For many Ontario residents, keeping up with a home can be a challenge due to age, disability, or an unexpected injury. The costs of hiring help for housework, yard work, or snow shoveling can quickly add up. Fortunately, there are programs and insurance benefits designed to help. However, the landscape of these benefits is changing. This article provides the latest information on the “Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Benefit” in Ontario, covering both local community subsidies and significant reforms to auto insurance that will take effect in 2026.
Local Community Support: The Home Maintenance Subsidy Program
For seniors and people with disabilities in specific areas of Ontario, direct financial help is available through local non-profit organizations. One such example is the Home Maintenance Subsidy Program administered by the Dr. Harold S. Trefry Memorial Centre in Northern Ontario .
This program is specifically designed to assist individuals who are unable to perform their own home maintenance chores. Instead of providing a direct service, the program offers a subsidy that reimburses a percentage of the cost of hiring local services for tasks like:
Eligibility and How It Works:
- Who it’s for: The program is available to seniors (aged 65 and over) and persons with a disability .
- Financial Need: The subsidy is not a flat rate. It is determined based on the household’s taxable income, using the information from your most recent Notice of Assessment .
- Application: Those interested need to contact the center directly to apply. Proof of income is required, and participants must complete registration forms to record the services they hire .
This program serves a specific geographic area, including St. Joseph, Richards Landing, and several townships in the Algoma district . While this is a localized example, it highlights the type of support that may exist in other communities across Ontario. Residents facing similar challenges should contact their local Community Support Services agencies or their municipal government to ask if similar subsidy programs are available in their area.
Major Changes to Auto Insurance: The 2026 SABS Reforms
While local programs offer support for non-accident-related needs, Ontarians who are injured in car accidents have historically relied on the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) for help. The SABS is a mandatory part of every Ontario auto insurance policy, providing no-fault benefits to anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of who was at fault .
One of the key benefits under the current SABS is coverage for Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Expenses. This benefit helps policyholders pay for essential tasks they can no longer perform due to accident-related injuries.
However, a major shake-up is coming. According to the Ontario government’s 2024 Budget and subsequent regulations, the SABS is undergoing its most significant overhaul in decades. These changes, outlined under Regulation 383/24, are set to take effect on July 1, 2026 .
What is Changing on July 1, 2026?
The core of the 2026 reform is a shift in how benefits are structured. Many benefits that are currently mandatory and automatically included in every policy will become optional . This means that drivers will have to actively choose to purchase these coverages, which will likely result in a change to their premiums.
Here is a breakdown of the changes regarding Housekeeping and other key benefits:
Who Will Be Affected?
Under the new rules, these optional benefits will only be available to a more limited group of people: the named insured, their spouse, their dependents, and any drivers specifically listed on the policy .
This is a significant change because, currently, benefits often extend to others involved in an accident, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers who do not have their own auto insurance policy. After July 2026, those individuals may find themselves without coverage for housekeeping, income replacement, and other formerly mandatory benefits .
What Should You Do?
With these changes on the horizon, it is more important than ever for Ontario residents to be proactive.
- Review Your Current Policy: Don’t wait until your renewal after July 2026. Contact your insurance provider or broker now to understand how these changes will affect your specific policy .
- Discuss Your Options: Ask your broker to explain the optional benefits, particularly Housekeeping and Home Maintenance, in detail. Consider your personal circumstances, health, and financial ability to pay for these services out-of-pocket if you were injured.
- Make an Informed Decision: The move to an optional system means you will have more choice—but also more responsibility. You will need to decide which coverages are worth the additional cost to ensure you and your family are not left vulnerable after an accident .
Conclusion
Access to housekeeping and home maintenance support in Ontario comes from different sources, each with its own purpose. For daily living challenges related to age or disability, local community programs like the one in Northern Ontario offer vital financial assistance based on income .
For those relying on their auto insurance, the rules are about to change. The Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Benefit will no longer be a given after a car accident. As of July 1, 2026, it will become an optional feature of your auto policy . To avoid being caught off guard, every Ontario driver should speak with their insurance representative well before that date to understand the new SABS and build a policy that provides the protection they need.
