Vancouver Island senior facing homelessness desperate to expedite pension application
A Sidney, B.C., senior is desperate to have his pension application with the federal government expedited as he claims a bureaucratic delay is putting him on the brink of homelessness.
“I’m very organized. I don’t waste. I run a tight budget. And I need to get out of this physical situation before it completely crushes me,” says Graeme Teague.
The senior says he’s been struggling financially since the pandemic and money is running out. Because of the hardship, he started collecting the Canada Pension Plan early. And now that he’s 65, he should qualify for Old Age Security and potentially the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
“The pension cheque is absolutely vital. It has to happen,” he says. “Because of the way the economy has gone, the price of everything, I’m on the very edge all the time. I leave my house twice: To go to work, to go to the food bank.”
Teague says he started the application process for OAS and GIC after receiving a letter in the mail a year ago. He says he filled it out and sent it back – then received a surprise response 11 months later.
“They sent a reply saying ‘What country were you born in? When did you arrive in Canada?' I was born in Canada. I never arrived,” he says.
Teague worked as a professional photographer and author outside the country for about two decades – and he feels unheard on that too.
“I told them everything and then they just sent me another form letter about my absences from Canada, which I had already told them in the first letter,” he says in frustration.
CTV News is seeking information on the case from the federal government – and has been passed around departments with no formal comment by deadline.
Teague’s MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Elizabeth May, says her office is now on the case.
“He’s resubmitted a questionnaire. We’ll stay on it and we’ve flagged it for Service Canada employees to say ‘This is an urgent situation,'” says May.
“I won’t let him be homeless. It can’t happen that somebody who is housed becomes unhoused because of red tape,” she says.
B.C.’s seniors advocate, Isobel Mackenzie, says these application processes can take time when a person’s case doesn’t fit the typical formula. She believes the case is a symptom of a larger issue.
“More and more and more we are marginalizing the people who aren’t able to log in online and do things quickly and know how to fill out forms. And also who have the ability to wait for whatever length of time to process it,” says Mackenzie.
The Office of the Seniors Advocate has an information and referral line to act as a resource for seniors at 1-877-952-3181.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.