Sign in Subscribe
Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z)

Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z)

Canada
Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z) is a Canadian labour researcher and founder of BetterPayJobs.ca & CanadaPaymentDates.ca. He simplifies government benefit data and hiring trends for newcomers and workers.
24
Jan
A person holding a smartphone displaying a Free Therapy resource map of Canada, with official health card logos for OHIP, MSP, and AHS in the background, dated.

Free Mental Health Services 2026 (OHIP/MSP Coverage List)

Struggling with anxiety or depression but can't afford $200/hour therapy? Discover the 2026 list of free, publicly-funded mental health services across Ontario, BC, and Alberta, including the "no-referral" hacks for immediate support.
5 min read
24
Jan
A concerned senior sitting at a kitchen table with a calculator and two stacks of paper labeled TFSA (high stack) and RRSP (low stack), with a Canadian tax guide open in the background.

TFSA vs. RRSP for Low Income: Why RRSPs are a Trap for GIS

Is your bank pushing an RRSP? For low-income Canadians, it could be a $50,000 mistake. Discover the "GIS Trap," why the TFSA is the real king of 2026 retirement, and how to "melt down" your RRSP before age 65.
8 min read
24
Jan
A close-up of a "Social Services" application form for funeral assistance, resting on a desk with a notebook listing regional income limits for Toronto, Ottawa, and Calgary in.

Welfare Funeral Coverage: How to Pay for a Funeral with No Money

Facing the loss of a loved one with $0 in the bank? Discover the 2026 municipal "Pauper’s Funeral" funds, the $2,500 CPP Death Benefit hack, and how to get social services to pay for a dignified service.
6 min read
23
Jan
A close-up of a Legal Aid Office sign on a glass door, with a person in the foreground holding a folder of court documents and a smartphone showing the income eligibility chart.

Free Legal Aid in Canada: Who Qualifies for a Free Lawyer?

Facing court without a lawyer? Discover the 2026 income cutoffs for Legal Aid in Ontario, BC, and Alberta, and the "Domestic Violence Loophole" that grants free legal help regardless of your salary.
6 min read
23
Jan
A diagram showing a calendar divided into blue and orange weeks to represent a 5050 shared custody schedule, with the Canada Child Benefit logo in the center and a 50%

Shared Custody CCB Rules: Who Gets the Money in a 50/50 Split?

Fighting over the Canada Child Benefit? Discover the "40% Rule" for 2026, why the old 6-month rotation is a myth, and how to split the $8,157 benefit without a CRA audit.
10 min read
23
Jan
A digital application for Better Jobs Ontario on a laptop screen next to a notebook with Career Goals written on it, with a Service Canada logo in the corner.

EI Academic Upgrading: Getting Paid to Go Back to School

Is your industry shrinking? Learn how to use Service Canada’s "Permission to Train" rules to stay on EI while you go back to school, plus get up to $28,000 for tuition via provincial grants.
6 min read
23
Jan
A Canadian worker in an office setting reviewing a severance agreement and an EI benefit statement, with a 2026 calendar in the background highlighting the temporary suspension

Severance Pay and EI: Will My Package Delay My Benefits?

Got a severance package? For 2026, the rules have flipped. Learn why your payout NO LONGER delays your EI, how to legally "double-dip" during this temporary window, and why you must apply before April 11.
5 min read
23
Jan
A Canadian father wearing a baby carrier and holding a bottle while looking at a laptop, with a Service Canada "Parental Sharing Benefit" infographic open on the screen.

Maternity vs. Parental Leave: Can the Dad Take the Extra Weeks?

New baby in 2026? Don't leave money on the table. Discover the "Use It or Lose It" parental sharing benefit that gives dads 5 to 8 extra weeks of paid leave without cutting into the mother’s time.
6 min read
23
Jan
A medical certificate form resting on a wooden table next to a stethoscope and a smartphone displaying a Service Canada login page, with a calendar in the background.

EI Sickness Benefits 2026: How Long Can You Stay Off?

Facing a serious illness or injury? Discover the 2026 EI Sickness Benefit rules, the permanent 26-week extension, and how to protect your job while you recover.
6 min read
23
Jan
A Canadian worker using a calculator to compare part-time pay stubs with an EI benefit statement, with a notepad showing the 50% deduction calculation.

Working While on EI: The 50 Cents on the Dollar Rule Explained

Can you earn money and keep your EI? Yes. Learn the "50 Cents on the Dollar" math, how to avoid the 90% threshold trap, and why a part-time job might be your best financial move in 2026.
6 min read