Personal Finance

This page offers links to a variety of services and information related to personal finance.

• Managing Your Debt
  No matter what kind of debt you may be in this information may be helpful to you.
• Pursuing Life's Best After Retirement
  This is meant as a resource that will hopefully help you to make the most of and really enjoy retirement.
• Getting Ready to Retire
  Here is some important information that you need to know about preparing for retirement.
• Social Assistance Programs
  Ontario’s social assistance programs help residents of Ontario who are in financial need. The programs provide money to help cover the cost of basic needs and housing, and employment assistance to help individuals prepare for and find a job.
• Ontario Disability Support Program
  This program is designed to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families who are in financial need, or who would like to work and need support.
• Ontario Works
  This program delivers both financial and employment assistance to people in temporary financial need.
• Benefits for Children
  If you are a full-time student between the ages of 18 and 25 and your parent or guardian is receiving a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit or has died, you may be eligible for a monthly payment from the CPP.
• Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
  The Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program helps parents with some of the extra costs of caring for a child who has a severe disability.
• Canadian Retirement Income Calculator
  Estimate your total retirement income from government pensions, employee pensions, RRSPs and other income sources.
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits
  Information and guide about disability benefits.
• Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)
  This system provides a monthly income supplement to seniors (aged 65 and over) who receive full or partial Old Age Security and/or Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits and whose income falls within provincial guidelines.
• Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families
  The Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families (OCCS) is a tax-free monthly payment to help with the costs of raising children under the age of seven.
• Ontario Savings Bonds
  Ontario Savings Bonds are a safe and secure investment which is backed 100 per cent by the Province of Ontario, including both principal and interest.
• Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services (OACCS)
  Finding an OACCS Member Agency close to you
• Buying a home
  This page provides links to the websites and contact information of other organization that assist home buyers.
• Dispute Resolution Services - Auto Accidents
  Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) is the branch of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) that helps claimants and insurance companies (the parties) resolve accident benefits disputes. Services include mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, appeal, and variation and revocation.
• Educational Auto Rate Tutorial
  Many considerations come into play when insurance companies set auto insurance rates.The following information is designed to provide you with a basic overview of some of the factors that affect the cost of auto insurance. As well, helpful tips on how you can save money on your auto insurance are also provided.
• Shop Around and Save on Auto Insurance (PDF)
  Auto insurance is sold in Ontario either through insurance brokers, agents or direct writers.
• What to do if You Have an Insurance Complaint
  The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) oversees the operation of a system that ensures all insurance complaints are dealt with professionally, speedily and subject to review by an independent body.Often the fastest way for a consumer to resolve a complaint is to deal directly with the company where the problem first arose.
• Tips for Identifying Auto Insurance Scams (PDF)
  This brochure provides tips on how to avoid auto insurance scams, and help eliminate them too. It has been published by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), an arm’s-length agency of the Ministry of Finance that regulates financial services sectors, including insurance. FSCO works to enhance public confidence in, and access to, a fair and efficient financial services industry in Ontario.
• Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
  The following links provide information for annuitants, contributors, or beneficiaries of registered plans for retirement, buying or building a qualified home, or continuing education.