Just before the holidays, a large number of Quebecers will be able to benefit from benefit payments and tax credits. Moreover, you may be eligible for this assistance from Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) available in December, all based on the income you earned in 2023 and declared this year.
Whether it’s to help you pay your rent or to support your entire family, these amounts can be paid directly into your bank account. However, it is necessary to request it and ensure that your personal financial situation and/or that of your household meets certain criteria.
Moreover, know that your 2023 tax report allows you to determine and recalculate the amounts to which you are entitled since last July – if you have indeed produced it! If you are late, correct your situation to stop paying additional fees and give you access to the amounts you could benefit from.
Here are six programs that could reduce your budget – check if you are eligible via your My file portal for Revenu Québec citizens and My file for CRA individuals.
Solidarity tax credit
People whose income is considered modest by Revenu Québec receive a notice of determination for the solidarity tax credit. This document indicates the amount that will be paid to yougranted for the period from July 2024 to June 2025 as well as all the factors taken into consideration in this calculation.
If the amount to whichyou are entitled to is $240 or less, a one-time payment was made in July. For amounts between $241 and $799, quarterly payments will be made in January and April 2025 – those for July and October 2024 have already taken place.
Finally, in the event that your credit exceeds $800, monthly payments have been scheduled until June 2025.
Eligibility: Households with low or medium income, with a predefined maximum limit, such as $61,500 for a single person, for example. You can check if you are eligible based on your family situation in December 2023 on the Revenu Québec website.
Amount: Can exceed $800 per year, which equates to more than $65 per month.
Payment date: December 5, 2024 (for all taxpayers whose credit is more than $241).
Website explaining the solidarity tax credit
Housing Allowance Program
Having been enhanced this year, this financial assistance could allow you to obtain up to $170 per month until September 30, 2025. More concretely, this program aims to help people who devote a significant part of their income to housing, whether as tenants, roommates or owners.
There is still time to apply if you meet the following conditions:
- The cumulative balance of your bank accounts, your tax-free savings accounts (TFSA), your other investments (RRSP, RDSP, LIRA, RRIF, etc.) as well as those of your spouse was lower at $50,000 as of December 31, 2023;
- Your 2023 family income does not exceed the maximum threshold, established between $21,500 and $42,900, depending on the situation.
Eligibility: Families with at least one dependent child, as well as people aged 50 and over who spend a significant portion of their income on housing.
Amount: From October 2024 to September 30, 2025, the program offers monthly payments of $100, $150 or $170.
For people who submitted their application after October 1, 2024, but before September 30, 2025, the payment of the Housing Allowance will be retroactive.
Payment date: Before December 5, 2024
Website explaining the Housing Allowance program
Family allowance
As soon as a child is born in your household, your registration for the Family Allowance is carried out automatically when you declare it to the Director of Civil Status. However, a request must be made if you adopt a child, as well as if you immigrated or obtained your citizenship in Quebec.
The calculation of this assistance is based on the family income declared to the government and the amount that will be allocated to you is tax-free. In 2024, this benefit was subject to indexation of 5.08%, leading to an increase in the maximum amount from $2,782 to $2,923. This represents an annual increase of $141.
Eligibility: All eligible families with and residing with dependent children under the age of 18.
Amount: Varies depending on criteria specific to each householdand can reach up to $2,923 per year.
Payment date: December 1, 2024 – people registered for quarterly payments however receive their allowancefour times a year, in January, April, July and October.
Website explaining Family Allowance
Canada Child Benefit
This federal program is intended to provide financial support to low-income families, both couples and single parents, to support the education and development of young people.
Eligibility: Taxpayers living with one or more young peopleunder 18 years old. You must also be the person primarily responsible for their care and education. In addition, it is necessary to provide proof of birth for each child since November 2023.
Please note that you are not eligible for this allowance for a young person in foster care if you receive special allowances for children (ASE).
Amount: Up to more than $7,000 per year, depending on the age of the young people and the income of the parents or those responsible for their education. If your family income is less than $36,502, you could claim the maximum amount for:
- A child under 6 years old: $7,787 per year ($648.91 per month);
- A young person between six and 17 years old: $6,570 per year ($547.50 per month).
Payment date: December 13, 2024
Website explaining the Canada Child Benefit
Old Age Security Pension
People eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) program can be automatically registered after filing their tax return. In the form of a monthly payment, this pension is taxable income from which people aged 65 and over can benefit.
The first payment is made during the month following the 65th birthday, which marks the start of eligibility for the program, or on the specific date chosen by the beneficiary. A request can also be made from the age of 64.
Eligibility: Both the population still employed and those who have never held a job may be eligible. It is aimed at citizens or residents who have received their authorization at the time of the request. In addition, it is necessary to have lived in Canadafor at least ten years since the age of 18. Those living outside the countrymust for their part have remained in the territory for at least 20 years since the age of majority.
Amount : People aged 65 to 74 eligible for the Old Age Security program can receive up to $727.67 per month for the period from October to December 2024. The amount they can benefit from is determined based on their income annual net income of 2023 – which must not have exceeded $148,451.
The population aged 75 or over can receive an amount of up to $800.44 depending on the income earned in 2023. Note that people who received more than $154,196 last year are not entitled to to this financial assistance.
Payment date: December 20, 2024
Website explaining Old Age Security
Quebec Pension Plan
The objective of this program is to guarantee basic financial security to people who have worked in Quebec as well as to their beneficiaries in the event of retirement, death or disability.
Although most taxpayers wait until age 65 to submit their application, it is possible to receive reduced payments as early as age 60. Moreover, new since this year: the maximum age has been pushed back to 72 years.
In addition, people aged 65 or over now have the possibility of ending their contributions to the Plan, even if they are still active in the job market. By choosing this option, contributions from their employer will also stop.
As of this year, the maximum retirement pension from the basic QPP plan amounts to $16,015 for a person who requests it at age 65 and whose income was $73,200. With the introduction of the supplementary plan, this retirement pension will increase to $24,409 over the next 40 years.
Eligibility: People aged 60 and over who have worked in Quebec for at least one year.
Amount: According to contributions
Payment date: December 30, 2024
Website explaining the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)
