The Ontario seniors' home-support money map

Who it is for: Ontario residents where the senior (or their spouse) turned 70 or older in the year, with family net income under $65,000. Applies whether they live in a house, apartment, or retirement home. ^[1]

What it is worth: 25% of up to $6,000 in eligible medical expenses, a maximum of $1,500 per year. Refundable, so it pays out even if no tax is owing. The credit is reduced by 5% of family net income over $35,000. ^[1]

What counts: the same expenses as the medical expense credit, including attendant care, nursing, walking aids, bathroom aids, incontinence supplies, and mobility renovations, and it can be claimed in addition to the federal and Ontario medical expense credits on the same expenses. ^[1]

How to claim: on the tax return, via Form ON479. ^[1]

Who it is for: anyone 65 or older at year end (or eligible for the disability tax credit), or an eligible family member claiming on their behalf, for renovations that make the home safer or more accessible: think grab bars, ramps, walk-in showers. ^[2]

What it is worth: up to $20,000 in eligible expenses per year, worth up to $2,900 for 2025 (about $2,800 from the 2026 tax year, since the 2026 figures reflect the legislated rate change). Non-refundable. ^{[2] [11]}

How to claim: line 31285 of the federal return. ^[2]

Note:the CRA excludes routine services from this credit, including "the cost of housekeeping, security monitoring, gardening, outdoor maintenance, or similar services." It covers renovations, not upkeep. ^[2]

Who it is for: families building a self-contained secondary suite (its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area) so a senior 65 or older, or a disability-tax-credit-eligible adult 18 to 64, can live with family. A bedroom with an ensuite but no kitchen does not qualify. ^{[3] [4]}

What it is worth: up to $50,000 in qualifying expenditures at 14.5%, a maximum of $7,250 for 2025 (about $7,000 for renovations completed in 2026, since the 2026 figures reflect the legislated rate change). Refundable. ^{[3] [11]}

How to claim: Schedule 12 and line 45355, in the tax year the renovation is completed. One renovation per senior, lifetime. ^{[3] [5]}

Who it is for: seniors who need help with personal-care tasks (bathing, dressing, feeding) in their own home. Adult children can claim eligible medical expenses they paid for a dependent parent, on line 33199. ^{[7] [8]}

What it is worth (2025 figures): with an approved disability tax credit certificate, up to $10,000 per year federally ($17,627 on the Ontario return) in attendant-care wages while still keeping the disability amount. Claiming the full, uncapped attendant-care cost is possible instead, but then no one can claim the disability amount for that person. Expenses count above the lesser of $2,834 (the 2025 threshold) and 3% of net income. ^{[8] [9]}

How to claim:lines 33099 and 33199. An individual attendant's receipt must include their SIN. ^{[7] [8]}

Note: attendant care means personal care the senior cannot do for themselves. Privately purchased general housekeeping is not, on its own, an eligible medical expense. ^[9]

Who it is for: Ontario homeowners 64 or older (as of December 31 of the previous year) who paid property tax on their principal residence. ^[12]

What it is worth: up to $500 per year. Singles get the full $500 at adjusted family net income of $35,000 or less, phasing out at $50,000. Couples get the full amount at $45,000 or less, phasing out at $60,000. ^[12]

How to claim: file the tax return with the ON-BEN application; property tax paid goes on line 61120. ^[12]

Who it is for: any OHIP holder assessed as eligible by a care coordinator. You can refer your own parent; self-referral is allowed. ^{[20] [21]}

What it provides: if your parent qualifies, the Ontario government pays for home care: nursing, personal support (bathing, dressing, eating, transfers), and therapies. Homemaking help (cleaning, laundry, shopping) exists but is generally tied to also receiving personal support services or needing constant supervision; it is not a standalone free cleaning benefit. Community supports like Meals on Wheels may carry a co-payment. ^{[20] [21]}

How to apply: call 1-833-515-1234, or 310-2222 with no area code. This assessment call is also the front door to a publicly funded occupational therapist assessment, which other programs on this page ask for. ^[20]

Who it is for: permanent Ontario residents of any age with a substantial, lasting mobility impairment that restricts daily living. Funded by the Ontario government, delivered by March of Dimes Canada. ^{[14] [16]}

What it is worth: up to $15,000 lifetime for home modifications (ramps, stair lifts, roll-in showers, grab bars) and up to $15,000 every 10 years for vehicle modifications. Applicants with gross annual income over $35,000 may be asked to contribute. ^[14]

How to apply: application package (disability verification, proof of income, vendor quote, proof of ownership or landlord approval) to March of Dimes Canada in London, Ontario; hvmp@marchofdimes.ca or 1-877-369-4867. Funding is prioritized by assessed need and is not guaranteed. ^[15]

Note: the program is active, but confirm current intake by phone before applying. ^[14]

Who it is for: Veterans with a VAC disability benefit, War Veterans Allowance, or Prisoner of War compensation who have a health need for support at home. Two often-missed extensions: primary caregivers, and low-income or disabled survivors of Veterans. If your late father was a Veteran, your mother may qualify for housekeeping and grounds-maintenance funding in her own right. ^{[17] [18] [19]}

What it is worth: annual tax-free funding for housekeeping (cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, errands), grounds maintenance including snow removal and lawn mowing, personal care, home adaptations, and more. Amounts are set by assessed need and local service rates; VAC does not publish a flat dollar cap, so apply and ask. ^[17]

How to apply: My VAC Account (fastest), by mail, or in person through Service Canada. ^[17]

Who it is for: Ontario seniors 65 or older receiving both OAS and GIS, with very low private income: up to $4,416 for a single person or $8,832 for a couple. ^[13]

What it is worth: up to $92 per month for the 2026 benefit year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), non-taxable, indexed annually. ^[13]

How to claim: automatic once GIS is in pay and tax returns are filed, which is one more reason to make sure your parent files every year. GIS receipt is also the eligibility key for the Niagara tax-deferral programs below. ^[13]

Who it is for: a person receiving home care services (cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, personal care) that a government or municipality supplies or subsidizes, in whole or in part. ^[10]

What it is worth: those publicly funded or subsidized services come without GST/HST. It is automatic; there is nothing to claim. ^[10]

Note: the exemption is narrow. Privately purchased, unsubsidized home cleaning or home care remains taxable. The practical takeaway is the other direction: if your parent is approved for publicly funded care, tax is one thing you do not pay on it. ^[10]

Who it is for: Niagara homeowners 65 or older receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement, or people receiving ODSP, who own and occupy their principal residence and have owned residential property in Niagara for at least a year. ^{[22] [23]}

What it is worth: an annual deferral of all or part of property tax increases (it defers increases, not the whole bill). Eligibility is re-established every year and taxes must be current. ^[22]

How to apply: through the local city or town tax office, by February 28 of the following year. ^[23]

Also worth knowing: Ontario offers a property-tax exemption for homes built or altered to accommodate seniors or people with disabilities who would otherwise need institutional care, including a 10% assessed-value exemption on qualifying new homes; information line 1-866-296-6722. ^[22]

Who it is for: Niagara Falls residents 65 or older receiving GIS, or receiving ODSP. ^[24]

What it is worth: a $500 per year deferral of current city property taxes, accumulating to a maximum of $5,000, for owner-occupiers enrolled in pre-authorized monthly payments (a $150.00 administration fee applies when the property is sold and the deferral repaid). Low-income senior or disabled tenants who hold the water account can get a $102 water account rebate, one per household. ^[24]

How to apply: City of Niagara Falls Finance Department, 905-356-7521 ext. 4214. Intake runs August 1 to October 31 each year; the 2026 application opens August 1, 2026. ^[24]

Who it is for: St. Catharines seniors and residents with disabilities; criteria vary by program. ^[25]

What it offers:an Older Homeowner Property Tax Increase Deferral (city portion, at 5% interest instead of the standard 15%, with a $50 non-refundable application fee, income-tested against the Statistics Canada benchmark household income for St. Catharines); sidewalk snow removal for qualified applicants (requires a physician's statement that the applicant cannot clear snow and no physically capable person in the household); boulevard grass cutting; a water and wastewater senior credit for residents 65 and older; and a payment extension program on water and wastewater fees. ^{[25] [26]}

How to apply: City of St. Catharines, Citizens First, 905-688-5600, CitizensFirst@stcatharines.ca. ^[25]

Other Niagara municipalities: the regional deferral above applies everywhere in Niagara through your local city or town tax office, and several municipalities publish their own extras. Ask the local tax office directly. ^[22]

Status: active program, but intake is currently closed. Niagara Region Housing Services "is not accepting applications until further notice." Worth watching for reopening rather than applying today. ^[27]

What it is: a 10-year forgivable loan for low and modest-income Niagara homeowners covering health-and-safety repairs and accessibility modifications (ramps, handrails, chair and bath lifts). The loan is forgiven if the owners stay in the home for the 10-year period, and the accessibility portion, up to $5,000, is non-repayable. ^[27]

Eligibility when open (as published July 21, 2026): household income caps from $56,000 (1 bedroom) to $83,500 (4 or more bedrooms), assets not over $40,000, and a home value below the municipality's average MLS price. ^[27]

Contact: Niagara Region Housing Services, 905-980-6000. ^[27]