HELP’S AT HAND HELP’S AT Hand, by North Shore Community Services (NSCS), is a forum for discussing government policies and pro- grams, benefits, consumer and legal rights, taxation and_ public services. Answers are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to individual cases without further consultation. Question: I am a senior who receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Even though I've received it for several years, I'm always confused by the form when I have to reapply. Is there anywhere I can find some help? Also, I have a friend that doesn’t receive GIS but wonders if she is eligible. How can she find out? Answer: Many people find the GIS renewal form and the process for filling it out confusing, so you're not alone. Our office has trained staff and volunteers who can assist you in completing your application, and for that matter, any other legal! or financial forms including your in- come tax returns. In fact, if you cannot make it into our office we can even ar- range a home visit. Our services are free of charge to those on a limited income. For the benefit of yourself and other seniors currently wrestling with GIS forms, let’s look at some of the most common questions we receive. GIS is a monthly benefit added to the Old Age Security (OAS) pension if you are over 65 years of age and have little or no other income. Many people are unsure about claiming OAS as income on the GIS forms, but it is true that you do not claim it. You do, however, have to include any pensions that you might receive from other countries, and convert them into Canadian dollars. . It is important to complete your income tax form at the same time as your GIS form because income figures must correspond. Remember that it is not neces- sary to have earned income to submit an income tax return, but you need to file a return to quali- fy for the GST credit cheques which are sent every three months. Discrepancies in claims made between GIS and income tax COLONY FEATURES THE Kitchen Aiea 7 TOP RATED DISHWASHER N Come in and see the quality features of these whisper-quiet ff 8 dishwashers today! id] COLONY HOME FURNISHINGS 11075 Roosevelt Crescent North Vancouver ; (2 blocks behind the Avaion Hotel) OPEN DAILY; Fri. 9-9; Sun. 12-4 985-8738 forms can result in overpayments to you. These overpayments will be noticed and you will have to repay the money a few months down the road, so do make an ex- tra effort to report accurately. If your income goes up or down during the year, be sure to notify the Income Security Program Of- fice. Like OAS, the GIS is revised every three months to reflect the cost of living. per year. Once again, an OAS pension is not counted as income. To find out more about cligibil- ity or to reccive help, contact the seniors’ information counsellor at our office at 985-7138. “