You may qualify for the Emergency Fuel Benefit if you are in an emergency and you are not able to pay to heat your home.
- To find out if you need the benefit, your monthly expenses, assets (money you have) and income will be assessed. If your expenses are more than what you earn each month, your household is in deficit. This means you spend more than you earn. You are assessed to find out if your household is in deficit.
- A benefit of up to $550 per calendar year could be provided to help you, depending on the size of the household deficit.
- If a deficit exists, the benefit is approved
Notice of Assessment
An statement from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to each taxpayer, every year, after you have filed a tax return. It tells you the amount of income tax you owe, or the amount of the refund you will get.
Proof of income
Pay stubs, pension statements (Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security), rental property income, income tax returns, income tax notice of assessment, business/rental/farming income, disability or veterans affairs pension, child and spousal support payments, GST credit.
Proof of Expenses / cost estimates
Receipts, fuel, electricity or oil consumption bills, services and equipment estimates, medical expenses, student loans, property taxes, mortgage payments, all others
- Call your local Social Development office at 1-833-733-7835. Tell the agent you would like to apply for the Emergency Fuel Benefit.
The agent will ask you some questions about your situation. They will ask about your income including the Canada Pensions Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), etc. They will also ask about your monthly expenses like your rent/ mortgage, transportation costs, food costs, bills, etc.
The agent is trying to figure out if you are potentially eligible for the benefit. If the agent thinks you may be eligible for the benefit, they will book you an in-person appointment with a Needs Assessor at your local Social Development office to complete your application. - If you are given an appointment with a Needs Assessor, you will have to gather documents for yourself and others living in the household to bring to your appointment. You will need to bring documents that show how much the adults in your household earn each month, and what your expenses are each month. You can find a full list of the documents you might need on the Emergency Fuel Benefit page.
If you do not have all the documents when you go for your appointment you can drop them off later, but a final decision can only happen after all the documents have been given to the Needs Asses - Once the Needs Assessor has all the documents, they will complete your application and tell you if you have been approved. If you are approved a cheque will be mailed out to you. It usually takes a couple of days for the cheque to be processed and put in the mail.