Social Assistance and Social Solidarity

The basic benefit is the maximum amount that can be paid to you. It varies depending on your situation. Benefits are adjusted (indexed) each year on January 1.

Since February 1, 2018, your basic benefit has been enhanced as a result of the announcement of the Government Action Plan to Foster Economic Inclusion and Social Participation 2017-2023 .

Other changes have come into effect, such as: 

• the increase in exclusions from work income for individuals and families receiving social solidarity benefits;
• the possible recognition of adult status for an adult child who is a secondary school student in general education and who is a member of a family benefiting from one of the social assistance programs;
• increase in the exemption for child support.

To determine whether you are entitled to last-resort financial assistance and to establish your benefit, an assessment of all the resources you have available (money in the bank, value of your home, etc.) will be made.

Some of your resources may be exempted or excluded, i.e. not taken into account in the calculation of your benefit. Certain situations may also be considered.

For more information on how the benefit is calculated, see How the benefit is calculated.

You may receive temporarily limites capacity allowance or additional amounts called "adjustments".

There are different types of adjustments depending on your situation and your family. An adjustment allows you to adapt the amount of a benefit to a particular situation. 

For example, if a person receiving social assistance or social solidarity benefits has two children aged 12 to 17, or if the children are in secondary vocational school or higher, they will receive an adjustment, an additional amount, to meet the needs of their children.

You can get information on the following adjustments and allowance:

• Adjustment of basic benefit
• Adjustments for dependent children
• Adjustment for single persons
• Temporarily limited capacity allowance.

Knowing the adjustments and allowances

A special benefit is an amount that is added to the basic benefit and is used to reimburse certain expenses related to

• a particular need (e.g. the purchase of glasses);
• a special situation (e.g. fire damage).

Steps to get a special benefit

Step 1: Obtain authorization

To obtain a special benefit, you may have to provide various documents. They will allow you to obtain authorization from a Services Québec office  to receive a special benefit. 

You do not need to obtain authorization for certain benefits, such as medical transportation or services covered by your claim slips.

Step 2: Provide documentation

Provide the documents that support your request, for example

• a prescription from a health professional;
• a medical certificate (SR-0040) (French only) (PDF 227 Kb);
• an estimate of the cost of a good or service.

Step 3: Provide proof of purchase

You must provide proof of purchase of the good or service, such as a receipt or invoice, or the special benefit request form given to you by your agent in order to receive reimbursement. 

Your documents or proofs of purchase may be sent using your online file.

Send documents

The special benefits are as follows:

• Dental care and dentures
• Drug addiction: living expenses
• Eye exam, glasses or contact lenses
• Funeral expenses
• Healthy baby and mother
• Medical transportation
• Medication: Cost estimate
• Relocation

The claim slips allows the provider and his family to obtain certain drugs and health services at no cost.

This booklet, also known as the drug card, is sent on the 1st of each month to recipients of the Social Assistance Program and the Social Solidarity Program.

Access the online claim slip

The slip is mailed or may be consulted in your online file.

Conditions of use of the claim slips

To obtain certain medications with the claim slips, the person must be eligible for the Social Assistance Program or the Social Solidarity Program.

In addition, the claimant must have received social assistance or social solidarity benefits for a certain number of months without interruption in order to obtain the following services with his or her claim slips:

• eye exam: 12 months;
• dentures: 24 months;
• dental: 12 months.