Canada.
If you are residing in Canada, you must:
- be 65 years old or older;
- reside in Canada and be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident in Canada at the time your OAP pension application is approved;
- have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18.
You should apply for Old Age Security pension six months prior your 65th birthday, or upon receiving an Old Age Security pension application form. Generally, you need to apply yourself. If you are applying for another person, contact Service Canada to find out how to proceed.
To receive an application kit, you can contact Service Canada, go to a Service Canada centre, or print one online.
The kit contains detailed information that will help you apply for an Old Age Security pension. It also indicates where you must send the completed and signed application form.
If you were born outside of Canada or have not resided in Canada on a continual basis since you were 18 years old, you will need to provide proof of your legal status, such as citizenship or immigration documents. You will also need to provide a document listing all your entry dates in Canada as well as all dates where you have left the country, from the age of 18 up until now. You may be required to provide proof confirming these dates.
The application kit has more information about these requirements.
Shelter Allowance
The Shelter Allowance program is a financial aid for low-income households who need to allocate an important part of their budget on housing.
The shelter allowance program takes into account the number of people in your household, the type of household you live in, your income and your monthly rent. You may receive a monthly allowance of up to 80 $.
The Shelter Allowance program applies to:
- persons aged 50 or older;
- couples where one of the persons are aged 50 years or older;
- low-income households (composed of workers, students, income-security recipients or other low-income families) with at least one dependant child.
If you would like to apply to the Shelter Allowance program, contact Revenu Québec to request the Shelter Allowance application form. Please note: this form is not available on Revenu Québec’s website.
For more information, review the Shelter Allowance program document (IN-165) or visit the Société d’habitation du Québec website.
Solidarity Tax Credit
Since July 1st, 2011, the Solidarity tax credit replaces the QST tax credit, the property tax refund and the tax credit for individuals living in a northern village.
The Solidarity tax credit is calculated based on the amounts to which you are entitled for each component of this tax credit, i.e. the QST component and the housing component.
To receive this tax credit, you must be registered for direct deposit. If you are not registered, you can apply through one of the following methods:
- through the online service Registering for direct deposit;
- by enclosing with your income tax return a voided cheque (from an account at a financial institution that has an establishment in Canada) bearing your name and social insurance number;
- by completing a Request for Direct Deposit form (LM-3.Q or LM-3.M) and enclosing it with your income tax return.
If you do not have a bank account, please contact Revenu Québec.
You can apply for the solidarity tax credit if, at the beginning of a month between July 1st and June 30th of the following year, you meet the following requirements:
- you are 18 years or older;
- you are residing in Québec;
- you or your spouse are either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a protected person within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or a temporary resident or the holder of a temporary resident permit within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who has been living in Canada for the last 18 months.