Taking Steps to Enter the Labour Market as a Social Assistance Recipient

Jean-Paul and Judy have been together for five years. Jean-Paul held a few factory jobs before working at a loading facility. After several years with the company, it went out of business. Jean-Paul has not been able to find another job since. His partner, Judy, cannot work due to a medical condition.

After exhausting their employment insurance benefits, Jean-Paul and Judy had to apply for financial assistance to support themselves. A few months later, Jean-Paul went to a Services Québec office with the goal of re-entering the labour market.

Here are the steps he took:

1. Jean-Paul had a meeting with an employment assistance officer to assess his needs and goals.
2. After this assessment, the officer presented him with various programs that could suit him.
3. Jean-Paul decided to participate in a targeted initiative for older workers.
4. After a few weeks in the program, Jean-Paul started a part-time job at minimum wage.
5. Even though Jean-Paul now has employment income, he and Judy are still eligible for financial assistance benefits and the claim slip.
6. One month later, the employment assistance officer followed up with Jean-Paul. He is motivated and really enjoys his job. He can use his skills and develop new ones.

Patrick dropped out of school when he was 16. Since then, he has moved from job to job, sometimes receiving last-resort financial assistance. He is often criticized for being late and for getting into conflicts with coworkers. He was fired from his last job because of this.

Since Patrick needs money and wants to work, he turned to a local employability services organization (in French only).

Here are the steps he took:

1. Patrick met with a representative from the organization several times. These meetings helped him understand why he was having trouble holding a job and how to overcome these challenges.
2. He then did some workplace internships arranged by the local Services Québec office. He received an allowance for participating in the program and kept his claim slip.
3. In addition to the internships, Patrick updated his résumé (CV) and received guidance and support in his job search.
4. Patrick landed a full-time job, which allowed him to stop receiving last-resort financial assistance.
5. Patrick still gets support from the organization’s representative. They discuss the situations he encounters at work and try to find positive solutions.
6. By participating in a Services Québec program, in collaboration with an employability services organization, Patrick was able to increase his income and develop strategies to keep his job.

Lucie lives alone with her 5-year-old daughter. She used to work the night shift at a restaurant before her daughter was born. She quit her job because it was difficult to balance work and family life. She has been receiving benefits under the Social Assistance Program for the past five years. With her daughter starting school, she wants to take the opportunity to re-enter the labour market. She does not know where to start and needs help.

Here are the steps she took:

1. Lucie had a meeting with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office.
2. The officer suggested various options, including going back to school.
3. After consulting with a career counsellor and discussing the matter with the employment assistance officer, Lucie decided to enroll in a training program through the Manpower Training measure.
4. Throughout her training, which lasted a year and a half, Lucie received an employment assistance allowance, a single-parent family supplement and reimbursement for school daycare expenses. She was also able to keep her claim slip and receive guidance and support from the employment assistance officer.
5. Since her graduation, Lucie has been working full-time in her new field.

By working with Services Québec, Lucie was able to earn a diploma and increase her disposable income.

Carlos and Maria settled in Québec with their two children. When they arrived, they applied for financial assistance to support their family. They now seek support in finding work and want to put the skills they acquired in their country of origin to good use. Here are the steps Carlos took:

1. Carlos wanted to start working right away, so he met with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office.
2. The officer offered Carlos various employment assistance services to help him get his first work experience in Québec. By participating in a program, he was entitled to financial support, including reimbursement for transportation and childcare expenses.
3. Carlos eventually got a part-time job at a food processing plant, a field in which he had already worked in his country of origin.
4. After a few months, he decided to work full-time and even received a promotion.

Here are the steps Maria took:

1. Seeing her partner happy in his new job, Maria wanted to follow suit.
2. She met with an employment assistance officer. Together, they decided that she should participate in the Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities (PRIIME).
3. After completing a few steps, she managed to get a job as an administrative assistant. This job allows her to put her existing knowledge of various software programs to good use.

By both entering the workforce, Carlos and Maria have increased their family income and made the most of their professional skills. They were also able to keep their claim slips for six months.

Simon has a disability. He is receiving benefits under the Basic Income Program. Simon wants to find a job adapted to his disability.

Here are the steps he took:

1. Simon called the Centre de communication à la clientèle. Following the call, the person who spoke with Simon arranged for an employment assistance officer to contact him and assess his needs.
2. After a few phone meetings, the officer referred Simon to an organization that supports people with disabilities in their job search. By participating in meetings, Simon was entitled to additional payments that did not affect his basic income.  
3. Since Simon has a degree in computer science, the organization helped him find a part-time job in that field. In addition, Simon’s employer received reimbursement for the expenses incurred for adapting his workstation through a program offered by Services Québec.
4. Despite working, Simon is still eligible for the Basic Income Program since his annual income remains below the program’s income limits.