Some Mississauga residents eligible for financial assistance with transit and home maintenance

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Published January 17, 2020 at 3:57 am

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Many people struggle to make ends meet in Mississauga, but fortunately for those on a budget, the city offers a few programs that can help select residents manage costs that might otherwise pose a hardship for them. 

The financial assistance programs, offered by the City of Mississauga, are available for older adults and persons with disabilities to help with the costs of daily activities. 

Eligible residents are free to apply to the programs, and while some have strict deadlines, others are open for applicants all year round.

So, what programs are available to you or someone you know? 


Active Assist Program

This program is the City of Mississauga’s fee assistance program for residents living in low-income households. It allows residents to have access to recreation and culture activities, such as fitness classes.

To be eligible, you must have an individual net income or a combined family net income below the Statistics Canada low-income cut-offs.

Each eligible family member on your application will receive a non-refundable credit of $275 that’s valid for one year. You can apply and receive your credit once per year. Applications for anyone under 18 years old need to be filled out and signed by their parent or guardian.

Residents can apply at any time. 


MiWay Affordable Transit Program

The MiWay Affordable Transit Program provides low-income residents living in Mississauga with access to affordable public transit.

Residents can apply at any time.  


MiWay Senior One Dollar Cash Fare – Off-Peak Program

MiWay offers a $1 cash fare to seniors during off-peak hours. It’s valid on weekdays (from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and after 7 pm) and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

On request, senior riders (age 65+) must present a piece of valid, government-issued photo identification or a MiWay issued senior identification card to the bus driver to receive the one-dollar fare.

Residents can apply at any time.


Outdoor Maintenance Subsidy Program

This program provides financial assistance to help cover the costs of outdoor maintenance. Work that would qualify includes care of lawns, plants and trees in the yard of a residence and snow removal. 

It is important to note that the city does not do the maintenance service for residents, meaning residents are required to obtain these services. Applicants must not be able-bodied and not have able-bodied individuals living at the residence. 

Applicants must be 65 years or older, in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and able to provide a copy of their T4A (OAS) for the claimed subsidy period or physically disabled and in receipt of an allowance, benefits or income support under the ODSP. The maximum annual subsidy is  $350 per year for outdoor maintenance services paid for by eligible applicants.

Deadline – March 31.


Services to apply for in the future (deadlines have passed):

Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program

This popular program helps residents by clearing space in the snow windrow at the bottom of their driveway after a snowplow has cleared the road. Registrations for this program nearly doubled in 2019. The program is free for residents. The deadline for 2019 has passed, so keep this program in mind for future winter seasons.

Annual deadlines are in early November.


Property Tax Rebate Program

This program offers a tax rebate on annual property taxes for low-income seniors receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and low-income persons with disabilities in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) who own and live in their own home.  The rebate is applied to the tax account to offset property taxes. It is important to note, this program is not automatically re-enrolled and must be applied to annually.


Stormwater Subsidy Program

Low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities, similar to the Property Tax Rebate program, may be eligible for a subsidy to offset their stormwater charge. Recipients of the city’s Tax Rebate Program qualify for the stormwater charge subsidy. Staff will use the existing property tax rebate process and eligibility to automatically identify property owners who are eligible.

All info courtesy of the City of Mississauga

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