What an administrator of financial assistance granted to another person needs to know

The content of this page applies to the Social Assistance Program and the Social Solidarity Program.

The financial assistance granted to a person may include 

• the basic benefit amounts
• additional amounts (adjustments or allowances)
• special benefits

An administrator may be designated to administer the financial assistance granted to an independent adult or an adult couple. 

For the purposes of this page, “administrator” means a natural person and not a legal person (body, institution, etc.).

The financial assistance  

• must be used in a reasonable way 
• must be used for the sole benefit of the independent adult or the adult couple to whom the assistance is granted 
• must not benefit the administrator either directly or indirectly 

In this section:  

• Administer the financial assistance 
• Declare property and income 
• Declare cash resources 
• Keep supporting documents 
• Submit a report 

A person may administer the financial assistance granted to more than one adult or adult couple. 

The financial assistance must be administered separately for each adult or adult couple, in such manner that its use may be easily justified. 

The administrator is required to declare the adult’s property and income. 

The administrator must declare   

• property (house, cottage, land, vehicle, motorcycle, etc.) 
• work income (wages, tips, etc.) 
• gifts (sums of money or property) 

The administrator must also declare compensation and indemnities paid by, for example,  

• the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) 
• the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) 

The administrator must also declare benefits paid by, for example,  

• Retraite Québec 
• the Employment Insurance Program 
• the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) 
• the Canada Pension Plan 

The adult’s or adult couple’s situation may change at any time. The administrator must notify the Ministère of any change in the circumstances of the adult or the adult couple, as it could affect the amount of assistance granted. 

The administrator may consult 

• the maximum amount a recipient of the Social Assistance Program is allowed to hold;
• the maximum amount a recipient of the Social Solidarity Program is allowed to hold

Below the maximum amount, referred to as the basic exemption, the value of cash resources (liquid assets) does not affect the monthly amount of financial assistance.  

Other amounts (further exclusions) may also be excluded from liquid assets. These exemptions vary depending on the recipient’s family situation.

For example, in the case of an adult couple with dependent children under 18 years of age, the maximum amount of cash resources the family may hold is increased. However, the increase does not apply to an adult who is a minor sheltered with a dependent child.

Declare additional cash resources

Where the value of cash resources in a month exceeds the maximum amount, the excess amount is referred to as excess liquid assets. The excess resources reduce the amount of financial assistance received the following month. 

Example: The only cash resources an independent adult receiving financial assistance under the Social Solidarity Program holds is the money deposited in their bank account. The maximum amount the adult is allowed to have in the account is $2,500. 

Calculation of cash resources for the month of June:  

• Balance in the account on June 1: $3,000 
• Total expenses in June: $400  
• Balance in the account on June 30: $2,600 
• Maximum amount of cash resources: $2,500 
• Excess cash resources: $100 

The financial assistance granted for the month of July will be reduced by $100. 

The administrator must keep the vouchers for the expenses paid using the financial assistance. 

Keep

• bills/invoices 
• receipts 
• cash register receipts 

File the vouchers as they are received by  

• preparing an envelope for each month 
• putting each voucher in the appropriate envelope 

On request, the administrator must submit a report on the administration of the financial assistance.

Gather the following documents to serve as your report:  

• Bank statements for the account in which the financial assistance is deposited 
• Supporting documents for the expenses paid 

Make sure that every withdrawal and deposit can be justified. 

For further information on the administrator’s obligations, contact a Services Québec office.