School Start-up Supplement
Last updated on August 15, 2023Overview
A school start-up supplement is provided to recipients of income assistance, disability assistance and hardship assistance to assist with extra costs associated with schooling for a person under 19 years of age.
This supplement is available under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.
Policy
Eligibility
Effective: August 1, 2023
An annual school start-up supplement [see Rate Tables] may be provided to:
- a family unit eligible for income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance if the family unit includes a person under 19 years of age who is attending school full-time;
- a child in home of a relative (CIHR) who is attending school full-time.
- [For more information on the CIHR program, see Related Links – Child in Home of a Relative (CIHR).]
In the case of parents who have a shared custody court order or a shared parenting agreement filed in the court, the parent who has the child listed as a dependent on their case will receive the school start-up supplement. The parents are then expected to make their own arrangements for sharing the school start-up supplement
Eligible recipients can be enrolled in any type of full-time school, including:
- kindergarten, even though attendance may be for less than a full day
- home schooling recognized by the Ministry of Education and Child Care
- online schooling program or alternative school program recognized by the Ministry of Education and Child Care
- post-secondary or trades program recognized by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Where the person who is under 19 cannot take a full courseload, due to health, disability or other reasons such as the youth requires only 2 courses to graduate, the ministry may issue the full amount of the school start-up supplement.
When Supplement Should be Issued
Effective: August 1, 2023
In most cases the supplement will be included in a family’s July payment for the August benefit month to help cover expenses for a person under 19 years of age who is entering or returning to school in September.
However, in cases where a person under 19 years of age is entering or returning to school later in the school year, the supplement may be issued at that time. If the person received a school start-up supplement in September, they would not be eligible for another supplement.
Procedures
Issuing a School Start-up Supplement
Effective: August 1, 2023
The School Start-up Supplement is automatically included in the payment issued for August for eligible recipients who have dependents in school.
If an eligible recipient did not receive the school start-up supplement in error, are new applicants, or to those who start school later in the school year, they can receive the supplement by direct deposit or an on-demand payment.
[For more information on methods of payment, see Related Links – Individual Case Management.]