OLD AGE INSECURITY - dogfood time

As Canadians we mistakenly believe we have a social contract.
The majority of us work hard until we retire, and during these
years we pay many tens of thousands of dollars in income taxes,
as well as property taxes,  provincial taxes every time we buy
something apart from basic foodstuffs, and land transfer taxes
when we buy a house.

Like most Canadians I expected a decent, livable pension from
OLD AGE SECURITY  when I retired. I've always believed
(~FANTASY~) that the basic Canadian pension is around $16,500
a year - well below any area's poverty line - almost enough to eke
out a living.

HEADS UP!
The max Old Age Pension is just $546.07 a month!  yup, that's it ...

I've worked almost all of my 40 years in Canada, so I also collect the
princely sum of just under $400 a month from the CANADA
PENSION PLAN (CPP). A tiny pension from Toronto Public
Library adds a few dollars more.
TURNS OUT I'LL BE EXPECTED TO LIVE ON $1,000 A MONTH
FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS ABOUT $4,500 LESS THAN A LUMPEN WHO HAS
 NEVER WORKED A DAY IN THEIR LIFE RECEIVES!!!!
Here's the explanatory letter I submitted for the GAINS supplement.
After anxiously waiting over a month and a half for SERVICE
CANADA to send me a response, I called them this afternoon &
learned I'm entitled to $11.28 for my monthly GAINS supplement.

Here's my letter to SERVICES CANADA:


Further information and Clarification for GAINS Application - Christopher F. Faiers

I was wrongfully dismissed from my job as a village head
librarian in October 2006 at age 58. I received payments from
my former employer for 8 months, and then I received 8 months
of Employment Insurance while I continued unsuccessfully
to search for work.

I began receiving CPP payments of just under $400 a month
when I turned 60. My 2012 CPP income was $4,620.00.

I also receive a tiny pension of under $1K a year from OMERS from
employment with Toronto Public Library.
My OMERS income for 2012 was $832.44. This may be somewhat
reduced once I begin receiving OAS.

My 2012 combined income from these two pensions, which are my
only substantial income sources, was $5,452.44.


Lived off Cashing RRSPs
For the past several years my primary source of income has been
cashing my limited savings within RRSPs.
I have just about exhausted all the funds within my RRSP, and I
will no longer be able to depend on withdrawing from RRSP savings
as a substantial source of income.


Self-Employment as a Poet (Writer)
Several years ago I hired an accountant to file my income taxes. The
accountant said that I should file as a self-employed poet (writer), as
I receive small annual payments for my books of poetry which are in
public libraries.  
In 2012 I received $408.11 from Access Canada and $373.44 from Public
Lending Rights, PLR, (Canada Council) for a total 2012 writer's income
of $781.55. 

My accountant claimed 2012 expenses for my writing income which
were higher than my writer's income, which resulted in a net 
self-employment income loss of $4,568.76 in 2012.

                                         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


I trust that this additional information will help clarify my very
limited income situation, and the quite desperate requirement that
I qualify for a GAINS supplement.

I am most willing to cooperate in any way should you require further
information or verification concerning my income situation and
qualification for GAINS support.

Thank you for your cooperation and consideration.

Christopher F. Faiers
(signed)