Adjustments and Allowances that Affect Social Assistance Program Benefits

There are different types of adjustments and allowances depending on your personal and family situation.

An adjustment is an additional amount used to modify the amount of a benefit based on a specific situation.

An allowance is an additional amount that you may also receive if you have health-related limitations.

An adjustment to the basic benefit is an amount added to your monthly benefit. This amount takes into account your household composition and the program under which you are receiving benefits.

To meet your children’s basic needs, your family may receive adjustments for dependent children.

A child is considered dependent on their parents if they depend on them and meet one of the following criteria:

• They are under 18 years of age and are not married or the parent of a dependent child.
• They are 18 years of age or older, attend an educational institution, are not married, do not have a spouse and are not the parent of a dependent child. 

Adjustment for an adult with a handicapped dependent child

To help meet the essential needs of your handicapped child, your family may receive an adjustment for an adult with a handicapped dependent child.

To meet your handicapped child’s basic needs, your family may receive an adjustment for an adult with a handicapped dependent child.

The adjustment is paid regardless of the child’s occupation, subject to the following conditions:

• The handicapped dependent child is under 18 years of age and the parent receives the Supplement for Handicapped Children from Retraite Québec.
• The handicapped dependent child is 18 years of age or above, meets the criteria to be considered a dependent child, and the parent was receiving the Supplement for Handicapped Children from Retraite Québec when the child turned 18.

Adjustment for an adult who provides constant care

If you or a member of your family provides constant care to an adult, an adjustment may be added to your basic benefit.

The adult receiving constant care must have significantly reduced autonomy due to their physical or mental condition. The person may or may not live with you.

You may receive this adjustment even if you are

• the spouse of a person who receives constant care
• the spouse of an ineligible student who receives constant care
• a refugee claimant who provides constant care to someone

A single person may receive an additional amount called the “adjustment for single persons.”

You may receive this adjustment if you do not have health-related limitations and have been receiving social assistance for at least 6 consecutive months.  

Adults not eligible for the adjustment for single persons

Some single persons are not eligible for the adjustment for single persons. This applies in particular to adults who:

• live in subsidized housing, such as low-rental housing, co-operative housing, etc.
• are required to live in an institution for their social reintegration
• are living in a rehabilitation centre or a residential and long-term care centre (CHSLD)
• are cared for by an intermediate resource or a family-type resource
• are receiving addiction treatment services with accommodation and are entitled to the special benefit for living expenses
• are spouses of students

The calculation of your adjustment takes into account any amount that may be paid to you by Revenu Québec under the Shelter Allowance Program.

The allowance for health-related limitations is financial assistance that is added to the basic benefit. The amount varies depending on the situation of each adult in the family and on whether one or two adults have health-related limitations.

You may receive an allowance for health-related limitations in the following cases:

• Your physical or mental condition prevents you from participating in a job preparation, integration or retention activity for at least 1 month.
• You are at least 20 weeks pregnant or you gave birth within the last 18 weeks.
• Some situations make you ineligible for the allowance for health-related limitations, including:
  • living in a rehabilitation centre or a residential and long-term care centre (CHSLD)
  • being required to live in an institution
  • receiving addiction treatment services with accommodation and being entitled to the special benefit for living expenses
  • being a refugee claimant
  • receiving employment assistance allowances