Distress Centres of Greater Toronto (408-HELP line)

A phone line open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, where trained volunteers support you through emotional distress, loneliness, abuse or thoughts of suicide, with calls in 8 languages and check-in calls for seniors.

For: Anyone in Toronto and the GTA who is in emotional distress or crisis; seniors over 55 living in Toronto (including Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York) can register for regular reassurance calls.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program at Toronto Public Health dental clinics

Free dental care for low-income seniors (exams, X-rays, fillings, cleaning, some root canals, extractions and urgent care for pain) at about 25 Toronto Public Health and community health centre dental clinics.

For: Seniors aged 65 or older living on a low income who qualify for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (the Province sets the income limits); Toronto Public Health's free care is for people who live in Toronto, have no private dental insurance and cannot pay.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

City of Toronto Free Centres and free drop-in recreation

Registered programs open by season: registration starts at 7 a.m. on most start dates (10 a.m. for Older Adult programs).

The City has 43 Free Centres, community recreation centres in lower-income neighbourhoods where all City-run registered and drop-in programs are free for every age, and many other centres offer free drop-in leisure swimming, skating and more.

For: Toronto residents of any age (non-residents pay at Free Centres); free drop-ins at other centres are for children, youth and older adults, and adults 60+ get 50 per cent off registered adult programs.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Parkdale Community Food Bank

A food bank at 5 Brock Avenue (rear unit) in Parkdale where you choose your own groceries, including fresh produce, bread, meat, vegetarian options, personal care items and pet food, plus a delivery program for people who cannot leave home.

For: Anyone who needs food: no proof of ID or financial status is needed and you can come once a week; delivery is for people who cannot leave home (illness, injury or mobility issues) living between the lakefront and Dupont, from Parkside/Keele east to Christie/Grace/Strachan.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program and Seniors Co-Payment Program

Seniors join automatically on the first day of the month after they turn 65; a letter comes about three months before. Low-income seniors must apply separately for the Seniors Co-Payment Program.

Ontario's public drug plan pays most of the cost of more than 5,900 prescription drugs for seniors and other groups, and a low-income seniors option removes the yearly deductible and lowers the fee to $2 per prescription.

For: Ontario residents 65 or older, people 24 or under without private insurance, people on Ontario Works or ODSP, people in long-term care or getting professional home and community care, and Trillium Drug Program members; seniors otherwise pay a $100 yearly deductible and $6.11 per prescription.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

CRA My Account (sign up for your Canada Revenue Agency online account)

Register any time. A CRA security code sent by mail reaches the address the CRA has on file within 10 business days; the document verification service on a mobile device gives immediate access.

Your free online Canada Revenue Agency account, the main route for many benefits: you can apply for child benefits, fill out Part A of the disability tax credit application, see how your benefits were calculated, and update your address and other personal information.

For: Anyone with a Social Insurance Number who has filed a tax return in the current or previous year; to register you need amounts from your most recent assessed tax return from within the last 2 years.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit period are open. The renewal period closed on 2026-06-01: members who did not renew can submit a new application, but care received during the gap in coverage is not covered or paid back. Members must renew every year; renewals for 2027-2028 open in spring 2027.

Federal dental coverage that pays all or part of the cost of exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, dentures and oral surgery (braces are not covered).

For: Canadian tax residents with no access to private dental insurance or a health spending account that covers dental, whose adjusted family net income is under $90,000 and who (with any spouse or partner) filed a tax return; the plan pays 100% of its set fees under $70,000 income, 60% at $70,000 to $79,999 and 40% at $80,000 to $89,999.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

GAINS (Guaranteed Annual Income System) for Ontario seniors

No application needed if you get OAS and GIS: you are enrolled automatically when you file your taxes by April 30 every year (or apply for the GIS with Service Canada). Paid on or about the 25th of each month; the 2026 benefit year runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

A monthly, non-taxable Ontario payment of up to $92 a month for seniors with low income, on top of their federal OAS and GIS.

For: Ontario seniors aged 65 or older who get the federal OAS pension and GIS, have lived in Canada for at least 10 years and in Ontario for the past 12 months (or 20 years in total since age 18), with 2025 private income up to $4,416 if single or $8,832 for a couple.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors

Most people are enrolled automatically. You must file your tax return by April 30 every year, or GIS payments may stop or be reduced. Related payments for ages 60 to 64: the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor.

A monthly tax-free payment on top of the Old Age Security pension for seniors 65 and older with low income, up to $1,138.90 a month for a single person for October to December 2026.

For: People 65 or older who live in Canada and get the OAS pension, with annual income under $23,112 if single, widowed or divorced, or under $30,528 combined for a couple whose partner gets the full OAS (up to $685.56 a month in that case).

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Old Age Security (OAS) pension

Most people are enrolled automatically and get a letter around their 64th birthday. If there is no letter one month after you turn 64, apply. You can apply up to 11 months before you want payments to start, and back payments are limited to 11 months.

A monthly federal payment for seniors aged 65 and older who have lived in Canada long enough; for October to December 2026 it is up to $762.50 a month at ages 65 to 74 and up to $838.75 at 75 and over.

For: People 65 or older who are Canadian citizens or legal residents and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18 (20 years if living outside Canada); seniors with 2025 net world income above $93,454 pay back part of it through the recovery tax.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Central Healthline

Directory of health and community services for Toronto (East York, Etobicoke, North York, Toronto, Scarborough) run by Ontario Health atHome, with a Submit Content route for listings.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

Apply any time. The steps differ a little by type of device; see the device list on the ADP page.

Ontario usually pays 75% of the cost of equipment and supplies for long-term physical disabilities, such as hearing aids, mobility aids, prosthetics, communication and visual aids, diabetic, respiratory and ostomy supplies, and home oxygen.

For: Ontario residents with a valid Ontario health card and a physical disability that needs the equipment or supplies for 6 months or longer; coverage can reach 100% for people on Ontario Works, ODSP or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities, and people already supported by WSIB or Veterans Affairs for the same equipment cannot use it.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (report a scam or fraud)

The federal centre that takes reports of fraud, scams and cybercrime, from victims and from people who saw it happen.

For: Anyone in Canada who was targeted by a scam, fraud or cybercrime, or who saw one.

Canada-wide · checked 3 October 2026 · everything we know

Health811 (Ontario's free health advice line)

Ontario's free and confidential health line: talk to a registered nurse, any time, or find health services and information.

For: Anyone in Ontario who needs health advice, or wants to know where to go for care.

Ontario-wide · checked 3 October 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC)

Largest social housing provider in Canada and second largest in North America, wholly owned by the City of Toronto; about 92,000 residents in 41,000+ low- and moderate-income households across 106 of Toronto's 158 neighbourhoods; 90% of households pay rent-geared-to-income. Units are allocated through the City's centralized waiting list (MyAccesstoHousingTO).

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Seniors Helpline

One phone number (and web chat) to find health services, community supports and crisis services for seniors; a crisis team can visit a senior at home, make a plan to solve the problem and connect them to supports.

For: Seniors in Toronto who need health or home supports, a friendly check-in call, or help in a crisis.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline

Canada's suicide crisis line: call or text 988 to talk with a trained crisis responder, any time of day or night.

For: Anyone in Canada who is thinking about suicide, is not sure whether they need help, or is worried about someone else.

Canada-wide · checked 3 October 2026 · everything we know

Free tax clinics (CRA Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, CVITP)

Clinics are usually open from February to the end of April, and some are open year-round. Some volunteers can also do returns for past years.

Volunteers at community organizations do your tax return for free if you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, at walk-in, drop-off or by-appointment clinics.

For: People whose total family income is generally up to $40,000 for 1 person, $55,000 for 2, $60,000 for 3, $65,000 for 4 or $70,000 for 5 (plus $5,000 for each extra person), with income from work, pensions, benefits or scholarships and under $1,200 of interest; not for self-employment, rental income, capital gains, bankruptcy in the year, or foreign income.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Government of Canada Benefits Finder (Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit and other supports)

Anonymous filter tool on canada.ca listing 157 federal and provincial supports by need (job loss, housing, family, disability, health, retirement), audience (newcomers, students, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, veterans) and province, with links out to each program. Entry point for finding child and family benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit and GST/HST credit.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know