Re: 鈥淲hy seniors should file returns on time,鈥� April 25.
A very interesting and timely article by David Paddon of the 91原创 Press. However, in the sentence: 鈥淭he GIS payments are reduced bit-by-bit for seniors who have other income and they鈥檙e eliminated for single people who have annual income of about $18,240 or more and couples with annual income of about $24,550 or more鈥� is an omission that might lead some eligible seniors not to apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
As the online GIS calculator states: 鈥淚f your yearly income, not including your OAS pension, exceeds $18,239.99, you do not qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.鈥� (Emphasis added.)
A single senior, receiving the current OAS payment of $601.45 per month, could have an income of $25,439 and still qualify for the GIS and the other benefits it enables, such as the $45-per-year B.C. Transit bus pass.
Fin MacDonald
Victoria
