How the benefit is calculated

If your cash resources are greater than the exemptions allowed, this will result in the refusal of your application or a reduction in the financial assistance that will be granted. 

Your cash resources (i.e. your cash assets) include

• the amounts you have on hand or in a bank account;
• your short-term marketable assets, such as term deposits or savings bonds.

You may, under certain conditions, benefit from an exemption that allows you to deposit certain amounts in an account at a financial institution for a specific project. This is the Individual Development Account. 

Funds in your possession at the time of your application 

The maximum amount of money you can have at the time of your application depends on your situation and the composition of your family.

For a family comprising one adult and

• 0 dependent child, the maximum amount is $887;
• 1 dependent child, the maximum amount is $1,268;
• 2 dependent children, the maximum amount is $1,502;
• 3 or more dependent children, the maximum amount is $1,782, plus $280 for each additional dependent child.

In addition, an amount of $205 is added for each dependent child who receives the supplement for handicapped children from Retraite Québec. 

For a family comprising two adults and 

• 0 dependent child, the maximum amount is $1,319;
• 1 dependent child, the maximum amount is $1,573;
• 2 dependent children, the maximum amount is $1,807;
• 3 or more dependent children, the maximum amount is $2,087, plus $280 for each additional dependent child.

In addition, an amount of $205 is added for each dependent child who receives the supplement for handicapped children from Retraite Québec. 

For a student's spouse and 

• 0 dependent child, the maximum amount is $887;
• 1 dependent child, the maximum amount is $1,193;
• 2 dependent children, the maximum amount is $1,473;
• 3 or more dependent children, the maximum amount is $1,753, plus $280 for each additional dependent child.

In addition, an amount of $205 is added for each dependent child who receives the supplement for handicapped children from Retraite Québec. 

The maximum amount for a minor who is accommodated is $887.

These amounts are increased and special treatment is applied if you are in one of the following situations:

• you only benefit from the claim slips (or drug card) granted for a limited period of time;
• you have completed participation in the Alternative jeunesse program or in a specific program (Support program for collectively dismissed workers, Support program for older workers or Financial support program for pregnant minors).

The maximum amounts you can own without changing your benefit are as follows: 

• $1,500 for a single adult;
• $1,500 for a minor staying with a child;
• $1,500 for a student's spouse;
• 2,500 for a family. Depending on the number of dependent children, other amounts may be excluded from the calculation of liquid assets.

The maximum amounts you can own without changing your benefit are as follows: 

• $2,500 for a single adult;
• $2,500 for a minor staying with a child;
• $2,500 for a student's spouse;
• 5,000 for a family. Depending on the number of dependent children, other amounts may be excluded from the liquid asset calculation.

The value of your property will be considered in determining your eligibility.

If the value of your property exceeds the allowable exemptions, your application will be denied or your financial assistance will be reduced. This is the case, among others, for buildings (residence, cottage, land, etc.) and vehicles (car, snowmobile, etc.) that you own. 

Are you eligible for the Social Assistance Program?

The net worth of certain assets, such as your home (house and land), is excluded from the calculation to a maximum of $171,201.

The market value of your automobile is excluded up to a maximum of $10,000. 

Are you eligible for the Social Solidarity Program?

The value of certain assets and the value of liquid assets are excluded up to a maximum of $245,052. 

The main assets and liquid assets covered are as follows: 

• real estate (residence, farm in operation, cottage, land, etc.);
• certain types of liquid assets (registered retirement savings plan, registered education savings plan, etc.);
• assets and liquid assets received by way of succession (inheritance) during a month in which you are receiving benefits.

The market value of your automobile is excluded from the calculation up to $10,000. 

Depending on whether you are receiving social assistance or social solidarity, other amounts may also be excluded from the calculation.

Your income may come from, among other things,

• a job;
• an alimony payment;
• a pension from Retraite Québec ;
• compensation from the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail ; 
• From the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec ;
• Benefits from the Régime québécois d'assurance parentale ; 
• employment assistance benefits.

Your earnings and the employment assistance allowance you receive for your participation in a program are subtracted from your benefit. However, for certain earnings, part of these amounts is excluded from the calculation of your benefit depending on your family composition.

When you apply for social assistance benefits, the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity must assess whether your parents should help you support yourself.

Indeed, in certain circumstances, parents are expected to make a contribution to the support of their adult child receiving social assistance.

The amount of the parents' contribution is based on their income. This amount reduces the amount of the social assistance benefit by the same amount.

The parents' contribution is taken into account in the calculation of the benefit, for a maximum period of three years. This contribution is reassessed annually.

The annual amount of the parental contribution is the amount of the total income of the parents, after deduction of the exemptions:

• $32,233 if both parents live together;
• $26,310 for each parent if they do not live together or if one parent cannot be found or is deceased.

The amount obtained is divided by 12 (months) since the amount of the parental contribution is established on a monthly basis.

The parental contribution does not apply to the Social Solidarity Program.

Filling out the forms

When a child who is still dependent on his or her parents submits an application under the Social Assistance Program, the parents must provide information about their situation.

If you answered Yes to any of the questions in the form Parental Contribution – Preliminary Information (SR-2103A) (PDF 65 Kb), you do not need to complete the formsParental Contribution – Additional Information (SR-2101A) and Parental Contribution – Information on the Parents’ Circumstances (SR-2102) below.

If you answered No to the questions on the Parental Contribution – Preliminary Information form (SR-2103A), you must also complete the Parental Contribution – Additional Information form (SR-2101A) (PDF 246 Kb).

At the request of a departmental officer, your parents may have to complete the Parental Contribution – Information on the Parents’ Circumstances form (SR-2102A) (PDF 836 Kb).

The Individual Development Account (CDI) allows you to open an account, following authorization from the Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, in a financial institution and accumulate up to $5,000 for a specific project (health care, return to school, training, purchase of an automobile, etc.), without reducing your benefits.

To benefit from the Individual Development Account, you must meet certain conditions, such as being a person receiving social assistance benefits, and agreeing that the amount deposited in your Individual Development Account will be used solely for the realization of your project.