Incidental Allowances

Policy

Income Assistance clients may receive the Incidental Allowance of $175 per month in addition to other benefits, provided they meet the conditions set out in this document. To qualify for the Incidental Allowance, Income Assistance recipients must be placed in the Community Living Assistance category and be disabled (with documentation) or have reached their 60th birthday.

 

To receive the Disabled Incidental Allowance, the client must be considered disabled from a medical point of view. A physician (or Registered Nurse in communities without a physician) must complete a Certificate of Disability form and the client must submit it to an Income Assistance Worker (IAW). The purpose of the Incidental Allowance is to help the client maintain their quality of life.

 

For the Aged Incidental Allowance, the client must have reached their 60th birthday.

 

Procedures

 

Aged Incidental Allowance

 

In the month where the client reaches their 60th birthday - or thereafter - the client becomes eligible for the Aged Incidental Allowance. This allowance totals $175 per month.

 

Income Assistance recipients may not receive the Incidental Allowance and the Aged Allowance at the same time.

 

 

Disabled Incidental Allowance

 

When the client identifies themselves as disabled, the IAW will ask the client to have their health professional complete the Certificate of Disability form. This form can then be placed in the client’s file and when the client is placed in the Community Living Assistance category, the client becomes eligible for the Incidental Allowance benefit.

 

The IAW may issue an additional $175 to the Head of Household (HOH) and spouse only. This may be done on the condition that each person has submitted a Certificate of Disability form.

 

Income Assistance recipients may not receive the Incidental Allowance and the Aged Allowance at the same time.

 

The client shall have the Certificate of Disability form completed every year. If the original Certificate of Disability form states that the client will only be considered disabled for a period of time, the IAW will ensure that a new form is submitted or the client stops receiving the Incidental Allowance benefit.