Updated July 2026. Quebec’s Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale runs three distinct last-resort financial assistance programs, each with its own eligibility rules and payment amount. All three pay on the first business day of each month, covering that month’s benefits.
Three Programs, Three Different Purposes
- Social Assistance Program (Aide sociale): for low-income individuals who aren’t severely limited in their ability to work, with an expectation of engaging in job-seeking activities
- Social Solidarity Program (Solidarité sociale): for people with significant, documented limitations to employment capacity due to health issues — medical documentation is required to qualify
- Basic Income Program (Revenu de base): launched in January 2023 for individuals who’ve been on Social Solidarity for an extended period, with eligible recipients automatically enrolled rather than needing to apply separately
2026 Payment Amounts (Single Person)
- Social Assistance: approximately $845/month, following a 2.05% indexation increase for 2026
- Social Solidarity: $1,215/month
- Basic Income: $1,336/month base benefit, plus a $371/month single-person adjustment — roughly $1,707/month combined
All three programs index automatically on January 1 each year based on the indexation factor set under Quebec’s Tax Law, so amounts adjust annually without recipients needing to reapply.
How Payments Work
Payments are issued on the first business day of each month to cover that same month’s benefits — direct deposit recipients see funds early on the payment date, while cheque recipients should expect mail delivery around the same time. Direct deposit is the faster, more reliable option if you’re not already using it.
Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Social Assistance and Social Solidarity.
