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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Low-income seniors will see an increase in the guaranteed income supplement earning exemption to $3,500 from $500 as a result of an Old Age Security Act amendment.

The old age security program is funded through tax revenue and provides a basic income for seniors.

On July 9 the office of Marjory LeBreton, leader of the government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors) announced the changes, which will allow seniors who work to earn more without having their guaranteed income supplement (GIS) benefits reduced.

"Today's seniors are living longer and more active lives than ever before, and their participation in the labour market is growing," said LeBreton in a press release. "This positive measure will benefit approximately 100,000 working, low-income seniors by putting money back into the pockets of those living on limited incomes."

The GIS provides additional money to low-income seniors living in Canada. Applicants for the supplement must be eligible for old age pensions. The income of themselves and their spouses must be below the low-income cutoff.

This amount varies across the country, indexed to the cost of living of any given region. The cost of living is measured quarterly.

"Sometimes the pension is not enough for the senior to survive so they can apply for a supplement to that," said Vivian Squires of the Yellowknife Seniors' Society. "It's sad because there are seniors that need more. They've worked all their lives."

Seniors can apply for the The government has allotted $60 million in additional GIS payments for 100,000 seniors across the country. A sum of $500,000 has been set aside for the 767 seniors in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon who receive the supplement.

A few hundred seniors in the Northwest Territories will benefit from this amendment.