Canadian benefits glossary

Pensions & seniors

OAS recovery tax

A repayment mechanism that reduces OAS payments when your net income exceeds a yearly threshold.

Seniors with moderate retirement income may lose part or all of OAS through this recovery.

Appeals & applications

Official determination

A written decision from a government program stating whether you qualify and what you will receive.

MyEligible provides starting points, only the official program's determination is binding.

Provincial & territorial

OHIP+ (Ontario youth drug program)

Ontario program covering many prescription drugs for people under 25 without a private plan, subject to formulary rules.

Pensions & seniors

Old Age Security (OAS)

A monthly pension for people 65 and older who meet residency requirements. It is not based on employment history.

OAS can be reduced or recovered at higher incomes through the OAS recovery tax.

Disability

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Ontario's income and employment supports program for people with substantial disabilities who have financial need.

ODSP includes income support, drug coverage, and employment help, rules differ from federal programs.

Provincial & territorial

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB)

Ontario's public drug program for seniors 65+, people on social assistance, and others in defined groups.

Social assistance

Ontario Works (OW)

Ontario's financial assistance program for people in temporary financial need, with employment participation requirements.

Appeals & applications

Overpayment

Benefit money you received but were not entitled to, which the government may recover from future payments or tax refunds.

Report income changes promptly, most overpayments happen when circumstances change and benefits are not updated.