The Region of Durham has announced it is setting up centres to help residents with services related to ID, RESPs, benefits and tax filing.
It said ‘Mobile ID and Benefits Access Hubs’ can help eligible residents to:
- Learn about benefits they may be eligible for.
- Get or replace government identification, such as Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) and Birth Certificates. For a SIN, residents must bring a primary ID and a second form of government ID to the Hub; for a Birth Certificate, residents must know information about the birth registration.
- Open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and apply for the Canada Learning Bond benefit from the Government of Canada. Eligible families can get up to $2,000 per child deposited directly into a RESP for free to save for post-secondary education. To qualify for the Canada Learning Bond, the child must be born in 2004 or later, be a resident of Canada and be from a family with modest income. Bring SINs for both the parent/caregiver and child to open a RESP; other ID may be required.
- Sign up for the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which is now open to eligible seniors aged 65 and over, children under 18, and adults with a Disability Tax Credit certificate who have received a letter in the mail from the Government of Canada. The CDCP helps cover a range of dental care costs. Bring your SIN and the Government of Canada letter to a Hub.
- Residents living with low income, who have a simple tax situation, can get free help with tax filing at the Hubs. Registration may be required – see details below.
When and where:
- October 18: The Nourish and Development Foundation, 16 York Street, Cannington, from noon to 5 p.m.
- To register for tax filing help at this location, email Tierney.Scott@tndf.ca or call 705-964-2080 extension 227.
- October 28: Clarington Library, Museum & Archives – Bowmanville Library, 163 Church Street, Bowmanville, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
- The tax clinic at this location will be drop-in only.
- November 13: Scugog Memorial Public Library, 231 Water Street, Port Perry, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- To register for tax filing help at this location, email info@ScugogLibrary.ca or call 905-985-7686 extension 101.
- November 16: Ajax Public Library, 55 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- To register for tax filing help at this location, email Julia.Campbell@AjaxLibrary.ca or call 905-683-4000 extension 8809.
- November 18: Whitby Public Library, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, from 12:30 to 6 p.m.
- To register for tax filing help at this location, complete the Tax Clinic Patron Application.
- November 22: Pickering Public Library, 1 The Esplanade, Pickering, from 1 to 6 p.m.
- To register for tax filing help at this location, visit durham.ca/MobileBenefitsHub for details.
- November 26: Oshawa Public Libraries – John Aker Northview Branch, 250 Beatrice Street East, Oshawa, from 1 to 6 p.m.
- The tax clinic at this location will be drop-in only.
The region said for more information and what to bring when you visit a Mobile ID and Benefits Access Hub, visit durham.ca/MobileBenefitsHub.