On assistance

After you are approved for income assistance, you will receive:

• A monthly income assistance rate based on your situation and the size of your family unit. For example, you could get up to:
  • $1,060 if you are single
  • $1,650 if you and your spouse are both on assistance and you have no children
  • $1,405 if you are a single parent with one child 
  • $1,845 if you and your spouse are both on assistance and have one child
• Medical services plan coverage
• No-deductible PharmaCare prescription coverage

Depending on your circumstances, you may also get other expenses covered. If you have children, you'll keep basic health coverage. This includes Medical Services Plan and 100% coverage under PharmaCare for a full year after you leave income assistance for employment.

Earnings exemption

Effective January 1, 2024, the earnings exemption for people on income assistance are:

• For a single person or couples without children receiving income assistance: $600 a month
• For families with children: $900 a month
• For families with a child with a disability: $1,080 a month
• For single persons or families where at least one adult is in the Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers category: $1,080 a month

What you need to do each month

Action your employability plan

If you are on income assistance you may have to complete an employability plan. The activities in your plan will help you to be more ready for employment and be better connected to your community.

In certain circumstances, you may not have to complete an employability plan. If you think you shouldn’t have to complete an employability plan, call 1-866-866-0800 or visit your local office.

Some people can't work because they have persistent and multiple barriers to employment. If this applies to you, you might be able to get extra support while you’re on income assistance.

Submit your monthly report

When you are on income assistance, you must complete the monthly report form each month. This form is also known as the “cheque stub”. It is due by the fifth of each month.

The monthly report is a legal document that tells the government you are still in need. We’ll verify the information with private, provincial and federal agencies. We'll then use this information to determine your eligibility or the amount of your next assistance cheque.

You can submit your monthly report using My Self Serve. Or, you can complete the manual monthly report (PDF, 100KB) and either drop it off at your local office or mail it in each month.