Toronto 
Applications are now open for the Canada Housing Benefit which will provide a tax-free payment of $500 to low-income Canadians.
The one-payment is available to low-income renters with an adjusted net income below $35,000 for families or below $20,000 for single Canadians, who pay at least 30 per cent of their adjusted net income towards rent.
Applicants should be able to provide their 2022 address(es) and landlord’s contact information. Eligible Canadians will need to retain receipts or documentation for six years to support their application in case the CRA contacts them to validate eligibility. Applicants that are found to be ineligible for the benefit during the verification processes will be required to repay the benefit they received.
Eligible low-income Canadians who satisfy the following criteria can apply until Friday, March 31, 2023:
- You were born on or before December 1, 2007 (at least 15 years old on December 1, 2022)
- Your principal residence was in Canada on December 1, 2022
- You have filed your 2021 income tax return or statement of income and if you have a spouse or common-law partner, they have filed their 2021 income tax return or statement of income
- You have an adjusted family net income of $35,000 or less for families or $20,000 or less for individuals
- The 2022 eligible rent that you paid was:paid in the 2022 calendar year
paid for any of your qualifying principal residences in 2022
equal to at least 30% of your 2021 adjusted family net income
Those eligible can apply for the one-time payment through CRA My Account.
If applicants are registering for My Account for the first time, they will not need to wait for their security code in the mail; they can still access limited services in My Account and apply for this benefit immediately.
Applicants who need to update their address, marital status or direct deposit information, are encouraged to apply through CRA My Account. Applicants who do not have My Account and do not need to update their personal or banking information, can also apply online using a web form. Those who are unable to apply online can call the CRA’s new dedicated phone line at 1-800-282-8079 to complete their application with an agent.
CRA says it can take 5 business days by direct deposit and 10 business days by mail to get your payment from the date you applied.
The one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit is expected to benefit an estimated 1.8 million low-income renters.
This is very helpful to those who have less income