On this page: Financial Empowerment | Navigating Benefits | Workshops & Resources | Free Tax Filing
Financial Empowerment
There are many programs out there to help reduce costs, but it can feel overwhelming to navigate what’s available, and who’s eligible. Our staff are trained in comprehensive benefits screening to help people identify, and apply for, programs for which they may qualify.
We can help you:
- Complete and understand forms
- Set a budget
- File your taxes, ensuring you can receive (if eligible) benefits such as the GST rebate, Ontario Trillium Benefit, Canada Child Benefit and Climate Action Incentive payments
- Contact the CRA, and support you through resolving any issues with CERB/CRB and your tax return
- Increase your financial literacy
- Access life stabilization supports
- Connect with Ontario Works to apply for help with rent arrears through Ontario’s Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP), and support you through the application
- Deal with bills and accounts that are past due
- Find health and dental programs, and help you with paperwork
- Apply for student loans and other benefits
- Connect with community services
Navigating Benefits
Our staff can help you determine your eligibility for benefits that help with energy costs, and support you through the application process. We can also help you apply for:
- Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Rainy Day Fund
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Employment Insurance (EI)
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Each organization makes the final decisions about eligibility. We will work with you to determine what types of resources or supports you may need. Then we can help navigate community resources and organizations that can provide assistance.
Applying for energy-assistance programs can really pay off! In 2021, with support from staff, 13 applicants for LEAP accessed more than $6,500 in energy assistance. As well, 59 applicants for OESP achieved savings on their electrical bill totaling more than $75,000 over a two-year period. Contact us today to explore your options!
Informed and Empowered
Our Financial Empowerment team delivers free online and in-person financial literacy workshops. Past workshops include:
- Managing Expenses and Debt
- Managing Savings
- Scams and Fraud
- Smart Finances
- Build Your Knowledge at the Right Time
- Supported Self-Filing for Taxes
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Prince Edward – Lennox & Addington Social Services maintains several community resource guides, which you may find helpful:
- Community Resource Information Sheet
- Community Emergency Financial Resources
- Food Security Programs in Prince Edward County
Free Tax Filing
We offer free, year-round tax filing for Prince Edward County residents with modest incomes who are not self-employed. PELC tax clinics are part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, funded by the Canada Revenue Agency and United Way Hastings & Prince Edward. Our staff and volunteers can also coach you through filing your own tax return, and help identify benefits and programs you may be eligible for.
Visit our Free Tax Clinics page for more details.
PELC helped us search for benefits we could apply for. Even when we weren’t eligible for a program, they kept looking for ways to help. We were happy to get some money back with our tax return — that made a difference!“
PRINCE EDWARD LEARNING CENTRE
Our Door is Open! Your Future is Bright!
97 Main Street, Unit 10 Rexall Plaza, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
(613) 476-1811
Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 4pm
Tuesday 9am to 7pm + 9am to noon Friday
