Apply for Financial Help for Unemployed or Lower-Income People and Families

The amount of your assistance payment can be calculated  by adding up your needs, and then deducting your financial resources. This amount will depend on your family size, your needs and your income.

Types of financial assistance that may be available if you are eligible include:

• Adult Allowance — food, personal, travel, household and clothing needs
• Board and Room Allowance — includes clothing and personal needs
• Shelter Allowance — rent/ mortgage (maximum limits are set)
• Utility Allowance —power, gas, fuel oil, water, sewer and basic telephone 
• Northern Food Supplement — additional $50 per person per month is provided
• Advances — those that receive the adult allowance can request an advance for clothing and household needs. The advance is recovered from future payments.
• Special Needs — extra money may be available in some situations. Please discuss your needs with your worker.

Your worker will work with you to figure out the allowance for these needs, subtract your resources (the money you have) and then process your payment.

Adult Allowance and Board and Room Allowance Rates

* Children's basic needs paid through the federal Canada Child Benefit

Shelter Allowance Rates

Lloydminster, Regina, Saskatoon, Estevan and the bedroom communities of: Allan, Asquith, Balgonie, Belle Plaine, Bradwell, Buena Vista, Clavet, Colonsay, Dalmeny, Delisle, Disley, Dundurn, Edenwold, Elstow, Grand Coulee, Langham, Lumsden, Lumsden Beach, Martensville, Meacham, Osler, Pense, Pilot Butte, Regina Beach, Shields, Thode, Vanscoy, Warman, White City

Communities B
Creighton, Kindersley, La Loche, La Ronge, Macklin, Melville, Prince Albert, Rosetown, Weyburn, Yorkton

Communities C
Battleford, Fort Qu’Appelle, Humboldt, Meadow Lake, Melfort, Nipawin, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Swift Current, Watrous

Communities D
Other towns and rural areas

Any person who feels they are in financial need can apply for assistance under the Saskatchewan Assistance Program.

Financial need is determined by balancing allowable needs against available resources. When needs exceed available resources, financial assistance might be available.

Non-disabled Earners Income Exemptions

• Single $50 + 25% of the next $600 = Maximum $200.00
• Childless Couple $75 + 25% of the next $800 = Maximum $275.00
• Families $125.00

Earners with Disability Income Exemptions

• Single $200 + 25% of the next $500 = Maximum $325.00
• Childless Couple $250 + 25% of the next $700 = Maximum $425.00
• Families $200.00

You will need to provide documentation to support your application. We also recommend having them ready before you reach out to your nearest Social Services Office by phone or in-person at your application appointment.

The following are some examples of the required documentation:

• Shelter verification – documents to support if you are a renter such as your latest rent receipt
• Utilities – for example, current or previous month’s bill for power
• Assets – current bank statement (bearing client name and account number)
• Income – a hard copy of all non-exempt income such as pay stubs for current and previous month

Access the complete checklist to ensure you have all the documents needed.

To apply for SAP or to speak to an income assistance worker about the program, call:

Toll free:  1-866-221-5200
TTY:           1-866-995-0099