Parent/grandparent sponsorship: income requirement

[jason2540]

Hi all. I understand that a citizen/PR wants to sponsor a parent/grandparent next year, in 2017, will need to submit tax assessment forms for years 2013, 2014, and 2015. I also understand that the applicant can combine his/her income with their common-law partner to meet the minimum income requirement. My question is, what if the applicant and his/her partner officially got considered as "common law partners" (12 continuous months of living together as per Canada Revenue Agency's definition) only in 2015? If the applicant did not meet the income requirement for 2013 and 2014, can he/she still combine the income with their partner even if they weren't officially considered "common law partners" in those years?

 

[scylla]

Yes - you can combine for all three years.

 

[jason2540]

Yes - you can combine for all three years.

Thanks a lot. So even if the applicant and co-sponsor only became common-law officially in 2015, they can still combine their income from the previous years..?
Also, it states on the eligibility that if the applicant "received government financial assistance" they may not be able to sponsor their relative. Does receiving the GST credit count as "government financial assistance"?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Yes, they can still combine incomes for all three years.

Government assistance refers only to welfare.