'You can't just take money from people and not tell them why': Halifax senior questions CERB clawback
A Halifax senior says he doesn't have enough to live on after his guaranteed income supplement cheques stopped coming.
He believes it's because he collected CERB last year, and experts say there are likely many others in the same situation.
Sixty-nine-year-old Elmer Paris is a familiar face in the north end neighbourhood where he's lived for years, often seen collecting bottles and cans.
These days, though, money is more than tight for Elmer, who says he hasn't seen his Guaranteed Income Supplement cheque for three months now.
"All of a sudden, the monies that we're used to getting -- gone," he told CTV News on Wednesday.
"And there's really nobody giving us any explanation."
To the best of his knowledge, Paris believes the shortfall comes because he was one of tens of millions who signed-up for CERB and other COVID-19 relief when it was offered last year.
Responses to his inquiries, he says, have been vague.
"The farthest I've been able to find out is that I'll get reassessed next July," he said.
Indeed, there are likely others in the same boat.
In a statement to CTV News, Employment and Social Development Canada, which issues GIS said "Any income that is considered to be net income under the Income Tax Act is used to determine the amount of GIS.
"Federal benefits like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) are taxable income.
"This means that CERB and CRB income in 2020 may affect GIS benefits for the July 2021 to June 2022 payment period."
A second statement, provided by the Canada Revenue Agency, acknowledges there may have been some confusion when the hastily organized programs were announced in 2020
"The CRA recognizes that when applying for benefits, applicants may make an honest mistake or apply for a benefit period for which they are not eligible for. We have published information on our website to explain how individuals in these situations can easily return overpayments," said Deandra Doyle, a spokesperson for CRA in the Atlantic Region.
"To date, the CRA has not required any individuals to repay the CERB and no repayment deadline has been established.
"The CRA is sympathetic to the fact that, for some individuals, repayment of these amounts may have financial implications.
"For this reason, payment arrangement parameters have been expanded to give Canadians more time and flexibility to repay based on their ability to pay.
"Individuals who cannot make a payment in full are advised to contact the CRA to make a payment arrangement."
But some senior's advocates say Ottawa should consider other options.
"There were a lot of seniors who applied because many seniors of that age are still working," said Bill Van Gorder, Chief Policy Officer for CARP.
"They needed money, it was available, the government gave it to them and they took it -- and who can blame them?"
Others have noted lower-income seniors are getting hit the hardest.
"And some of them are saying, 'Well, it's got to be CERB,'" said Paris.
"But, you know what? It's more than that, because you can't just take money from people and just not tell them why."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.