Many immigrant seniors `penniless'
10-year wait for benefits leaves them vulnerable and isolated, report says
Oct 09, 2008 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (54)
Nicholas Keung
IMMIGRATION/DIVERSITY REPORTER
The Toronto Star
At 73, Balkar Singh Bajwa cares for his two grandsons, taking them to school, parks and doctors' appointments.
At times, the Brampton man, a retired principal from India, gets calls to work as a certified Punjabi translator. The little money he makes is his sole income.
“Many of us, immigrant seniors, are penniless. If you need money, you have to put your hands out and ask your children for money,” sighed Bajwa, who came here in 1999 under his son's sponsorship and is a naturalized citizen.
Unlike their Canadian-born counterparts, most immigrant seniors are not entitled to government income supports, such as old age security or the guaranteed income supplement, until they have lived in Canada for 10 years.
In order to receive the maximum monthly benefits of $1,100, elderly immigrants must have lived in Canada for 40 years and arrived by the age of 18 to qualify.
Immigrant seniors from the 50 countries that have reciprocal agreements with Canada are not bound by the residency limit, but most of today's newcomers are from the developing world and lack any social safety net. About 2.3 per cent of Canada's annual 250,000 landed immigrants are seniors.
A research paper released yesterday says financial hardship makes these seniors vulnerable to poverty and social isolation especially during economic recession.
“Compounded with other intersecting issues, like language barriers, cultural differences, ever-increasing cost of living, lack of affordable social housing, immigrant seniors are often entrapped in social isolation and financial dependence,” states the report, titled: “Citizenship Matters: Re-examining Income (In)Security of Immigrant Seniors.”
The study was conducted by sociologists from the University of Toronto and McMaster University and commissioned by the Toronto-based Alternative Planning Group, which includes members of the Chinese, South Asian, African and Hispanic communities.
Access to affordable housing and public transit are key issues for immigrant seniors.
Kifleyesus Woldemichael, 75, and his wife live on a $1,341 monthly welfare cheque, of which $900 goes to rent. “We have to think twice before buying anything. We can't go out much because the TTC isn't cheap,” said the retired judge, who fled Ethiopia for Canada in 2002.
“I looked for jobs, but no one would hire a 75-year-old.”
Andalee Adamali, of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians, said seniors contribute tremendously on the domestic front, and as volunteers. Getting them out and about improves their mental and physical wellbeing and reduces future health costs, he added.
A private member's bill aimed at reducing the old age security residency requirement to three years died when Parliament was dissolved. It would have to be re-introduced under the new government.
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Why is a new immigrant eligible for welfare? If a person wants to immigate to a country at any age, they should have to show that they have a means of supporting themself for a reasonable amount of time until they can secure gainful employment. For the people that are at or above retirement age, there is no reasonable time to secure gainful employment and they must have enough assets to carry them through to retirement without needing any government assistance. They did not pay taxes in Canada and should not be entitled to social benefits. If the retirement age individual is sponsored, the sponsor should be responsible until the immigrant leaves the country or dies.
Posted by Expat in the USA at 7:50 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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Difficult choice
but I have to agree with Lokie. If one has never contributed to CPP, yet reaps its full benefits, where is the cash shortfall going to come from? Yes, we have to have social programs to help those who can't help themselves, and I definitely agree with this philosophy, but only up to a point. If the entire family moved here, then it's incumbant on the family as a whole to have a financial plan in place which addresses every single family member, without looking to social assistance as as the first (and only) solution.
Posted by tezster at 7:45 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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Returning home
After “suffering” the ten year wait the “new” pensioner often retires back to the home country collecting his pension for life and never having worked or contributing in anyway to Canada at all. Consider the estimated 50,000 “Canadian's” living full time in Lebanon alone who requested evacuation at Canadian Government expense when war broke out a few years ago. Immigrants have a name for this situation, it's called “not unpacking your suitcase”. Canada will go broke trying to support an overpoulated world! Also where did the term “developing contry” come from? Every country I have ever heard to be said to be “developing” actually has history going back thousands of years. Canada, only a few hundred years old, is in fact a “developing” country!!!!!!
Posted by rvguy79 at 7:45 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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If taxpayors only knew!!!!!!
The reality is that it is much worse than you think. Seniors who are 65 and over and have “not” been in Canada 10 years actually qualify for the Ontario Disability Support Program even though “not” disabled. In addition to financial support this program entitles them to transportation allowances, special diets, dental, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, up front fees for telephone, hydro, home repairs, the list is endless. The kicker is that after they have resided in Canada 10 years they recieve Old Age Pension at which point they are very “displeased” as no longer are their cab rides or diapers and diets paid for. Old age security is actually a “cut” in pay. Not only don't pensioners recieve these benefits but most “working” folk don't either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by rvguy79 at 7:32 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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Much ado about nothing
First, let us remind ourselves that only 2.3% of the total number of immigrants are seniors. That, by the way, is a small number compared to the 97.7% who are able bodied and working (provided they are able to find jobs) and contributing to the Canadian pensions pot. Second, many of my friends who have sponsored elders find it morally reprehensible to withdraw financial support for their elders and are too proud to rely on the state to subsidize the lives of their parents. So, my own experiences have taught me that immigrants are perhaps more likely to support their elders financially, socially, and even emotionally. When we take that into consideration, the actual number of elders seeking help from the state should be quite low. So, lets stop bickering among ourselves. At this rate there will be no pensions saving available in the next 30 years, with or without the senior immigrants, whom we like to scapegoat so much.
Posted by medusa at 7:26 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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With all of the immigrant services available today…
…there is a better chance for (senior) immigrants to find out if they can even survive in Canada if they come. When we came there were no immigrant services. Is it not a matter of “buyer beware”? Shoppers for a new home whether physical real estate or a new country must research and accept some risks.
Posted by Hydrogen1 at 7:07 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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Us and Them
If I sponsor my parent I have to support her for 10 years. Thats reasonable and legally binding. My parent helps me take care of kid. this saves money for me and the govt on subsidized childcare. it allows me to work because someone who loves my kids is taking care of them. a lot of my canadian-born friends envy me. if i sponsored my parent I SHOULD take care of them, and not the rest of the country. this should be law unless the sponsor is bankrupt. i'd rather contribute to OHIP. HOWEVER, if its a senior who is abandoned or childless should we all pay for them? well, they are canadian citizens so yes! whats the alternative? leave them on the streets to die?
Posted by nd at 7:05 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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Disagree 200% … Tell me more .
I would like ” disagree 200% ” to tell us more .First of all unwed mothers do not get themselves pregnant , they ususally need some assistance from a partner to do that. Secondly , not all unwed mothers sit on their butts and leach from the system as you suggest and it's insulting to suggest otherwise .Thirdly , many of these unwed mothers you speak of are themselves immigrants .In addition, birthrates in developing lands where many of our new immigrants come from are double that of Canadian families .Many of these large families are headed by men who have returned to their homeland or are working in Canada at jobs that are below their level of education( that's a problem for another forum ) and thus are unable without taxpayers support to look after their families .So ” Mr . or Mrs.disagree 200% ” do some further research and see who is really costing us the most money.
Posted by goat at 7:03 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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Ali Mallah again
I am not racist. I am just stating the facts. BTW, BigFatCat is my nickname and everyone who knows me call me by that name because I am big and fat and Cat is part of my real name. My name is not racist at all.
Posted by BigFatCat at 6:55 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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to all those who disagree.
When your taxes go up, are you happy about it? If someone stopped you on the street and asked you if you would take care of their parent, would you say yes?? It's always a good idea until it is your money it seems.
Posted by donald baldhead at 6:42 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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When will we have done enough? $1341 a month for nothing is a good deal.
what part of 'sponsored' did the children of these elderly immigrants not understand? I don't invite my parents to visit me and then walk around the neighbourhood taking up a collection to feed them. Was there a confusing sign at the airport that said 'Welcome to Canada- bienvenue and free lunch'?
Posted by blackmirth at 6:35 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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CPP pays for Seniors, not PST/GST
SMC thanks for posting those useless websites to explain who is entitled to old age pension. The article outlines this already. I mean a senior that comes from a different country should not be entitled to something he or she has not contributed to. My grandparents contributed and they can barely make ends meat. That's because the government is too busy trying to appease the immigrants. And Ali, what on earth are you talking about. Are you talking way back when Canada was born as a country. I don't agree with what happened to the Native Americans but something tells me there was no CPP back in those days. People who come here and want their senior parents here should have to support them to the fullest, healthcare, rent, food etc. If an immigrant has not contributed to CPP, which is the pension contribution then they shouldn't be entitled. PST/GST just doesn't cut it.
Posted by Lokie at 6:12 PM Thursday, October 09 2008
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