September 28, 2026: Financial Assistance Program returns beginning October 5, 2026
PWA’s Financial Assistance program helps to support the health and wellness of people living with HIV/AIDS and aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with living with HIV/AIDS.
PWA strives to provide equitable programming for all PWA community members within limited resources. To this end, all requests for Financial Assistance must fall within the stated guidelines. Requests that do not meet these guidelines will not be considered. These guidelines reflect anticipated revenues and are subject to change without notice. To access this program, community members must provide written verification of their HIV status.
To access the program, please provide your case worker with the ‘Receipts’ for which to be reimbursed. Receipts must be dated within 30 days of the submission date or from expenses that occurred after April 1st, 2026. (Receipts are mandatory due to audit purposes).
How it works: PWA reimburses 50% of eligible expenses until a member reaches a maximum of $300 (e.g., for a $100 expense, PWA would cover $50).
Children’s Holiday Gift Certificate Program
Purpose: The Children’s Holiday Gift Certificate Program helps HIV+ families with dependent children participate in the Holiday season.
Eligible community members must be:
- HIV positive.
- Registered community members of PWA.
- Have dependent children 17 years of age and younger.
Access by: Contacting your Income and Community Liaison.
- Gift certificates are distributed through the Holiday Bag program and thereafter through your Income and Community Liaison.
Access by: Contacting your Income and Community Liaison. Cheques are processed biweekly.
Positive Children’s Fund
Purpose: The Positive Children’s Fund helps HIV+ children, and their families manage some of the financial burdens they face with daily living, including such items as outgrown clothes, school activities, diapers and formula.
Amount: $200 between April 1st – March 31st
Eligible children must be:
- HIV positive.
- Registered community members of PWA.
- 17 years old and younger.
Access by: Contacting your Income and Community Liaison. Cheques are processed biweekly.
Positive Seniors’ Fund
Purpose: The Positive Senior’s Fund helps HIV+ seniors manage some of the financial burdens they face when they receive OAS (Old Age Security), including a reduced monthly income and reduced insurance coverage.
Amount: $200 between April 1st – March 31st
Eligible community members must be:
- HIV positive.
- Registered community members of PWA.
- 65 years old and older.
Access by: Contacting your Income and Community Liaison.
Health and Wellness Fund
Purpose: The Health and Wellness Fund helps people living with HIV/AIDS manage some of the financial burdens they face when improving and maintaining their health and wellness.
Amount: $300 between April 1st and March 31st
- Community members can receive a maximum of $300 during the fiscal year to help support their health and wellness.
- Once a community member has received $300, they must wait until the following April 1st to begin receiving financial assistance again.
- Funds not used during any year cannot be carried over to the next or transferred to another community member.
Eligible community members must be:
- HIV positive.
- Registered community members of PWA.
Answers to Common Questions
- PWA accepts both original and copies of receipts. You are welcome to fax or email your receipts to your Income and Community Liaison.
- In emergency situations, PWA will consider paying expenses in advance of purchase directly to the payee instead of the client.
- Prescription medication includes anything with a D.I.N. (drug identification number).
- Those on Private Insurance & Trillium must submit their quarterly Trillium statement
within 30 days of it being issued. - We do not cover eye exams as they are covered by O.H.I.P. Your eye doctor needs to complete a “Request for Major Eye Exam”. Please see your Income and Community Liaison for more information.
- We accept emergency vet expenses (accidents and illness only) but not expenses related to spay, neuter, check-up, vaccinations, etc.,
- Complimentary Therapies must be provided by someone with a professional association registration number and your receipt should include their G.S.T. registration number.
- Receipts cannot be submitted twice.
- Receipts must be dropped off within 30 days of the date on the receipt.
- You can cash your cheque free of charge at Alterna Savings located at 800 Bay Street (corner of Bay/College) if you request a letter from PWA stating you are a PWA client. You can request this letter when you pick up your cheque.
If you need any further information or special assistance please contact Ower Oberto, Linkage to Care Manager at 365-297-3490 or ooberto@pwatoronto.org
