Application for Arrears of Rent or Default on Secured Debt (Mortgage)

Introduction and overview

What you need to apply for financial hardship unlocking for arrears of rent or default on a secured debt

When your application is approved

Filling out Form FHU 2 – Application for Arrears of Rent or Default on Secured Debt (Mortgage)

Introduction and overview

This User Guide helps you apply to unlock and take out money from your Ontario locked-in account (locked-in retirement account (LIRA), life income fund (LIF), or locked-in retirement income fund (LRIF)) based on financial hardship for arrears of rent or default on secured debt.

This User Guide is only a guideline. If this guideline conflicts with the rules in the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario Act, 2016, (FSRA Act), the Pension Benefits Act, or the regulations made under either of them, the FSRA Act, Pension Benefits Act or regulations govern.

There are four kinds of financial hardship unlocking allowed for Ontario locked-in accounts:

  1. for medical expenses;
  2. for arrears of rent or default on secured debt (such as a mortgage);
  3. for payment of first and last months’ rent for a main home; and
  4. for low expected income.

This User Guide is for unlocking because of arrears of rent or default on secured debt (mortgage). If you want to apply for another type of financial hardship unlocking, you must apply separately using a different form. You can find User Guides for the different kinds of financial hardship unlocking applications on the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) website.

You must apply to the financial institution that holds and administers your locked-in account. Your financial institution could be one of the following:

  • a bank
  • a life insurance company
  • a credit union
  • a caisse populaire
  • a trust company

If you have invested the money in your locked-in account through a financial advisor, you should ask your advisor if you should:

  • make your application through them; or
  • directly to the financial institution that holds your locked-in account.

You cannot make your application to FSRA.

Your financial institution is responsible for answering questions about your locked-in account and your unlocking application.

What you need to apply for Financial Hardship Unlocking for Arrears of Rent or Default on Secured Debt

You must have money in an Ontario Locked-in Account that you own

There are three different types of Ontario locked-in accounts:

  1. LIRAs
  2. LIFs
  3. LRIFs

Your money must be in one of these accounts. If your money is still in your pension plan, you cannot take it out due to financial hardship.

You must be the owner of the locked-in account to apply for financial hardship unlocking. The locked-in account must be in your name, not in your spouse’s name. If you are not sure, ask your financial institution or financial advisor.

Your money must be subject to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act

The money in your locked-in account must be subject to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act. It cannot be subject to the pension law of the federal government or another province. If the money is not subject to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act, your application will be refused. Ask your financial institution whether your locked-in account is subject to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act.

Use Form FHU 2 Application for Arrears of Rent or Default on Secured Debt (Mortgage)

You must apply to your financial institution using the application form approved by FSRA. The application for arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) on a main home must use the Form FHU 2 for the year you apply. If an application is signed in 2024, the 2024 form must be used. You cannot use a previous year’s form.

Please contact your financial institution for an application form. Forms and other information about financial hardship unlocking can also be found on FSRA’s website.

One application per year, per type of unlocking, per account

You can only make one application from your Ontario locked-in account each calendar year under the arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) on a main home category.

Deadlines for the Application

There are a number of important deadlines to be aware of:

  • 60 day time limit for submitting the application: Once you sign the application (and your spouse signs the consent, if applicable), you have 60 days to submit it to your financial institution. If you submit it after 60 days from the date you signed it, you will have to fill out another application.
  • 30 day time limit for payment by financial institutions: Your financial institution must review your application to see if it meets the requirements for financial hardship unlocking for the arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) on a main home. If the requirements are met, your financial institution must:
    • approve the application; and
    • make payment to you within 30 days from the day it received the completed application.

Minimum and maximum amounts you may apply for

For all applications, the minimum amount you must apply for is $500.00. If you apply for less than $500.00, your financial institution will refuse your application.

The maximum amount you can apply to unlock for arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) on a main home is described later in this User Guide. You cannot apply for an amount greater than the maximum amount to which you are entitled. If you do apply for an amount greater than the maximum, your financial institution should advise you to revise your application.

Your financial institution is not permitted to pay you an amount greater than the maximum amount allowed.

Please see Question 2 in Part 2 of this User Guide for more information about the maximum amount you may apply to unlock for arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) on a main home.

When your application is approved

Payment

The money must be paid to you in one lump sum. It cannot be paid monthly or in any other manner. It cannot be transferred to another tax-deferred account such as:

  • an RRSP (registered retirement savings plan); or
  • an RRIF (registered retirement income fund).

Withholding tax and other deductions

The amount you are approved to unlock will be reduced by income tax. This is required by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Your financial institution may also charge an administrative fee for your application, which will be deducted from the amount paid to you.

For example, you apply and are approved to unlock $20,000.00. Your financial institution must deduct 30 percent ($6,000.00) for income tax and pay it to the CRA. If your financial institution charges you a $50.00 fee, that amount will also be deducted. Therefore, you will end up receiving $13,950.00.

To receive a greater amount in cash than what you would have received after deductions, apply to take out a greater amount. But you cannot apply to take out an amount greater than:

  • the maximum amount allowed; or
  • the amount in your account.

Eligibility for other government benefits

When you take out money from your locked-in account, that money could be considered as income. This could affect your eligibility for benefits under a government program, such as social assistance. Contact the government agency or department that administers the program or provides these benefits if you have questions about the impact on your benefits.

Loss of creditor protection

Money in your locked-in account cannot be seized by your creditors. If you take out money from your locked-in account, that money is no longer protected and may be seized by your creditors.

Privacy

Your financial institution must tell you the purpose for collecting, using or disclosing any of your personal information.

Filling out Form FHU 2 – Application for Arrears of Rent or Default on Secured Debt (Mortgage)

General Information about Form FHU 2

To unlock money for arrears of rent or default on a secured debt, you may make one application during a calendar year if you are either:

  • in arrears of rent on your main home, or
  • in default on debt secured against your main home, such as a mortgage,

and, you could face eviction if the money you owe is not paid.

The terms, “in arrears” or “in default” basically mean that you have fallen behind, in either your rent or mortgage payments on your home, and the payments are overdue.

There are two other conditions that must be met:

  • the demand for payment must be in writing, and
  • the demand for payment must have been received by either:
    • you; or
    • your spouse.

The “demand for payment” refers to the formal notice. This notice tells you that you must make your payment. For example:

Erin has fallen behind in their rent payments. Their landlord said unless they make their payments, they will be evicted. If Erin applies under this category, their application must be refused because the demand is not in writing. They would need to get a written demand letter from the landlord. This would allow their application to be successful.

Sam shares a home with their child. Their child is Sam’s dependant because they are disabled. The home is in the name of the child. The child receives a letter stating that they will be evicted unless their overdue mortgage payments are made. If Sam applies under this category, their application must be refused. This is because their child received the demand letter, not Sam.

Examples of debts secured against a main home include:

  • a mortgage;
  • a line of credit secured against the main home; or
  • a lien registered against the main home.

If you have received a demand for payment on another type of secured debt against your main home, ask your financial institution if that qualifies under this category.

A principal residence (main home) is a person’s primary place of residence. It is where the person lives when the unlocking application is signed. Some types of main homes include:

  • a house;
  • a condominium unit;
  • an apartment or other unit in a multi-residential property;
  • a non-seasonal mobile home;
  • a trailer; or
  • a houseboat.

A person can have only one main home for the purpose of this application.

An application is considered to have been made in the year in which the financial institution receives the completed application.

You may apply to unlock and take out money from the same locked-in account for different kinds of financial hardship. You can do this in the same year but you must use different unlocking forms.

Part 1 – Information About the Owner of the Ontario Locked-in Account

Question 1: Fill in the information about yourself in each box.

Question 2: Fill in the name of the financial institution that holds your locked-in account. This may be a bank, insurance company, or credit union. Fill in the number of the account. This is the number of the account that you want to take money out of.

Information about your spouse

Question 3: Fill in the information about your spouse (if applicable) in each box.

A “spouse” is defined in the Pension Benefits Act as either of two persons who:

  • are married to each other, or
  • are not married to each other and are living together in a conjugal relationship, 
    • continuously for a period of not less than three years, or
    • in a relationship of some permanence, if they are the parents of a child as set out in section 4 of the Children’s Law Reform Act.

If you have a spouse and you are living separate and apart from your spouse due to a breakdown in your spousal relationship, then:

  • your spouse is not required to consent to your unlocking application; but
  • you must still fill in information about your spouse in question 3.

Spouses living in different residences on the date the application is signed may still be spouses for the purpose of this application. If your spouse is living elsewhere because of:

  • their work;
  • they are looking after a relative or friend;
  • for health reasons; or
  • for other reasons that are not related to your spousal relationship,

that does not mean you are living separate and apart due to a breakdown in your spousal relationship.

It is possible that you may have “more than one spouse”. That is, you could be separated from your spouse while still married. At the same time, you could be living common law with another person who meets the definition of spouse. If that is your situation, you should fill in the information about the spouse you are living with when you apply. In this example, this is your common law spouse. The money can only be unlocked and taken out if that person provides their consent to your application (see Part 4).

Part 2 – Arrears of Rent or Default on a Secured Debt (Mortgage)

Question 1: Other than this Application, have you applied during 2024 to take out money from this locked-in account for arrears of payment of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) on any property that is or was your main home?

If you answered ‘yes’, you cannot apply again under this category this year.

Question 2: What is the maximum amount you can take out?

The maximum amount you can unlock and take out is the smaller of the amounts entered in boxes 2a and 2b.

The amount in box 2a for 2024 is $34 250.

In box 2b, fill in the sum of:

  • The total amount of arrears of rent on your main home that you owe, plus the total amount of rent that you will have to pay for the next 12 months from the date your application is signed, or
  • the total amount of the default on your mortgage or other secured debt on your main home that you owe, plus the total amount of payments due plus interest you will have to pay for the next 12 months from the date your application is signed.

The total amount of arrears of rent or default on your mortgage or other secured debt should be the amount that is set out in the written demand.

If you do not want to apply for future rent or mortgage payments for the next 12 months, then only include the total amount of arrears of rent or the total payments in default on your mortgage or other secured debt in box 2b.

Enter the smaller amount of box 2a or box 2b in box 2c. This is the maximum amount that you may apply to take out for arrears or default.

Examples:

Eddie is in arrears on their monthly rent ($2,000 each month) for six months and owes $12,000. Eddie wants to apply for the arrears plus a year’s worth of rent ($24,000). The total amount Eddie would enter in box 2b is $36,000. The smaller amount of box 2a and box 2b is $34,250, and they must enter that amount in box 2c. Eddie must attach the demand letter for the arrears of rent.

Bobbie is in default on their monthly mortgage payment of $3,000. Bobbie has received a written demand for six months of payments ($18,000). Bobbie can apply for that amount, plus an additional amount that will bring their total to less than $34,250. The demand letter must be attached.

Question 3: How much money are you applying to take out from this locked-in account?

You do not have to apply for the maximum amount you are entitled to take out. You cannot apply to take out an amount that is:

  • greater than the amount in your locked-in account as of the date you apply;
  • greater than the maximum amount you are allowed to take out (box 2c); or
  • less than $500.00.

Robin has a line of credit with their financial institution secured by their principal residence. Robin has received a demand for the amount by which they have exceeded their credit for $34,000. Robin’s maximum is $34,250, but they only have $20,000 in their LIF. Robin can apply to withdraw $20,000.

Remember that the amount you apply for will be reduced by withholding tax. It may be reduced further by an administrative fee.

Question 4: What main home has the arrears of rent or default on secured debt (mortgage)?

If the main home is the home you have identified in Part 1, question 1 (your mailing address), check “the home identified in Part 1” box. If the main home is at a different address, check “the home at the following address” box and fill in the information about that home.

Additional documents:

You must give your financial institution a copy of the written demand for arrears of rent or default on a mortgage or other secured debt on your main home with your application.

Part 3 – Certification by the Owner of the Locked-in Account

You must sign and date the Certification in Part 3. There is no requirement for a witness to your signature.

Once you sign the application, you have 60 days to give it to your financial institution.

Certification regarding your spousal status

You must certify your spousal status on the date you sign the application. In Part 3 of the application form, you must check only one of four boxes:

  1. You have a spouse and your spouse consents to taking out money from your locked-in account.
    (If you select this option, you will need your spouse to complete Part 4.)
  2. You have a spouse, but you and your spouse are living separate and apart due to a breakdown in your spousal relationship.
    (If you select this option, your spouse is NOT required to complete Part 4.)
  3. You have a spouse, but none of the money in your locked-in account is derived, directly or indirectly, from a pension benefit provided in respect of your past or current employment. This applies if all the money in your locked-in account did not come from your own pension plan, but came from the pension plan of your former spouse.
    (If you select this option, your spouse is NOT required to complete Part 4.)

    For example, Jordan is a member of a pension plan and divorces Chris. As part of the divorce, Jordan pays a portion of Jordan’s pension to Chris. Chris gets an Ontario locked-in account to hold that pension money. Chris later marries Avery. Chris then applies to take out money from Chris’s locked-in account for financial hardship.

    Since the money came from Jordan’s pension plan, Chris’s current spouse Avery is not required to consent to Chris’s application. In Part 3 of the application form, Chris should check the box that says “I have a spouse, but none of the money in my locked-in account is derived, directly or indirectly, from a pension benefit related to my past or current employment”.

  4. You do not have a spouse.

Other certifications

By signing the application, you also certify that:

  • all the information in the application and any accompanying documents is accurate and complete;
  • you could face eviction if the arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage) remains unpaid; and
  • you have not previously applied in 2024 to take out money from this locked-in account for arrears of rent or default on a secured debt (mortgage).

Part 4 – Consent of the Owner’s Spouse to the Application

If you have a spouse on the day you sign the Certification in Part 3 of the application, you may only take money from your locked-in account if your spouse consents to the application, unless:

  • you and your spouse are living separate and apart due to a breakdown in your spousal relationship; or
  • all the money in your locked-in account came from the pension plan of your former spouse (see explanation in Part 3 above).

If your spouse consents, your spouse must fill in Part 4 of the application and sign and date it. There is no requirement for a witness to your spouse’s signature.

If your spouse is not sure about the legal consequences of signing the consent, they should seek legal advice. Your spouse does not have to sign. But if spousal consent is required and your spouse does not consent, the financial institution must refuse your application.

Your spouse must indicate that they understand that:

  • you (the owner of the locked-in account) are making an application to unlock and take out money from the account;
  • if the circumstances require spousal consent, you cannot take out the money from the locked-in account without your spouse’s consent;
  • as long as this money is kept in the locked-in account, your spouse may have a right to a share of this money (this would happen if there is a breakdown in your spousal relationship or if you die); and
  • if any money is taken out from the locked-in account, your spouse may lose any right that they have to a share of the money taken out.

If the financial institution is not satisfied that your spouse understands what they are signing, it may refuse the application. The financial institution may request proof of your spouse’s identity and spousal status.