Basic Income Program

The Basic Income Program is intended for individuals with a persistent severely limited capacity for employment. It came into effect on January 1, 2023.

If you are eligible for the Basic Income Program, you can have higher basic income. You can work to earn more money without affecting your benefit amount. You can also have more property and more money without reducing your benefit.

You have no steps to take to be admitted to the Basic Income Program.

You are automatically admitted to this new program if you meet the following requirements: 

• You are already receiving benefits under the Social Solidarity Program.
• You have had severely limited capacity for employment for at least 66 months over the previous 72 months .

A few weeks prior to receiving the first payment under the Basic Income Program, you will be notified of your admission to the Program.
 

The basic income includes a basic benefit, to which adjustments can be added.

In 2023, the basic benefit is $1,211 per month, which is $14,532 for a period of one year.

This basic benefit is indexed each year.

Adjustments can be added to the basic benefit, such as:

• An adjustment for a single person ($337 per month, for a total of $4,044 per year)
• Adjustments for dependent children ($20 per month for a minor child and $345 per month for a child of full age who is attending a postsecondary educational institution)

Adjustments are indexed each year.

Income that affects the basic income amount

To determine the basic income, we take into account the total work income earned during the year. Therefore, the amount of your basic benefit depends on the income you entered on your Québec income tax return for the previous fiscal year.

You can earn up to $14,532 per year without decreasing your benefit. This amount is the basic annual exclusion.

If you have earned more than this amount during the year, your benefit will be reduced for the following year. Every dollar earned that exceeds $14,532 will decrease your annual benefit by 55 cents ($0.55).

Other income may affect your basic benefit, including the following:

• The amounts received as a retirement pension (e.g., Old Age Security pension) or the amounts received under a pension plan
• Benefits paid by the Régie des rentes du 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 per month (or $353 per month for a single person who has a dependent child)
• Support allowances received under a social assistance and support program that exceed $130 per month
• Maternity, paternity or adoption benefits, parental benefits, caregiving benefits or Employment Insurance benefits
• A spouse’s income, if it exceeds $28,000 per year

Income tax return

The Ministère needs to know your income for the previous tax year (January 1 to December 31) to determine the amount of your basic benefit. You must therefore ensure that you file your income tax returns each year with Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency.

Filing your income tax returns is also very beneficial to you. This can allow you to receive provincial and federal tax credits and have more money.

Free assistance is available to file your income tax returns. You can benefit from the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program, which is managed by Revenu Québec, or from the services offered at a tax clinic. Dial 211 or contact your local volunteer centre.

Cash (liquid assets) that affects the basic income amount

To determine the basic income, we take into account the cash you have in hand. For example, it could be cash, money you have in a checking or savings account, a term deposit, or funds deposited in a tax-free savings account (TFSA).

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

If you have more cash resources, your benefit will be reduced. Every dollar that exceeds $20,000 will decrease your benefit of the following month by $1.

Tangible assets and other property that affect the basic income amount

To determine the basic income, we take into account the tangible assets and other property that you have.

Your tangible assets and your other property are all the property you have, such as:

• your car, ATV or snowmobile
• your cottage or land
• your RRSP or RESP

If you receive an inheritance, it will be considered as property, which will also affect the amount of your basic income.

If the value of your property is $500,000 or less, your basic benefit will not decrease.

If the value of your property exceeds the limit, your benefit will be reduced. Every dollar that exceeds $500,000 will decrease your annual benefit by 15 cents ($0.15).

Note that the value of your main residence is excluded from the calculation of the basic income.

Caim slip and special benefits

You retain your right to the claim slip. Therefore, you can still benefit from dental care, pharmaceutical services and vision care that are covered by this plan.

You are entitled to the same special benefits as people who receive benefits under the Social Solidarity Program.

Refusal of admission to the Program

If you are unsure what decision to make when you receive the notice, do not hesitate to contact us. We can answer your questions and explain the benefits of the new program.

If you do not wish to receive benefits under the Basic Income Program, you must contact us to let us know. You can then continue to receive benefits under the Social Solidarity Program.

If you refuse admission to the Basic Income Program and you change your mind later, you can, at any time, inform the Ministère that you would like to be readmitted to the program. To do this, you must fill out the Application for a Change of Program – Admission to the Basic Income Program (PDF 181 Kb) form.

You may access your information easily through My Account – Employment Assistance – Social Assistance .

By creating your personalized online account, you will be able to send documents online and do things such as:

• Read the communications you receive from the Ministère
• Access your claim slips
• Check important dates

If you have not yet created your online account and wish to do so, please go to the Online services  section.

Note that you may create an account for a person you are responsible for.