Financial & Legal

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Income | Legal Information | Travel | Personal Directives | Death Certificate & Registration

Income

Old Age Security Pension (Federal)

The Old Age Security (OAS) program is the Government of Canada’s largest pension program. The OAS pension is a monthly payment available to seniors aged 65 and older who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements.

In addition to the OAS pension, there are three types of OAS benefits:

Guaranteed Income Supplement If you live in Canada and you have a low income, this monthly non-taxable benefit can be added to your OAS pension.
Allowance If you are 60 to 64 years of age and your spouse or common-law partner is receiving the OAS pension and is eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), you might be eligible to receive this benefit.
Allowance for the Survivor If you are 60 to 64 years of age and you are widowed, you might be eligible to receive this benefit.

Canada Pension Plan (Federal)

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension provides a monthly benefit to eligible applicants. You can apply for and receive a full CPP retirement pension at age 65 or receive it as early as age 60 with a reduction, or as late as age 70 with an increase.

Income Assistance (Provincial)

The Nova Scotia Income Assistance (IA) program provides people in financial need with assistance with basic needs such as food, rent, utilities like heat and electricity, and clothing. The program may also help you with other needs such as child care, transportation, prescription drugs, emergency dental care, and eye glasses. (In some places, programs that help people with basic requirements are called “social assistance”, “income support” or “welfare”.)

A Guide to Income Assistance in Nova Scotia by the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service with support from the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia.

Legal Information

Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia

Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia is a charitable not-for-profit organization that has been providing Nova Scotians with information and resources about the law for more than 25 years. Easy access to information about the law is fundamental to a fair justice system.

Avoiding Fraud

The Little Black Book of Scams is a publication of the Competition Bureau Canada on how you can keep yourself informed and fight fraud.

The Halifax Regional Police provides tips for preventing fraud and how to report it.

Nova Scotia Legislation of Interest to Seniors

Senior Citizens’ Financial Aid Act – copy of legislation / statute

Senior Citizens Social Services Act – copy of legislation / statute

Senior Citizens Secretariat Act – copy of legislation / statute

Social Assistance Act – copy of legislation / statute

Travel

Canadian Snowbird Association

The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) is Canada’s official association dedicated to defending and improving the rights and privileges of all Canadian travellers. Check out their website for lots of travel information including:

Canadian Passports

Visit Canada.ca for information on how to apply for a passport, processing times, service locations, new requirements and what to do if your passport is lost, stolen or damaged.

Personal Directives

Personal Directives in Nova Scotia

The Department of Justice is collaborating with the Department of Health, the Department of Community Services and Office of the Public Trustee to implement the Personal Directives Act.

This Act enables Nova Scotians to document their wishes regarding what personal care decisions are made for them, and/or who makes them, in the event that they are incapacitated and are unable to make these decisions themselves. Personal care decisions include those related to health care, nutrition, hydration, shelter, residence, clothing, hygiene, safety, comfort, recreation, social activities and support services. The Personal Directives Act enables three things:

1. It allows individuals to appoint a substitute decision maker to make a personal care decision on their behalf should they become incapable of making the decision.

2. It allows individuals to set out instructions or general principles about what or how personal care decisions should be made when they are unable to make the decisions themselves.

3. In the event a Substitute Decision Maker has not been designated, the Act provides for a hierarchy / list of statutory substitute decision makers who can be designated to make decisions regarding health care, placement in a continuing care home, and home care where the individual has not prepared a personal directive in relation to those decisions. The Public Trustee is listed as the last substitute decision maker in the hierarchy.

Planning for the future is important. You should think about who you want to make decisions for you if you are not capable (temporarily or permanently) to make them yourself.

Brochures and Forms:

Planning for your Future Personal Care Choices – brief introduction and overview pamphlet

Personal Directives in Nova Scotia – general information booklet about the Personal Directives Act.

Making Personal Care Decisions for a Loved One – information on how to choose a substitute decision maker

Making a Personal Directive – explanatory information and form to be used

Naming a Delegate Only in a Personal Directive – brief information and form to be used

Death Certificate & Registration

Vital Statistics

The Vital Statistics Act requires that all deaths which occur in the province of Nova Scotia be registered with the office of Vital Statistics. Funeral Directors are responsible to obtain the personal particulars of the deceased, complete the Death Registration form and submit it along with any necessary medical documentation to Vital Statistics for processing. Any information that is collected on the Death Registration form is collected under the authority of the Vital Statistics Act, and will be used to register the death, update or amend other vital event records, provide extracts or search notices for administrative, statistical, research, medical and law enforcement purposes.

Brochures & Forms:

A guide by Access Nova Scotia to the organizations and affairs that should be dealt with following a death.

ADDRESS
Unit 1 – 5229 St. Margaret’s Bay Road
Upper Tantallon, NS
B3Z 4R9
(Located inside the SMB Community Enterprise Centre)

PHONE
(902) 820-3334

EMAIL
info@bayseniors.ca