Newsletter Issue 1 – February 2005

Are you getting your correct CPP benefits?
From the CARP NEWSLETTER

Between October 2000 and September 2004, The Retirement Planning Institute completed 4061 CPP audits at the request of recipients. Of the 4061 household accounts audited by RPI, 609 benefit entitlement errors have been uncovered. In other words, approximately 1 in 6 household accounts were found to be in error.

About 90% of errors were due to improperly completed applications or failure to complete an application at all. Among improperly completed applications:

About 60% of errors relate to incomplete disclosure about the Child Rearing Dropout provision in the application form. This Provision allows for periods of time a person leaves the workforce to raise children to be considered in order to improve benefits.

Another 30% related to cases where contribution credits have not been split after a separation or divorce.
About 10% of findings are systemic errors.

Who can benefit from a CPP audit?

Any household may benefit from an Audit unless both spouses are already receiving the maximum benefit; but especially if a member of the household meets the following criteria:

became a parent after 1958
Separated or divorced
Disabled Widow or a widower
Contributed to both CPP & QPP
Has been denied a CPP/QPP benefit

Story Corner

Jenny Holman lived in Lion's Head for a long time on Main St. north of the library. She was born in Askam in Furness in the north of England not far from where I was born. She came to Canada as a young bride and spent her first years in what was then called Galt. Jenny's only child, a son, was born there and, on the death of his father, came with his mother to Lion's Head and they established a small store and perhaps snack bar in the vicinity of what is now the Royal Bank. The son eventually moved to another part of Ontario, but Jenny remained in her little house with a large garden. After retirement, she was active in her Anglican church and was known for her out spoken views and determined guidance of "how things should be!" Jenny was also known for the lovely flowers she grew in her garden. In the spring, it was a mass of autumn crocus. She gave me some of the bulbs and I still greet the lovely blooms in my garden every year. I give thanks for the joy of having known the very attentive gardener who was very busy until the last 2 years of her life. She was very small in stature but large in heart and understanding of life. Jenny died about six years ago aged 104.

Submitted by Pat Horner

Services that Seniors Connect is working towards providing:

Information -- Seniors can call the office and we will research their needs.
Promotion of other services that are available such as Home & Community, VON, Alzheimer's Society.
Home maintenance -- individuals or small business complete a police check & provide 3 references
Friendly visiting, telephone support -- volunteers also complete a police check and provide 3 references. Also, if you need internet lessons, call our office. Our services are changing as need arises.

Seniors Connect will be putting together a bimonthly newsletter with issues of interest, highlights of articles from magazines and stories from your past. If you have any short stories about your life experiences, please call our office and we will put it in our newsletter. To help reduce our mailing costs please provide your email address. Hope you enjoy!!

February is heart month. If you would like to make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, please Call 371-0083.

Upcoming Events

In the spring, VON will be offering a program for seniors in Lion’s Head. The program is called ‘SMART’ which means ‘Seniors Maintain Active Roles Together’. The program will be geared to enhance the functional fitness of older adults. They offered a similar program a few years ago and had great support. If you know of any volunteers who would like to help out with the program, please call our office.

Of Interest

Our Coffee Connection is running both in Lion's Head on Wednesdays and in Tobermory the 2nd Thursday of the month. Give us a call and we will put coffee on for you!

The Head Hookers are meeting in our office on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. If you are interested in doing traditional rug hooking, come and join us.

Lads & Lassies of Lindsay Township meet in the Municipal office (Hwy 6 & Lindsay Rd 5). The 1st Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. is the business meeting - all welcome - bring bag lunch. The 3rd Thursday of the month at 12 noon is a pot luck lunch with social time and games afterwards (January, February and March). From April to December this meeting is at 5:30 p.m. We arrange fun activities throughout the year. Phone Pat at 793-3625 for information.

The Lion's Head Friendship Club is located by the arena. We are members of the United Seniors Citizens of Ontario. Activities that we have are: Pot Luck supper the 2nd Thursday of every month. Line dancing every Tuesday morning, Euchre on Monday afternoons and Bid Euchre on Tuesday afternoons. Several times a year we go on outings i.e. the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound, St. Jacobs Market, Penetanguishene Theatre, etc.