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A GIS case study. Adeline’s dilemma. James Daw. July 29, 2012. Adeline, age 66 Income $20,000 GIS $2,927 GIS stopped mid-year. Assets RRSP $30,000 $120,500 from home sale TFSA $12,086 (Tax-Free Savings Account) car $16,000. Bank’s RRSP advice
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A GIS case study Adeline’s dilemma
James Daw July 29, 2012
Adeline, age 66 • Income $20,000 • GIS $2,927 • GIS stopped mid-year
Assets • RRSP $30,000 • $120,500 from home sale • TFSA $12,086 (Tax-Free Savings Account) • car $16,000
Bank’s RRSP advice “ …given my modest income, I could withdraw $2,000 per year without losing ANYTHING from my GIS.”
Service Canada’s advice “I lose 50 cents from every dollar I withdraw.”
Adeline’s actual loss $1,000 of GIS + $308 of taxes 65.4 % of $2,000
Adeline’s reaction “ I don’t feel I can afford to lose anything. This RRSP was to be my security blanket.”
Tina’s advice Developed educational tools for National Initiative for the Car of the Elderly (NICE)
Step 1 Convert RRSP to RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund) REASON • $2,000 pension tax credit
Step 2 Withdraw entire RRIF in $15,000 installments REASONS • Lose GIS once • Only pay tax • Only 20% held for tax
Step 3 Move $5,000 per year to Tax-Free Savings Account REASONS • No tax on interest • No GIS lost on TFSA • withdrawals
Adeline’s $120,500 • House? • Not enough, even in Barrie • Property tax, maintenance • Rental income to help with • mortgage would cut into GIS • Shared ownership would not cut into GIS • Annuity? • Prescribed annuity pays • capital + interest • Capital doesn’t cut into GIS • $4,911 capital, $1,123 interest • Interest not enough to be taxed, but cuts GIS by $561.50
Other income potential $3,500 from part-time work does not affect GIS income
Reasons to save • Age 67 for OAS/GIS by 2029 • Options before long-term care • Major purchases • Legal, other professional fees • Final expenses
Age 67 OAS/GIS • Average CPP benefit is $6,349 • Someone with no other savings would need $33,022 to replace OAS/GIS from age 65 to 67
Closing OAS/GIS gap A person born in February 1962 would have biggest challenge to save $33,022 by 65 in February 2027 Birth month * Assumes zero inflation, zero interest on savings in tax-free savings account
Long-term care • Apply to Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) • Waiting lists can be three years long • You are considered “safe” in hospital, but at risk of losing capacity for independent living • High risk of infection • Private alternatives can cost $40,000/year • Few can afford without selling a home
Final expenses • Toronto’s Employment and Social Services department will help cover funeral costs • Not just for those receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) • One must apply for the support • The city may recover costs from all sources available to the deceased person
Guaranteed life insurance • Policies sold on TV are not the cheapest • You may pay for two years to qualify (if you die first, premiums may be refunded) • Insurance is cheaper than saving -- if your life is short • Costs could grow beyond the death benefit
Guaranteed life insurance Total premium Funeral cost Benefit Male 41 $30/month
Final expenses: ‘Preneed’ Insurance • Pay premiums for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20 years • Funeral home guarantees policy will pay for funeral of your choice if you have a funeral contract • If unhealthy can pay one to five years to qualify Savings annuity, trust accounts • Contributions refundable • Once funded, keeps up with cost of funeral if you have a funeral contract • Up to $15,000 tax-free for funeral, $20,000 for cemetery
‘Preneed’ insurers • Guaranteed Funeral Deposits of Canada Fraternal www.gfd.org(Owned by funeral directors) • Foresters www.foresters.com(Also a fraternal) Contact funeral home first to arrange service!