• This is the highest rate category available for Social Assistance consisting of those with long-term disability, or having a severely limited disease or injury determined by the list of diagnosis (i.e. mentally challenged, severe learning disability, Autism, severe Rheumatoid Arthritis etc.)
• Clients in this category are not expected to be able to work or support themselves if they are able to be employed.

• This category consists of those who are over 20 weeks pregnant or have children under the age of 5, people over the age of 58, or people who have an illness or injury that is not long term.
• Clients may participate in work measures or programs but must request to participate. Those who are providing compassionate care at home would be placed in this category.

• This category is for those able to work and are enrolled in a full-time high school program. Full-time study is a minimum of 24 hours in school per week. There are some instances where a person is in a vocational program, or a special measure, however, may be ineligible for funding through Tewatonhnhi'sáktha.

• This category is for those under the age of 58 and capable of working with no limitations. Special Measures and employment opportunities are targeted toward this category.
• This category clients have the requirement of meeting with an Employment Counselor from Tewatonhnhi'sáktha and should take either academic or vocational courses or be actively looking for employment.

• This category is for those who reside in the Hospital (determined to be long-term care or if Rehabilitation is longer than 45 days). This rate is based on the lodging or sheltered costs being paid through an alternate funding source.

This is a mixed category for 1 Available Adult and 1 Unavailable Adult.

This is a mixed category for 1 Available Adult & 1 Adult who is participating in a measure.

This is a mixed category for 1 Unavailable Adult & 1 Adult who is participating in a measure.

For young individuals from ages 18-25 who are single and have not ever worked to support themselves and who would normally fall under Parental Contribution. This program is for 6 months. Within this timeframe they are required to meet with an Employment counselor from Tewa and should take either academic or vocational courses or be looking for employment.

This category is for 2 adults where one partner has low-income work and the other has an established severe limitation. This program has an Income cap to qualify, and a medical report is required. This may be replaced by the Quebec program called Quebec Basic Income established in 2023, information to come.

This category is for someone who has finished school in April and is returning for the fall session but has a mortgage or rental expenses. They must establish their efforts for summer employment.

Required documents for application

A new Social Assistance application requires the following documentation depending on your need for the initial interview. Further documents may be required after the appointment.

• Status Card (applicant, spouse)
• Medicare Card (applicant, spouse, dependents)
• Social Insurance Card (applicant, spouse)
• Social Security Card (applicant, spouse)
• Driver’s license or Learner’s Permit (if applicable) (applicant, spouse)
• Vehicle Registration and Proof of Insurance (applicant, spouse)
• Banking Information 60 days of all account transactions (applicant, spouse)
• Hydro/ Oil/ Propane/ Telephone bill/ cell phone bill/ Mortgage payment (applicant, spouse)
• Proof of Residence (applicant, spouse)
• High School Diploma/ High School Leaving Certificate/ GED Equivalency Certificate/ Professional or Vocational Certificates (applicant, spouse)
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (applicant, spouse)
• Federal Canada Child Tax and Provincial Child Assistance Notices
• Record of Employment or Letter from Employer stating last day worked

Monthly Returns

Each month clients who are not working part-time are required to bring their return to the Social Assistance office between the 1st and the 15th.

Part-time workers are required to bring their work information to the Social Assistance office before the 25th to provide their income for the month so their employment income will be determined. Those who earn less than their determined benefit will have their income supplemented with the difference between their earnings and their monthly Social Assistance benefit, ensuring their needs are being met.

File updates [changes to family, employment, and income]

It is the responsibility of the client to update their file as soon as a change to their situation which determined their benefit occurs. The change could be the composition of household or spouse, residence, employment, income, or education.

Active seeking of employment

Clients without any limitations are expected to actively seek employment.

Active seeking of financial support

Clients must apply for other sources of income they may be entitled to prior to Social Assistance. Social Assistance is a last resort income. These incomes may be through Employment Insurance, QPIP, SAAQ, MSI, etc.

In the event they need income immediately, they must reimburse Social Assistance for any time period covered by the other source of income, if approved.

• If a person, or couple, has part-time employment they must report their earnings.
• A single person can earn $200 or less without a deduction within the month. Once earnings are more than the $200 allowable monthly amount, Social Assistance will offset your earnings up to your established rate of benefit ensuring you have the minimum amount needed to support yourself.
• A couple can earn $300 per month before their income is offset to their minimum benefit amount.

• If your bank account shows a regular deposit into your account in the month being evaluated, it is considered income.
• Donations, a bill payment on your behalf, or gifts can be received. They are one-time occurrences. The allowable amount is $100 a month.
• Birthday gifts that are yearly and customary, are allowable, if a financial gift remains in the account for more than the month of occurrence, it is subject to the allowable bank balance amount.
• Allowable bank balances for a single person, with or without children, is $1,500. The amount above is deducted at 2% of funds exceeding the allowable balance.
• Allowable bank balances for 2 adults are a combined $2,500. The amount is deducted at 2% of funds exceeding the allowable balance.

If you play a game of chance, the one-time gain is considered liquid assets for the month it was received. If the amount is less than the allowable bank balance with a single person at $1,500 and a two-adult family at $2,500 then there is no deduction.

All settlement amounts for class actions are not taken into consideration and must be established through documentation as a settlement to the client themselves. Assets purchased with the claim proceeds, such as vehicles, are exempt from deductions.

Each year, families with school aged children are provided with a school clothing allowance. Families are required to apply for the allowance, and it is issued in August.

• If a client has a dependant who has died, they can request a benefit to help assist with the funeral expenses within 90 days of their passing.
• A death benefit can be processed on behalf of a family member who was a Social Assistance recipient. The benefit is for those clients who did not have insurance payable upon death. The benefit is payable directly to the company providing Funeral services.
• Those who were 65 years or older and passed can have their estate apply for the benefit if they were low-income pensioners and did not have any insurances.
• Those who were not receiving Social Assistance but who’s estate does not have the means to pay for the services may apply for the Death Benefit.

A benefit for fire can be provided if a Social Assistance client suffers a loss from fire.

A one-time living expense may also be provided.

If a person is moving because of a separation, or as a result of a health issue, they are entitled to a benefit once per 12-month period unless a second move is court ordered within that time.

If a person is installing or repairing their heating system, they are eligible for a benefit for the costs of labour up to $200.

If a client fails to report income or a change in assets, or withholds information concealing income, they will have their benefit deducted, by an amount determined by the provincial regulations, each month, until the overpayment is resolved.

In the event they are no longer eligible for Social Assistance because of employment or income, they are responsible to repay the benefits they received while they had the employment or income. The former client will be sent a statement annually for the total amount of benefits provided to them until the money is repaid.

When a beneficiary feels that a decision to their file is unsatisfactory and the resulting benefit(s) are unfair, the opportunity to appeal the decision is available.

• The letter of appeal shall be addressed to and by the General Manager of Social Assistance.
• An appeal shall be submitted in writing by the beneficiary within 5 days of the decision in question.
• The beneficiary may request help in writing the letter of appeal from their Case Officer.
• A copy of the decision in question must accompany the letter of appeal. Decisions are sent in the form of a cheque or a negative decision document.
• The beneficiary can also present their facts in person if they wish to do so.
• Pending the appeal, the decision, and its conditions (with some exceptions) will stand until the General Manager has rendered a new decision. If the appeal cannot be addressed within 5 working days and any reduction or cancellation of benefits will prove detrimental to the beneficiary's quality of life, an advance may be made to assist them.

• The appeal decision shall be rendered in consultation with the Director of Client Based Services, within 5 days of the application determination.
• A written account of the appeal decision shall be given to the beneficiary, and their Case Officer.
• If the appeal decision is still unsatisfactory to the beneficiary, a second and final opportunity to appeal is available.

• The beneficiary may make a request for a final appeal to the Client Based Services Committee if the decision of the first appeal is still unsatisfactory.
• The beneficiary must submit a written request to the CBS committee within 5 working days of the initial appeal decision,
• A copy of the initial appeal decision must accompany the request for final appeal as well as a copy of the original decision of the Case Officer.
• The beneficiary shall also have the opportunity to give an in-person account of the facts in regard to the appeal.
• The final appeal committee consists of:
  • The three organizational representatives (KEC, TEWA and KSCS) and between two and four CBS portfolio Chiefs (All of whom participating may not have a conflict of interest with the beneficiary)
  • Appeal decisions shall be based primarily on existing rules and regulations however some flexibility and sensitivity may be exercised.

• A decision must be rendered within 5 working days of the application.
• A written report of the decision of this committee will be entered into the beneficiary’s file with a copy mailed to their address.
• The decision of the CBSC is final.
  • • In the context of this procedure, a decision does not necessarily have to be a written notice, cheques are considered decisions when they reflect a reduction or adjustment in benefits.