What are the limits in Nova Scotia? Here in BC they were capped by the Liberals (actually the Conservatives in practice) at $200 up until last year. When the NDP took power along with the Greens, they bumped it up to $400.
You two need to move to Alberta. AISH recently got a boost to $1685/month, and I think there's an $800/month limit on earnings before they start clawing it back. We also have no provincial sales tax (so far). I've been getting a carbon tax rebate, as well (not much, but every bit helps).
Mind you, rent isn't cheap, even after the downturn. I've been lucky enough to get into a situation where water and heat are included in rent and have been grandfathered into an incentive where they also include basic cable and basic internet (I never go anywhere near my data cap). So the only utilities I have to pay are electricity and telephone.
I can imagine. My caseworker told me she was more disabled than I was and she could hold down a 9-5 just fine.
Whoop-de-do for her. What's her situation got to do with yours? My first social worker tried the "I have what you have and I do fine" line, and didn't like it when I pointed out that it affects everyone differently.
How would you be paid? Could you keep those funds private?
The agencies that oversee disability benefits conduct annual reviews, and for the first several months to a year or so, the new recipient is required to submit monthly reports detailing how much money they have, right to the penny (cash included). Or so it is in Alberta. Of course nobody reports cash, or they might make up some small amount, but it's critical to be honest about bank/credit union balances or anything else that could be found in an audit.
@aimeeandbeatles : Are you getting your GST money? You're eligible, and should be getting 4 payments/year. Of course this happens only if you file an income tax form every year (forms are available at any Canada Post counter, or online). Even if you're not working/have no taxable income, you're eligible for this. It's not a lot (ie. I get something like $450/year) but every bit helps. I think you're allowed to file retroactively for a limited number of years (it means getting the basic income tax forms for past years and filling them out) and you could receive at least some past GST credit.
I wonder if the post office does cheques? There's one in my pharmacy, which is just in my walking distance. (There's several post offices inside pharmacies. I'm not sure if it's a Nova Scotia thing.)
It's all over Canada, when downsizing started to be a thing in the '90s. We used to have a post office in the middle of downtown and our MP at the time recommended it be shut down because "people can always go to Edmonton or Calgary if they need more than the basics". So we have mini-Canada Post outlets in pharmacies and convenience stores all over the country. The only actual Canada Post building we still have in Red Deer is the sorting plant.
They do Canada Post money orders. Not cheques, unfortunately.
I see quite a few comments on CBC.ca that Canada Post should offer banking services. I used to use money orders a lot in the '80s when I was buying print Star Trek fanzines from some people in Minnesota.