What is the Social Assistance Program?
Amount for 1 adult
Adult with no limited capacity for employment
Calculation including an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $800
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $845
Adult with a temporarily limited capacity for employment
Calculation including a temporarily limited capacity allowance and an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $800
- Temporarily limited capacity allowance: $169
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $1,014
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of 1 adult (with or without a temporarily limited capacity for employment) is $200. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for the spouse of a student
Spouse of a student with no limited capacity for employment
Calculation including an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $220
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $265
Spouse of a student with a temporarily limited capacity for employment
Calculation including a temporarily limited capacity allowance and an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $220
- Temporarily limited capacity allowance: $169
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $434
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of the spouse of a student (with or without a temporarily limited capacity for employment) is $200. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for a person sheltered in an institution
Detail
A person may be sheltered in one of the following institutions:
- A rehabilitation centre
- A residential and long-term care centre (CHSLD)
Amount
To find out the benefit amount, visit the website of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of a sheltered person is $200. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for an independent adult undergoing social reintegration
Detail
An independent adult undergoing social reintegration is required to reside in a halfway house.
For the purposes of this provision, a halfway house means
- a community residential centre
- a community shelter
- a foster home
Amount
To find out the benefit amount, visit the website of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of an independent adult residing in a halfway house is $200. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for an independent adult receiving addiction services
Detail
An independent adult may be required to stay in a centre that offers addiction services.
Amount
To find out the benefit amount, visit the website of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of an independent adult receiving addiction services is $200. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for a minor sheltered with her dependent child
Detail
A minor may be sheltered with her dependent child in one of the following institutions:
- A rehabilitation centre
- A residential and long-term care centre (CHSLD)
Amount
To find out the benefit amount, visit the website of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of a minor sheltered with her dependent child is $200. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for 2 adults
2 adults with no limited capacity for employment
Calculation including an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $1,238
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $1,283
2 adults with a temporarily limited capacity for employment
Calculation including a temporarily limited capacity allowance and an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $1,238
- Temporarily limited capacity allowance: $291
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $1,574
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of 2 adults (with or without a temporarily limited capacity for employment) is $300. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Amount for 2 adults in different situations
Detail
One adult has temporarily limited capacity to work and the other does not.
Amount
Calculation including a temporarily limited capacity allowance and an adjustment:
- Basic benefit: $1,238
- Temporarily limited capacity allowance: $169
- Adjustment: $45
- Total benefit: $1,452
Allowable work income
Income may be earned without reducing the benefit amount. The allowable work income in the case of 2 adults where 1 has a temporarily limited capacity for employment and the other does not is $300. Adults will be entitled to an additional amount if they receive at least $1 in benefits. This amount is equal to 25% of the amount that exceeds the allowable work income.
Calculation example of the work income supplement
Here’s an example of someone receiving $845 a month in social assistance.
In addition to their benefits, this person works and receives a monthly wage of $360. In this example, the wage is $160 higher than the excluded work income, which is set at $200 for a single person.
$160 will therefore be withdrawn from their benefits.
$845 - $160 = $685
Their benefits are $685 after accounting for their work income.
With the application of the work income supplement, 25% of the amounts in excess of the work income excluded from the calculation will be added to their benefits, which is $40 in this example (25% x $160).
$685 + $40 = $725
Their monthly benefits will therefore be $725.
Benefit payment dates
To find out the dates on which payments are made, consult the following section: Benefit payment dates for the current year.
You can view the date of your next benefit payments in your online file.
Last update: January 5, 2026