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Financial Assistance Programs – Saskatchewan Income Support

Provided by: Government of Saskatchewan - Ministry of Social Services

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Service Description

Program helps people in need meet their basic needs. Provides a monthly financial benefit to individuals and families for shelter and basic needs. Clients receive one-on-one support from Social Services’ staff, who help to build skills, make effective connections to training and employment, and support positive choices to achieve goals.

For clients with complex challenges, the ministry may make direct payments of shelter benefits available for rent, utilities, and security deposits on their behalf. Clients may also receive help to pay bills through trusteeship and money management support services.   

Amount of benefit received depends on circumstances, which are assessed every month. 

Benefits include:

  • Basic Benefit – includes food, clothing, travel, personal and household items.
  • Shelter Benefit – includes rent, mortgage payments, utilities, taxes, and other shelter-related costs.
  • Other Benefits
    • Health and Safety
      • ​Household Health and Safety Benefit – up to $500 to help replace household items or set up a new residence due to a disaster or interpersonal violence.
      • Stabilization Benefit – $150 per month can be provided to support clients who have difficulty maintaining stable housing.
      • Short Term Emergency Assistance – may be considered to address emergency situations that are unforeseen and when failing to do so would result in harm.
      • Prescribed Diet Benefit – $50 – $100, depending on the conditions, for clients whose medical conditions require additional nutritional supplements or food.
      • Travel Benefit – outside of community for medical purposes, job interviews, or the commencement of employment at pre-determined rates for mileage, meals, and shelter.
      • Alternate Heating Benefit – $160 per month can be provided for clients who reside in a household where natural gas is not accessible and are required to heat their home with an alternate heat source.
    • Change in Circumstances
      • ​Employment and Training Benefit – $140 to help with costs of starting a career or beginning a training program.
      • Children’s Benefit – $400 for a parent who is not eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit for food, clothing, household items, and other child-related costs.
      • Child Care Benefit – $30 per dayto help in the short term when looking for employment or going to a job interview.
      • Relocation Benefit – $200 or $300, depending on household size, to assist with moving costs due to health and emergencies, evictions for reasons beyond client’s control, starting a job outside of the community or finding a more affordable place to live within the Shelter Benefit rates.
      • Travel Benefit – outside of the community for job interviews or commencement of employment at pre-determined rates for mileage, meals and shelter.
      • Security Deposit – can be provided up to amount of the Shelter Benefit.
      • Funeral Benefits – will be provided to support the costs of funerals.

Note: Payment dates for Saskatchewan Income Support are listed online.

Eligibility

Any person who needs financial help can apply for income support. You may be eligible if the following apply to you (and your spouse/partner, if you have one): - you are a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status, or are in Canada under the Canada Ukraine authorization for emergency travel; - you are living in Saskatchewan; - you are 18 years or older; - you have no income or low income; and - you have explored every other reasonable way to support yourself, including employment, seeking child support, etc.

Application Process

Apply Online:
1. Sign in or register to create a Saskatchewan account. You must have an active email address to apply online.
2. Allow 25 minutes or more to answer all the questions and attach documents that verify your information, such as pay stubs, rental agreements, etc.
3. You can access your online application any time, save and exit at any time, and return within 15 days to complete and submit your application. After 15 days, your application will expire and you will have to reapply.

Step-by-step instructions are available to download online.

Apply by Phone: call Social Services at 1-866-221-5200 (TTY 1-866-995-0099).

If you need additional help to complete an online application, or if you do not have access to the internet or a phone, visit the nearest Social Services Office where you can request help to complete an online application or access a computer or phone to complete and submit an application.

Documents Required

To apply, the following is needed:
- Application form completed online or over the phone
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Saskatchewan Health Services Number (HSN) - If you do not have a valid SIN or HSN, must provide verification that you have applied
- Information about your spouse/partner or children, including SIN and HSN;
- A bank account in your name
- Income information, such as pay stubs
- Details about money available to you, including cash, money in the bank, investments, RRSPs, stocks, bonds, GICs, etc.
- Details of items you own, such as property and vehicles
- Details on other benefits and/or pensions you are receiving
- Documents about your living situation such as a rental or tenancy agreement
- A bank statement for all account(s) in your and your spouses' name, if applicable.

You have 30 days from the date you apply to provide all the required information, including:
- A completed direct deposit authorization form, which can be downloaded online
- Information about any money you have, including cash, savings, investments, RRSPs, GICs, etc.
- Details of items you own, such as property and vehicles
- Information about any other benefits and/or pensions you are receiving
- Completion of the mandatory service questionnaire for yourself and, if applicable, your spouse.

Service Level Screening must be completed over the phone within 30 days of submitting the application.

TTY: 1-866-995-0099

Client Service Centre

Toll-Free: 1-866-221-5200

Client Service Centre

After-Hours: 1-877-823-1080

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Closed on all public holidays.

Service Website

www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/financial-help/saskatchewan-income-support-sis#benefits

Coverage Area

Saskatchewan

Languages Offered

English

Buffalo Narrows Service Centre

Address

310 Davey Street
Buffalo Narrows SK  S0M 0J0

Get Directions
Mailing Address

PO Box 220
Buffalo Narrows SK  S0M 0J0

Location Info

Hours of Operation

Contact for hours of operation.

211 Saskatchewan strives to make sure information is correct. However, there are often changes to community services, which means inaccuracies may be possible. The information presented by 211 Saskatchewan may be subject to change.

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