Talk of the Town on the one- time Payment from Federal Government for Seniors

Talk of the Town on the one- time Payment from Federal Government for Seniors

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

To help seniors with the onset of new expenses incurred due the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government will be giving a one-time, tax-free payment for seniors.

The amount which seniors will receive will be $300 for seniors eligible for Old Age Security pension and an additional $200 for seniors eligible for Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Seniors do not have to apply for this payment and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this payment will be delivered the week of July 6.

When I asked local seniors what they thought of this payment, Joe Proshiw said this one-time payment will really help out some seniors because they really need this extra money for the essentials of living.

Bessie Pawliuk said it will be good to receive this payment as it is always nice to get extra money. It helps out quite a bit. “It is wonderful that they are giving this to seniors and even better that people do not have to apply to get it.”

While Donna Deal said this paynent is good, she added, “I feel this way because most of the seniors as we are, we live on a very limited income, and we make it work for us. We don’t go out much or go on big trips. This will help a lot of seniors cover the expenses of their basic needs and a lot of them need that money to do that. So, I am very happy that the government is giving this payment to seniors,” Donna admitted.

Another senior, Marilyn Kurash said she feels this payment is good because some of the seniors really need this extra income especially if they are just living on their old age pension and never worked or paid into CPP. “I’m not that bad off really because I worked, and my husband worked, and we collected Canada Pension Plan which isn’t a great amount but with my old age pension and that income, I am doing okay,” Marilyn said. “But this money will help out all seniors to a certain extent. As long as they spend it wisely, and the right way, and don’t blow it up foolishly or spend it on a casino.”