About the payment of a debt made to the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

You can pay your debt upon receipt of the notice of claim. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have 90 calendar days to contest it.

If you haven't contested or paid off your debt within 90 days, you will receive a collection certificate. This document confirms the amount of your debt. It allows the Ministère, without further notice, to take the necessary measures to be paid.

Can't pay the full amount of the debt following receipt of the collection certificate? In this case, a payment agreement may be established according to your actual ability to pay. 

Sometimes, two people may be forced to pay the same debt. This is what defines the solidarity of a debt. The Ministère may apply to any of these individuals for reimbursement. 

The Ministère or the Québec Parental Insurance Plan will send a notice of claim in certain situations.

Paying back any overpayments will be required 

• under the Social Assistance Program, the Social Solidarity Program, the Basic Income Program or the Aim for Employment Program 
• as part of an employment assistance allowance 
• in the context of grants, agreements and contracts for employment assistance services 

Paying back any overpayments will also be required in the following cases:   

• Financial assistance received pending, for example, compensation. 
• Amount paid to an immigrant sponsored by a guarantor under the Social Assistance Program or the Social Solidarity Program. The guarantor must pay back the amount received. 
• Amount received under the Québec Parental Insurance Plan to which a person is not entitled. 

A notice of claim for a false declaration is filed when a person

• does not disclose the requested information 
• transmits false information 
• hands over false documents 
• declares misleading and inaccurate statements 

Following a false declaration, 

• a collection fee may be added for amounts over $100 
• interest charges may be added each month until payment is made in full 
• higher deductions are made from benefit payments. 

Individual and Family Assistance Act: recovery  

Individual and Family Assistance Regulation: recovery  

Centre de services aux personnes parrainées (Sponsored Persons Service Centre) 

Act Respecting Parental Insurance: repayment of benefits  

Regulation under the Act respecting parental insurance: recovery