Basic Income Program Benefit Amounts

Basic income includes a basic benefit that is the same for every adult, to which other amounts may be added. In 2026, the basic benefit is $1,336 a month.

Additional amounts may be added to the basic benefit, for example:

• An adjustment for a single person (additional $371 a month)
• Adjustments for dependent children (additional $22 a month for a minor child and $381 a month for a child of full age pursuing postsecondary education)

Basic benefit and adjustment amounts are indexed (increased) each year.

The basic income calculation takes into account your property, your cash resources and your work income.

Income that affects the basic income amount

Your basic income amount depends, among other things, on the income you entered on your Québec income tax return for the previous tax year.

You can earn up to twelve times the basic income amount per year without it affecting the amount you receive. For the year 2026, this amount is $16,032.

If you earn more than this amount during the year, your benefits will be reduced for the following year. For every dollar ($1) you earn above $16,032, your annual benefit will be reduced by 55 cents ($0.55).

Other sources of income may affect your basic benefit, including:

• Amounts received as a retirement pension (e.g., Old Age Security) or amounts received under a pension plan
• Benefits paid by Retraite Québec, the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail or the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
• Employment assistance allowances that exceed $222 a month (or $353 a month for a single person with a dependent child)
• Support allowances received under a social assistance and support program that exceed $173 a month
• Maternity, paternity or adoption benefits, parental benefits, caregiving benefits or Employment Insurance benefits
• A spouse’s income, if it exceeds $30,881 per year

Cash resources that affect the basic income amount

The basic income calculation takes into account the cash you have. This includes the following funds:

• Hard cash
• Money in a bank account
• Term deposits
• Funds in a tax-free savings account (TFSA)

You can have up to $20,000 in cash resources without reducing your basic benefit.

If your cash exceeds this amount, your benefit will be reduced. Every dollar over $20,000 will reduce your benefit for the following month by $1.

Assets and other property whose value affects the basic income amount

The basic income calculation takes into account the assets and other property you own, including:

• your car, ATV or snowmobile
• your cottage or land
• your RRSP or RESP
• your inheritance (will be considered as a collection of assets)

If the value of your property exceeds $500,000, your benefit will be reduced. Every dollar ($1) over $500,000 will reduce the annual amount to which you are entitled by 15 cents ($0.15).

The value of your primary residence is excluded from the basic income calculation.  

Filing your income tax return

You must report your income for the previous year (January 1 to December 31) to the government. This amount is used to determine your basic benefit.

If you need help filing your income tax returns, various services are available to you free of charge.

You can take advantage of the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program, administered by Revenu Québec, or tax clinic services.

You can also call 211 or contact the volunteer centre in your region.