Ottawa seniors who got CERB cry foul after GIS payments clawed back

Could be 'matter of life and death,' says senior advocacy group

When his DJing business closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Freeman applied for the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) to help him get by.

But despite receiving payments, the Ottawa senior didn't actually qualify for it.

Now, after receiving an unexpected letter from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), not only does Freeman need to pay back nearly $15,000 but — since those payments were considered taxable income — his Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) was clawed back as well.

"It was supposed to help, but it's really like a punishment," Freeman said on Monday, calling his outlook "horrible."

The GIS is an additional payment for low-income seniors that Freeman relied on. It will be re-adjusted this coming summer. 

Until then, the Beacon Hill resident lives off just $1,100 a month, now that he's lost out on the $600 in supplements he'd receive monthly. He's also had to borrow money to pay back what he owes because of what he believes was unclear government messaging.

"So I have to survive another eight months, you know, borrowing a thousand a month," Freeman said. 

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