Rights, Recourse and Obligations of Social Assistance Recipients

Recipients and participants have certain rights with respect to the services provided by the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.

Along with these rights come obligations that must be met. Any failure to meet these obligations may affect your eligibility for a program. It may also affect the amount of financial assistance you receive.

If you are receiving or applying for social assistance benefits, you can get help obtaining information about the programs and applying for financial assistance.

You can also have a person of your choice accompany you in the application process.

Furthermore, you have the right to consult your file and to apply for a review of a decision rendered regarding your file.

You must provide the necessary information and documents so we can

• verify your eligibility for a program
• determine the financial assistance to which you are entitled
• verify whether the parental contribution applies in your situation

Obligation to report your actual situation

If you have not reported your actual situation, the Ministère may consider reducing your benefits or even stopping payments.

If this happens, you will receive written notice giving you 10 days to respond or provide documentation regarding your situation.

Obligation to report a change in your family or financial situation

You must notify us as soon as any change occurs (birth, separation, new job, etc.). See the Reporting a Change in Your Situation page.

Obligation related to a right, property or liquid asset

You must not give away your property or financial resources (liquid assets) or waive any rights for the purpose of qualifying for a social assistance program or receiving a higher amount of financial assistance.

If you do not meet your obligations, your financial assistance may be reduced or discontinued.

This situation may arise as a result of an inaccurate or incomplete declaration. The Ministère may then recover the amount to which you were not entitled.

If you are eligible for another government program, you must agree to receive benefits from it, even if doing so will affect your social assistance benefits.

You must also seek recourse to obtain any amounts to which you may be entitled, such as child support.

Here are examples of agencies and departments that offer programs, services or benefits:

• The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) for a pension, compensation or other expenses
• Employment and Social Development Canada for Employment Insurance benefits or the Old Age Security pension
• The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) for compensation or other expenses
• Retraite Québec for a retirement pension, a disability pension or the Family Allowance
• The Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) for parental insurance benefits
• The Canada Revenue Agency for the Canada Child Benefit

The Ministère must

• review your application
• render a decision as soon as possible
• inform you of your rights and obligations
• inform you of the programs and services available

At your request, the Ministère must also

• help you file an application for review
• give you the opportunity to provide your comments and observations
• help you provide any missing documents for your file