1.2M renters have yet to apply for the Canada Housing Benefit, and time is running out

Low-income renters in Canada have lower than six weeks left to use for the one-time $500 Canada Housing Benefit. 

The authorities of Canada encourages eligible renters who’ve but to use for this non-taxable and non-reportable profit, to submit their software forward of March 31.

The federal authorities launched the profit on Dec. 12 to “assist” lower-income people and households “who struggle with the cost of rent.”

So far, greater than 500,000 Canadians have utilized and 1.2 million renters have but to use to obtain the profit.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

In order to be eligible, candidates should have an adjusted internet earnings in 2021 of $35,000 or much less for households or $20,000 or much less for people.

The candidates should additionally pay no less than 30 per cent of their adjusted household internet earnings in direction of hire within the 2022 calendar 12 months.

Other eligibility standards for the one-time $500 profit consists of:

– You should be no less than 15 years outdated as of Dec. 1, 2022;

– Your principal residence was in Canada as of Dec.1, 2022;

– You had been a resident of Canada in 2022 for tax functions;

– You have filed your 2021 earnings tax return or assertion of earnings.

The authorities says the one-time $500 Canada Housing Benefit is separate from the month-to-month Canada Housing Benefit and won’t have an effect on different federal income-tested advantages together with the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Credit, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

Qualified candidates can apply for the one-time top-up by way of their Canada Revenue Agency account.

Reporting for this story was paid for by way of The Afghan Journalists in Residence Project funded by Meta.