Ontario Home Electricity Relief program (OHER)

What is the Ontario Home Electricity Relief (OHER) program? When will OHER payments be issued? Who is eligible for the OHER Program? How is my OHER payment calculated? I am married. Who will receive the OHER payment, my spouse or myself? I was married on December 31, 2005, but am now separated. Who will receive the OHER payment? My spouse claimed the Occupancy Cost on his 2005 tax return, but is now deceased. Will I receive a payment? I moved to Ontario from another province on January 5, 2006. Am I eligible for the OHER Program? What if my address has changed? Will the OHER be applied against other debts? Has the CRA been involved in programs like this before? Where can I get more information on the program?

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1. What is the Ontario Home Electricity Relief (OHER) program?
The OHER program is a one-time payment funded by the Government of Ontario. It assists lower-income residents of the province with the rising cost of electricity. Eligible individuals can receive up to $60 while couples or individuals with dependants can receive up to $120.

OHER payments are not taxable.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is administering the OHER program on behalf of the Government of Ontario.

2. When will OHER payments be issued?
The majority of OHER payments were issued at the end of October 2006. Monthly supplementary payments started in November 2006 to be issued. Only cheques will be issued (no direct deposit).

3. Who is eligible for the OHER Program?
You are eligible for the OHER program if you:

• were a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2005, and on October 1, 2006;
• have filed a 2005 Ontario income tax return no later than December 31, 2006;
• were the person who claimed an Occupancy Cost (Line 6116 on Form ON479, Ontario Property and Sales Tax Credits) of the 2005 Ontario income tax return; and
• were the person who had an amount greater than zero on Line 18 on Form ON479, Ontario Property and Sales Tax Credits of the 2005 Ontario income tax return.

4. How is my OHER payment calculated?
If you were single and had no dependent child as of December 31, 2005, your OHER payment is calculated as follows:

• If your net income is $14,000 or less, you are eligible for the maximum amount of $60.
• Your payment is reduced by one cent for every dollar of net income you received over $14,000, up to $20,000.

If you lived with a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child as of December 31, 2005, your OHER payment is calculated as follows:

• If your family net income is $23,000 or less, you are eligible for the maximum amount of $120.
• Your payment is reduced by one cent for every dollar of net income you received over $23,000, up to $35,000.

If the calculated amount of an OHER payment is between $0.01 and $9.99, a payment of $10 will be issued.

5. I am married. Who will receive the OHER payment, my spouse or myself?
Only one spouse can claim the Ontario Property and Sales Tax Credit. Therefore, whichever spouse claimed the credit on the 2005 Ontario income tax return will receive the payment.

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6. I was married on December 31, 2005, but am now separated. Who will receive the OHER payment?
The spouse who received the Property Tax Credit will receive the OHER payment. Your marital status on December 31, 2005 will be used to determine eligibility for the OHER payment.

7. My spouse claimed the Occupancy Cost on his 2005 tax return, but is now deceased. Will I receive a payment?
A payment will be made to the Estate of the deceased taxfiler if there is a surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the Estate is not eligible for an OHER payment.

Ontario taxfilers who were deceased prior to December 31, 2005, are not eligible for an OHER payment. In these cases, the surviving spouse should claim the Occupancy Cost on the 2005 Ontario income tax return.

8. I moved to Ontario from another province on January 5, 2006. Am I eligible for the OHER Program?
No. Since you did not file an Ontario 2005 income tax return, and were not a resident of the province as of December 31, 2005, you are not eligible.

9. What if my address has changed?
Since OHER payments will be issued by cheque, you have to provide the CRA with your new address as soon as possible. Call 1-800-959-8281 (for service in French 1-800-959-7383), or change it online by going to My Account.

10. Will the OHER be applied against other debts?
There will not be deductions for other debts such as income tax arrears or student loans.

11. Has the CRA been involved in programs like this before?
Yes, the CRA works regularly with federal, provincial, and territorial partners. In the past, the CRA has assisted Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia with similar programs.

12. Where can I get more information on the program?
For questions related to the OHER Program, you can contact the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-800-263-7965 (for service in French 1-800-959-7383), or visit their Web site at: www.fin.gov.on.ca.

For questions related to filing the 2005 Ontario income tax return, call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281.

People who are entitled to receive the OHER payment, but have not received their OHER cheque by November 10, 2006, can call the OHER enquiries service toll free at 1-888-253-1082 for service in English (1-888-253-1084 for service in French).