BC Home Owner Grant Low Income Supplement: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
When the assessed value of your home exceeds the provincial threshold — $2,075,000 in 2026 — the BC Home Owner Grant starts shrinking. For a Metro Vancouver or Fraser Valley property assessed at $2,200,000, the senior additional grant drops from $845 to $220. In the Capital Regional District and Northern/Rural areas, the 2026 additional grant starts at $1,045 and would be reduced to $420 at that assessment. The $845 additional grant reaches $0 at $2,244,000; the $1,045 amount reaches $0 at $2,284,000.
That phase-out assumes the homeowner can afford the higher taxes. Many cannot. A retired nurse living in a modest Vancouver bungalow purchased thirty years ago is no wealthier because the lot is now worth two million dollars — she still lives on a pension.
The Low Income Grant Supplement exists for exactly this situation.
How the Supplement Works
The supplement restores some or all of the grant that was reduced because of a high property assessment. It is available only to homeowners who qualify for the additional grant: seniors 65+, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
The supplement is not a separate program — it is a top-up on your existing Home Owner Grant. You claim it at the same time you file your grant application, or shortly after.
Income Thresholds
Eligibility is based on your adjusted household net income from the previous year's tax return:
| Household Net Income | Supplement Level |
|---|---|
| $30,000 or less | Full restoration — you receive the entire grant amount as if your property were below the threshold |
| $30,001 to $32,000 | Partial restoration — linearly phased out |
| Over $32,000 | No supplement available |
The relevant measure is adjusted household net income; Form FIN 65 requires a CRA Notice of Assessment showing adjusted net income below the applicable threshold.
How to Apply
You need Form FIN 65 (Application for Low Income Grant Supplement), available from the Ministry of Finance's website or through eTaxBC. The form asks for:
- Your most recent CRA Notice of Assessment (or your spouse's/partner's)
- The assessed value of your property for the current tax year
- Confirmation that you qualify for the additional grant
Submit the form to the Property Taxation Branch alongside your regular Home Owner Grant application. If you have already claimed the reduced grant, you can submit the supplement request separately — the province will adjust your account and credit the difference.
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A Worked Example
Margaret, 72, owns a home in the Capital Regional District assessed at $2,175,000. Her pension income is $26,000 per year and she lives alone.
Without the supplement, her additional grant of $1,045 is reduced by ($2,175,000 − $2,075,000) ÷ $1,000 × $5 = $500, leaving her with $545.
Because her income is below $30,000, the Low Income Grant Supplement restores the full $500 reduction. She receives the complete $1,045 grant — the same amount as an eligible senior in the Capital Regional District whose home is below the phase-out threshold.
Combining the Supplement with Deferment
If you qualify for both the supplement and property tax deferment, claim the supplement first. The restored grant reduces your net property tax, which means a smaller deferment loan and less compound interest accruing against your home.
Our BC Property Tax Deferment and Home Owner Grant guide walks through the grant, supplement and deferment applications in the right sequence — including the equity calculation and the forms you will need.
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