_- years of. residence.

Al4- Sunday News, January 4,

‘If 1981 is the year in
which you reach the
age : of 65, here are

* some: shappy thoughts to

‘start it off.

‘Every Canadian or landed

immigrant who reaches the
age. of:.65 gets a special
birthday present from the’
federal. government — the
first “Old Age Security
pension cheque.
. From that point on the
benefits continue, every
month, for the rest of their
lives.

But. ‘According to officials
from Health and Welfare
Canada, the benefits under

ithe -QAS system are not

automatic. And certainly
there .are some basic
requirements that must be
met. First, you must be a
legal resident in Canada
immediately prior to the
approval of your application

_— a citizen or landed im-

migrant.

Then there is the
‘residence requirement. The
basic requirement is that you
are a resident in Canada for
a minimum of 10 years prior
to reaching age 65.

Whether you get the full

or partial pension is very

much dependent on whether
* you fall:under the new or old
* jegislation. Under the old

legislation, you receive a full
pension after 10 or more
Under
the’ new | legislation, you
receive a portion of the
pension earned at 1/40th ‘of

. the maximum for every year
_ of residence.

You must apply -for

. benefits prior to reaching the
magic age of 65 - and you
» should-‘do it .at least six
: months’ “before turning that

age.. Applying apy later
could result in late approval
and delay in payment.
Applying is relatively
simple. You fill out an

' application form available at

any post office or Income
Security Programs office in

your area. You will need
proper documentation such

as birth or baptismal cer-
tificates, passport and the
like, at the time of ap
plication.

All documents must be

originals. Copies simply will ~

not do.

If you are experiencing
any problems the best thing
to do is get in touch with any
Income Security Programs
office nearest to where you
live, for assistance.

If you are in receipt of
OAS pension benefits you
may be entitled to reccive
Guaranteed Income Sup
plement as well. This benefit

given to recipients of Old
Age Sccurity Pension who
have little or no other in-
come.

There is also a benefit paid
to spouses of pensioners who
are between the age of 60
and 65, if the total income of
both falls under a certain
level. Gencrally, a spouse
qualifies if the other mate ts
@ recipient of both the Old
Age Security and
Guarantced Income Sup
plement bencfits.

Here are some questions
asked most often about the
Old Age Security bencfits

Will 1 continue to receive
my OAS if l leave Canada?
Tho benefits continue only
if you have Jived in Canada
for at least 20 years after
your 18th birthday They
will be mailed to you

¢

anywhere *in ‘the ‘world. i -

you have not lived in Canada
for at least. that period,
payment is.made only for the .
mionth of departure and an
additional six months.

If 1 do leave Canada, will

, the Guaranteed Income

Supplement or Spouse’s
Allowance continue? ~
°No. Both these benefits will
be paid for the month of
departure and an additional
six months —— then payment -
will terminate.
How about if I move from

’ one province to.another?

*Simply notify your Income
Sécurity Office as to where
you are going. Cheques will
be sent to your new address.

What should I do if I‘don’t
get my pension cheque on
time?
eNotify your nearest Income

Security Programs, office . if.

the cheque is not delivered
after the end of the month. -
Can I have my- OAS

cheque .sent directly to my

bankfordeposit? = = .<

*Yes. However, you. must...

make the arrangements with
the bank and give details to
your Income Security office.

Do I have the right to

appeal if I feel there ‘has,
. been some injustice done to

me?

°Certainly. If you're not
satisfied, after receiving an
explanation of the decision

made in your case, you have _
the right to appeal that ~

- Mearest- Income. Security .

decision. Contact your
Office for instructions on

how to proceed.

| PE Suzi Holmes helps with the Texas
Mickey: ‘raffle draw: which wound up the Xmas charity
activities of the Society ‘for Barber Shop Quartet
singing on the North Shore (Alison Bowman photo)

In recognition of the pecial position which Senior ( Citizens
hold in our society, a new automobile insurance grant has been
announced by the Provincial Government.

Intended to ease the burden of increased auto insurance
rates, the grant is equal to 25% of the 1981 compulsory automobile
insurance premium.

It is available to any citizen whose vehicle is rated for ‘pleasure’ |

use, and both the owner and the principal operator are 65 years of

age or more.

How does it work?

/

@ If you renewed at 1981 rates in
December, you did not receive
the new Grant and should visit
your Autoplan agent who will
arrange for a cheque to be mailed
to you.

@ If you haven't yet renewed at
1981 rates, you should advise your
agent that you qualify for the
Senior Citizen Automobile
Insurance Grant, and he will
deduct the amount from your

premium.

e If you renewed your insurance
in November or December at
1980 rates, you have already re-
ceived the 25% Senior Citizen

Discount which applied for 1980
insurance.

a ae

® If you purchased Autoplan
Insurance for the first time on or
after November 15, 1980, and

are eligible for the Grant, you
should check back with your
agent and arrangements will be
made for a cheque to be forwarded.

Call on your Autoplan agent

forany information you require
about Autoplan Insurance or the
Government's new Senior Citizen
Automobile Insurance Grant.

a rae

INSURANCE
CORPORATION

OF BRITISH COLUMBIA