[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/help-for-individuals-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/help-for-individuals-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","headline":"Help for Individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic","name":"Help for Individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic","description":"  The recent COVID-19 business closures have made it a lot more financially difficult. If your debt payments become unmanageable give us a call. We have also included some short relief options in the article below from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. Stay Safe! Compiled by\u00a0Labour Community Services\u00a0and the Toronto & York Region […]","datePublished":"2020-04-01","dateModified":"2023-04-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"admin","url":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/author\/admin\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9802e0bea345b33afa85a53646482da09b2d7944429d88b59778b5d3e1c3dd14?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9802e0bea345b33afa85a53646482da09b2d7944429d88b59778b5d3e1c3dd14?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Richard Killen and Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/landscape-logo-12345-for-web.png","url":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/landscape-logo-12345-for-web.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1.jpg","height":503,"width":756},"url":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/help-for-individuals-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","about":["Advice from Richard","Financial Advice"],"wordCount":1828,"articleBody":" The recent COVID-19 business closures have made it a lot more financially difficult. If your debt payments become unmanageable give us a call. We have also included some short relief options in the article below from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. Stay Safe!Compiled by\u00a0Labour Community Services\u00a0and the Toronto & York Region Labour CouncilLast updated March 30, 2020Since COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic, our society has changed rapidly as we respond to the health and economic crisis. Many levels of government have declared states of emergency, and drastic changes will impact every household.Most information services are being overwhelmed with the volume of inquiries and applications \u2013 so please be patient with service workers who are working hard to focus on those most in need.We hope this document can be a resource for you to find the help you need to sustain yourself and your family in good health and shelter. Most importantly, make sure you are safe at work. If you have any doubt about your personal safety, speak to your union.On this page:Employment Insurance and other Work BenefitsHealth and Medical ResourcesAccess to other Government-Supported Financial AssistanceHousing HelpDebt AssistanceCommunity ResourcesEmployment Insurance and other Work BenefitsEmployment Insurance\u00a0sickness benefits\u00a0have always been available to people in quarantine as well as to those who are actually sick. With a massive increase in applications, there will be unavoidable delays in processing benefits. There are\u00a0two main changes\u00a0for workers who are quarantined or sick due to COVID-19:Applicants will not have to get a doctor\u2019s note in order to apply for sick benefits.The normal 1-week EI waiting period is waived, so benefits start right away after someone stops working. There is a special toll-free number to call to ask for this:Toll-free: 1-833-381-2725Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742Priority will go to processing claims from workers who are quarantined, and claims can be backdated if someone could not apply right away because of being quarantined.Apply onlineWho is eligible for EI?In order to be eligible for EI you need to have been paying into it. You also must have worked a certain number of hours in the previous year,\u00a0depending on where you live. In Toronto, you are required to have 600 hours for EI sickness benefits and 700 hours for regular benefits. Note: if you have employer-paid sick benefits, you are required to use these first.How to Apply for EIWe are in the process of developing \u201chow-to\u201d resources for EI applications. In the meantime,\u00a0Settlement.org has put out a useful guide.Also see this video produced by Public Legal Information, a Toronto-area\u00a0legal clinic, summarizing the EI sick benefits, recent changes, and ways to apply:Get assistance in your application through the City of Toronto\u2019s Employment and Social Services.Call 3-1-1 and ask for assistance. Help is available in more than 180 languages.The\u00a0Canada Emergency Response Benefit\u00a0is a new measure introduced by the Federal government to cover workers who are sick, quarantined or laid off and who are not eligible for EI. This benefit will be available starting in April and will provide $2,000 per month for up to four months. To apply for the Benefit, Canadians will be able to access it through their CRA MyAccount secure portal beginning in early April.More information on the Canada Emergency Response BenefitAccess CRA\u2019s My Account for Individuals*Note 1: More application details will be available in April as the government puts this new policy into operation.*Note 2: The CERB was originally announced as two separate benefits, the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit. They have been combined into one benefit. Health and Medical ResourcesCOVID-19 Specific:\u00a0Stay informed and follow the advice of our public health experts. Access the most up-to-date information through the following links:Toronto.ca\/covid-19York.ca\/covid19Ontario.ca\/coronavirusCanada.ca\/coronavirusFind a COVID-19 Assessment Centre:\u00a0an\u00a0interactive map of all assessment centres\u00a0that indicates location, time, and advance appointment requirements.Telehealth Ontario:\u00a0Get fast, free medical advice through Telehealth Ontario on all subjects relating to health. Please note that wait times are long.Toll-free:\u00a01-866-797-0000Toll-free\u00a0TTY:\u00a01-866-797-0007Mental Health Supports:\u00a0As social (physical) distancing may continue for a long time,\u00a0CAMH has posted some strategies\u00a0on psychological coping with COVID-19. Access Other Government-Supported Financial AssistanceIncome Tax relief:\u00a0The federal government has extended its tax filing deadline to June 1 and the tax payment deadline to September 1 in an effort to keep funds in the economy.More information from CRAA\u00a0GST credit\u00a0of up to $400 for singles and $600 for couples who are in low- to moderate-income brackets will be automatically available upon tax filing, but note that you will need to have filed your 2019 taxes to qualify despite the extended deadline.Canada Child Benefit:\u00a0Families that receive the Canada Child Benefit will receive a top-up of $300 more per child. This benefit will be automatically added to your May payment if you are already in receipt of CCB.For more information on the Canada Child Benefit such as how to apply and eligibility requirements, go to\u00a0Canada child benefit\u00a0or call 1-800-387-1193.Help with cost of schooling from home:\u00a0The Government of Ontario announced a one-time payment of $200 per child up to 12 years of age, and $250 for those with special needs, including children enrolled in private schools to\u00a0help families pay for the extra costs associated with school and daycare closures. Please note that further details on the distribution of this money is not yet available.Read Ontario Government media releaseGAINS Top-up:\u00a0On March 25, the Ontario government announced a temporary top-up to payments made through the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS). Beginning in April 2020, monthly\u00a0GAINS\u00a0payment amounts will be doubled for a period of six months. This action will provide additional and immediate financial support to low-income Ontario seniors who may need more help to cover essential expenses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.More information about GAINSRelief on Property Tax and other City of Toronto bills:\u00a0A 60-day grace period is in effect for City of Toronto property tax, water and solid waste utility bill payments for all residents and businesses, for bills dated as of March 16. Late payment penalties for residential and business properties will be waived for 60 days, starting the same day.The City said property tax accounts will be adjusted as necessary to reflect these relief measures.More information via City of Toronto\u00a0(see \u201cextended grace periods”)Property Tax and Utility Relief for other GTA Municipalities:\u00a0Please refer to your specific municipality to see what resources have been put in place.VaughanNewmarketAuroraMarkhamWhitchurch-StouffvilleRichmond HillHydro Bill relief:The Province of Ontario has temporarily suspended Time-of-Use rates so that they are now fixed\u00a0at the lowest rate (known as the off-peak price) 24 hours a day for 45 days beginning on March 25, 2020. The Province has also expanded access to existing cost relief programs and\u00a0eligibility for the\u00a0Low-income Energy Assistance Program\u00a0(LEAP).Read Ontario Government media releaseToronto Hydro has programs in place to assist customers facing financial hardship. They will assist customers on a case-by-case basis with their bill payments.More information from Toronto HydroThe Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is extending the wintertime ban on electricity disconnections for non-payment for all residential customers to July 31, 2020. Low-volume, small business customers will now also be protected by the ban. In addition, the OEB is calling on distributors to be more flexible on arrears payment arrangements.More information from OEBLicences and renewals:\u00a0As part of the province’s enhanced measures, the Provincial government is extending the validity period of driving products, services and health cards. These new regulations include extensions for driver licences, licence plate validation, Ontario Photo Cards, and Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration certificates, among others. Expiring and expired health cards will continue to provide access to health services.Media release from Ontario Government Housing HelpEvictions:\u00a0The Province of Ontario has declared a halt to new evictions and to enforcement of standing eviction orders.More information via Steps to JusticeChief Justice Court Order Suspending EvictionsTenant Issues:\u00a0The Federation of Metro Tenants\u2019 Associations (FMTA) is an excellent source of help and advice on all tenant issues. Check the website for answers to your questions before calling. While FMTA has closed their office, you can still call the hotline and leave a message to get a call-back.torontotenants.org416-921-9494 Debt AssistanceMortgage Deferral:\u00a0All six major banks have committed to working with individuals on a case-by-case basis to make deferred mortgage payments possible, for a single month or for up to six months.For more information, contact your mortgage broker directly.Student Loans:\u00a0The Government of Canada has announced its plan to pause the repayment of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans until September 30, 2020, with no accrual of interest. These measures are effective March 30 2020. You do not have to do anything, as all pre-authorized debits will be stopped and other forms of payment will not be required.Students who are currently studying can continue to apply for Canada Student Loans. There will be no change to the application process. If a borrower wishes to apply for student financial assistance during the pause, they should apply through their Province or Territory of residence.Ontario portion of student loans: the Province is providing\u00a0six months of Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loan and interest accrual relief for students.Please note that for provincially-funded student loans from provinces other than Ontario you will need to check with the respective government to find out if similar measures are in place.More information: Visit the\u00a0National Student Loans Service Centre\u00a0or\u00a0Ontario Student Assistance Program\u00a0webpages.Contact your bank and creditors:\u00a0If you feel you will be unable to stay current with your payments due to COVID-19, contact your bank and creditors immediately and let them know. Many creditors and\u00a0banks are setting up measures\u00a0to make sure anyone impacted by this disease doesn\u2019t fall through the cracks. Community Resources211 ONTARIO:\u00a0A toll-free information line that can direct callers to resources for topics including abuse, homelessness and housing, emergency and crisis, mental health and addictions, family services, food, Indigenous services, disabilities, seniors, and more. Assistance is available in over 100 languages.Dial 2-1-1 or visit\u00a0211ontario.caLegal Assistance:\u00a0Community Legal Education Ontario is working to give practical answers to the important questions that people are asking about the law relating to the COVID-19 situation. They are also sharing updates about changes to government programs and court services. CLEO has a lot of information on many current issues including the following and morestepstojustice.ca\/covid-19Food Access:\u00a0View this helpful list of available food banks and other food resources, compiled by Toronto Neighbourhood officeList of food banks"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Help for Individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic","item":"https:\/\/rkillen.ca\/help-for-individuals-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]