Pre-natal Shelter Supplement
Last updated on April 17, 2024Overview
A pre-natal shelter supplement is provided to single pregnant recipients with no spouse and no dependent child. This supplement is intended to assist single pregnant recipients in meeting extra costs associated with securing or maintaining stable accommodation prior to the birth of their child.
Policy
Eligibility
Effective: August 1, 2023
A monthly pre-natal shelter supplement is provided to single pregnant recipients of income assistance, disability assistance, and hardship assistance (with no spouse and no dependent child). This supplement is intended to assist these recipients in securing stable accommodation prior to the birth of their child. It provides up to a maximum of $195 per month.
Recipients are eligible for pre-natal shelter supplement when a pregnancy is confirmed and confirmation of shelter costs above $500 – either at their existing residence or at the residence where they plan to move – is provided.
In the event that a pregnancy does not go to term, the recipient is eligible to receive the supplement for a transition period up to three months. The transition period can exceed the maximum eight month period. For example, a recipient whose pregnancy ends at the seventh month is eligible to receive the supplement for up to three months from the date the pregnancy ends.
Table: Period of Eligibility
|
Client |
Eligibility Begins |
Eligibility Ends |
|
Recipient |
with confirmation of pregnancy and shelter costs above $500 |
a maximum eight month period upon confirmed pregnancy |
|
Applicant |
from the date of application, with confirmation of pregnancy and shelter costs above $500 |
a maximum eight month period upon confirmed pregnancy |
Procedures
Issuing Pre-natal Shelter Supplement
Effective: September 19, 2008
Recipients must provide written confirmation of pregnancy and the expected date of delivery from either a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or a midwife. The confirmation must be written on letterhead or a prescription pad. The ministry is not responsible for any fees associated with required documentation.
The pre-natal shelter supplement can be issued to eligible recipients at the same time as the natal supplement, allowing recipients to submit one written confirmation of pregnancy for both supplements [see Related Links – Natal Supplement]. The written confirmation of pregnancy will be scanned and profiled and will be used as reference if the recipient has not yet found housing.
Recipients must provide a written document, unless already on the system, to verify the actual shelter cost is above a single person shelter allowance rate of $500 per month (i.e., rent receipt or rental agreement).
Recipients living in a room and board situation must provide a written document from their room and board provider, unless already on the system, to verify the actual shelter portion cost of the room and board is above a single person shelter allowance rate of $500 per month.
The supplement will be the difference between Unit 1 maximum shelter assistance ($500) and the actual total shelter costs, up to a maximum of $195 per month.
Recipients are not eligible to receive both pre-natal shelter supplement and the monthly shelter allowance top-up during the month their child is born. Exceptions will be made in the event of multiple births. In such an event, recipients are eligible for a shelter top-up according to family size, taking into account the amount of shelter allowance and pre-natal supplement that are already issued for that month.
Transition Period for Pre-natal Shelter Supplement
Effective: June 1, 2008
In the event that a pregnancy does not go to term, the recipient is eligible to receive the supplement for a transition period up to three months. The transition period can exceed the maximum eight month period. For example, a recipient whose pregnancy ends at the seventh month is eligible to receive the supplement for up to three months from the date the pregnancy ends.
A manual process must be completed in order to issue pre-natal shelter supplement to recipients where the pregnancy prematurely ends.
Recipients found eligible for pre-natal shelter supplement during the transition period must be advised by a ministry worker to reapply for this monthly supplement as it must be manually issued for up to three months. A comment must be added to the system noting the manual payment of the pre-natal shelter supplement for this transition period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question Is it necessary to request medical confirmation of pregnancy if the recipient is present in the office and it is obvious they are pregnant?
Answer Yes, regulation requires confirmation in writing from a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or midwife before eligibility for a natal supplement can be determined. However, only one note confirming pregnancy is required and can be used for both the Natal supplement and Pre-natal Shelter supplement.