Stop Receiving Benefits under the Social Assistance Program or the Social Solidarity Program due to Employment

If you would like to improve your financial situation, you can do so by getting employment.

Having a job helps you 

  • get work experience 
  • increase your financial independence                       

Contact an employment assistance officer to find out about the possibilities available to you. You can find an employment assistance service using the Locator—Services Québec offices This hyperlink will open in a new window..

Determining your disposable income

SimulRevenu (French only) This hyperlink will open in a new window. is a simulation tool that enables you to quickly estimate your disposable income.

Claim slip

You are entitled to the claim slip because you are receiving social assistance or social solidarity benefits. You will retain your right to the claim slip for a certain period if you start working. 
The following table shows how long you will retain your right to the claim slip after starting a job

Type of beneficiaryDuration of the period 
Social assistance beneficiary6 months
Social solidarity beneficiary48 months

Here are a few examples of how it can be beneficial to hold a job:

Example 1: Couple with no children

John is 56 years old. He has a spouse, Judy.

John lost his job.

He and Judy were receiving social assistance benefits. By returning to the job market, they increased their disposable income.

They followed these steps:

  1. They met with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office This hyperlink will open in a new window..
  2. They participated in the Manpower Training measure.
  3. They applied their new skills by working a few hours a week.
  4. They worked part time (20 hours a week).
  5. After a few weeks, they both increased their work hours to 35 hours a week.

Example 2: Person living alone

Patrick is 38 years old.

He received social assistance benefits for three years.

He no longer receives social assistance benefits. Getting employment has allowed him to increase his income significantly.

He followed these steps:

  1. He met with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office This hyperlink will open in a new window..
  2. He took part in a job search club, entitling him to an allowance.
  3. He worked part time (20 hours a week) at minimum wage.
  4. After a few weeks, he began working full time.
  5. He is receiving the supplement to the work premium.

Example 3: Head of a single-parent family

Lucy, 26, lives alone with her 6-year-old daughter.

She had been receiving social assistance benefits for five years.

By returning to the job market, she increased her disposable income.

She followed these steps:

  1. She met with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office This hyperlink will open in a new window..
  2. She participated in the Manpower Training measure.
  3. She worked full time at minimum wage.
  4. After a few months, thanks to her professionalism and motivation, she received a wage increase.
  5. She is receiving the supplement to the work premium.

Example 4: Couple with children

Carl and Maria have two children, aged 7 and 9.

They had been receiving social assistance benefits for a year and a half.

By each finding a job, they increased their annual disposable income.

Carl followed these steps:

  1. He met with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office This hyperlink will open in a new window..
  2. He participated in the Employment Assistance Services measure, entitling him to an allowance.
  3. After searching for a few weeks, Carl found a part-time job (20 hours a week) at minimum wage.
  4. A few months later, he found full-time work.

Maria followed these steps:

  1. She took part in the Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities (PRIIME).
  2. She found full-time work at minimum wage.

Example 5: Handicapped person

Simon is 48 years old. He is considered a handicapped person. According to the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration, a handicapped person is “a person with a deficiency causing a significant and persistent disability, who is liable to encounter barriers in performing everyday activities”.

Simon had been receiving social solidarity benefits since the age of 18.

He no longer receives social solidarity benefits. Getting employment has allowed him to increase his income significantly.

He followed these steps:

  1. He met with an employment assistance officer at a Services Québec office.
  2. He received support from an organization that helps persons with disabilities in their job search, entitling him to an allowance.
  3. He worked part time (20 hours a week) at minimum wage.
  4. After a few weeks, he began working full time.
  5. He is receiving the Canada workers benefit (a basic amount and a disability supplement). The benefit is paid by the Canada Revenue Agency.
  6. He is receiving the supplement to the work premium.

Benefit amounts and payment dates

To find out the benefit amounts available, simply visit the following section: Benefit amounts for the current year.

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 amount and the date of your next benefit payments in your online file.

View the amounts and dates of the benefits