Making a voluntary declaration to the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

The Voluntary Declaration Program allows you to rectify your situation.

It is intended for people who have not fully revealed their true situation, or who have revealed it in part. It is also intended for people who have made an incomplete or inaccurate declaration of their situation. 

This program is designed for people who receive or have received financial assistance from social assistance or employment services. The Québec Parental Insurance Plan is not covered by the Program. 

Let's take the example of someone who has made a false declaration. If her voluntary declaration is admissible, she will avoid the consequences of a false declaration.

Learn more about the possible consequences of a false declaration. See the section False declaration from the page About the Payment of a debt made to the Ministère. 

In addition, a false declaration may reduce the amount of financial assistance received. See the page Paying a debt if you are still receiving financial assistance from the Ministère. 

A false declaration can also cancel any benefits you may have in the following programs 

• social assistance 
• social solidarity 
• basic income 

To qualify for the Voluntary Declaration Program, your declaration must be voluntary, complete and verifiable. As a general rule, you can only benefit from the Program once.

Your declaration must be voluntary. You must make your declaration before the Ministère undertakes an audit or investigation. You must also declare facts or omissions that have never been verified or investigated. 

Your declaration must be complete. You must provide all the required information on your situation during the period covered by the declaration: 

• address 
• marital and family status 
• property 
• cash (liquid assets) 
• income 
• etc. 

Your declaration must be verifiable. You must provide all the information and documents required to analyze your voluntary declaration request. It must be possible to check that the information entered in the declaration is correct. 

To submit your voluntary declaration, you must complete the form: Voluntary Declaration program (PDF 660 Kb). 

Send your application

You can send your voluntary declaration application form by mail or fax. 

Request a self-addressed envelope for the Voluntary Declaration Program from your Services Québec office. 

Use this envelope to submit your form confidentially. 

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a written decision informing you whether or not you are eligible for the Voluntary Declaration Program.

Receiving a decision of ineligibility

The decision informs you that you are not eligible for the Voluntary Declaration Program. Most decisions are accompanied by a notice of claim. See the section Pay a debt owed to the Ministère to find out how collections work. 

Request an administrative review

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can request an administrative review of the decision. You must fill in the Administrative reconsideration - Voluntary Declaration Program form (PDF 408 Kb) to submit your request. 

You have 30 calendar days to submit your application for reconsideration. The decision is final and without appeal. 

The decision informs you that you are eligible for the Voluntary Declaration Program.

Most decisions are accompanied by a notice of claim. See the section Pay a deb to the Ministère to find out how collections work. 

If you are not satisfied with a notice of claim, you can request a review. You have 90 calendar days to submit your request for review. See the page Requesting a review of a decision to the Ministère from the Ministère. 

You have received the decision on your request for review and are not satisfied. You can contest the decision before the Tribunal administratif du Québec . 

Find out more about the Voluntary Declaration Program. 

Cadre normatif du Programme de déclaration volontaire (French only) (PDF 271 Kb)

Individual and Family Assistance Regulation 

Individual and Family Assistance Act