Amount of Relief

Energy Cost Benefit payments will be made to low-income families with children and to seniors. The amounts will be as follows:

• $250 to families entitled to receive the National Child Benefit (NCB) supplement in January 2006;

• $125 to seniors entitled to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in January 2006; and

• $250 to senior couples, where both spouses are entitled to receive the GIS in January 2006.

The total amount of relief will be $565 million.

Number of Recipients

There will be about 3.1 million payments under the Energy Cost Benefit. These consist of:

• 1.5 million payments to families receiving the NCB supplement; and
• 1.6 million payments to seniors receiving the GIS.

Eligibility for Relief—Families With Children

Families entitled to receive the NCB supplement in January 2006 (based on 2004 family net income) will qualify for the Energy Cost Benefit payment.

The income thresholds are as follows:

• A family with one, two or three children receives the benefit up to a net income of $35,595. The income threshold increases by $4,316 for the fourth child and each additional child.

Also attached is a backgrounder providing a detailed accounting of all elements of this plan.

Eligibility for Relief—Seniors

Seniors entitled to receive the GIS in January 2006 (generally based on 2004 family net income) will qualify for the Energy Cost Benefit payment.

In general, the income thresholds are as follows:

• a single senior receives the benefit up to an income of approximately $19,300 (including Old Age Security [OAS] benefits);

• a senior couple in which both spouses receive the GIS receives the benefit up to an income of approximately $29,000 (including OAS benefits); and

• a couple in which only one spouse receives the GIS receives the benefit up to an income of approximately $38,700 (including OAS benefits).

In addition to being available to low-income individuals aged 65 and older, the Energy Cost Benefit will also be available to those aged 60-64 who are entitled to receive payment in January 2006 under the Allowance or Allowance for the survivor programs. These individuals receive the benefit for incomes up to $25,536 and $18,744 respectively.

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- News Release 2005-066 -