---
title: "Apply for income assistance (welfare)"
url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance"
description: "Apply for income assistance (welfare) in Canada: run by each province and territory. Who handles it in all 13 provinces and territories. From official sources."
site: "Canada Service Map"
author: "Mahmoud Halat"
publisher: "Space & Story"
lastReviewed: "2026-10-13"
licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data."
---
# Apply for income assistance (welfare)

Provincial or territorial service · Benefits and money

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 13 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

## Short answer

If you cannot pay for food and shelter, your province or territory's income assistance program can help. In Ontario it is Ontario Works.

Each province and territory runs its own. Find yours in the table below.

## Payment dates by province

- [Ontario Works (Ontario)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/ontario): Next payment: 30 October 2026. All dates: 30 January 2026, 27 February 2026, 31 March 2026, 30 April 2026, 29 May 2026, 30 June 2026, 31 July 2026, 31 August 2026, 29 September 2026, 30 October 2026, 30 November 2026. Each payment is for the following month, so the November 30 payment covers December 2026. Source: [ontario.ca](https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-works), checked 13 October 2026.
- [B.C. income assistance (British Columbia)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/british-columbia): Next payment: 21 October 2026. All dates: 21 January 2026, 25 February 2026, 25 March 2026, 22 April 2026, 27 May 2026, 24 June 2026, 29 July 2026, 26 August 2026, 23 September 2026, 21 October 2026, 18 November 2026, 16 December 2026, 20 January 2027, 24 February 2027, 24 March 2027, 21 April 2027, 19 May 2027, 23 June 2027, 21 July 2027, 25 August 2027, 22 September 2027, 20 October 2027, 24 November 2027, 22 December 2027. Each payment is for the following month, so the December 16, 2026 payment covers January 2027. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/payment-dates), checked 13 October 2026.
- [Alberta Income Support (Alberta)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/alberta): Next payment: 27 October 2026. All dates: 27 January 2026, 24 February 2026, 26 March 2026, 27 April 2026, 26 May 2026, 25 June 2026, 28 July 2026, 26 August 2026, 24 September 2026, 27 October 2026, 25 November 2026, 22 December 2026. These are direct deposit dates for the following month; cheques are mailed two business days earlier. Source: [alberta.ca](https://www.alberta.ca/aish-adap-and-income-support-payment-dates), checked 13 October 2026.
- [Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) (Saskatchewan)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/saskatchewan): Next payment: 29 October 2026. All dates: 29 January 2026, 26 February 2026, 30 March 2026, 29 April 2026, 28 May 2026, 29 June 2026, 29 July 2026, 28 August 2026, 29 September 2026, 29 October 2026, 27 November 2026. These are direct deposit dates for the following month; mailed cheques go out a few days earlier. Source: [saskatchewan.ca](https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/financial-help/payment-dates-for-social-services), checked 13 October 2026.
- [Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) (Manitoba)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/manitoba): Next payment: 28 October 2026. All dates: 27 March 2026, 28 April 2026, 27 May 2026, 26 June 2026, 29 July 2026, 27 August 2026, 25 September 2026, 28 October 2026, 26 November 2026, 29 December 2026, 27 January 2027, 24 February 2027, 25 March 2027. These are direct deposit dates for the following month's benefits; mailed cheques are dated a little later. Source: [gov.mb.ca](https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/eia/), checked 13 October 2026.
- [Québec Social Assistance Program and Aim for Employment Program (Quebec)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/quebec): Next payment: 30 October 2026. All dates: 30 January 2026, 27 February 2026, 1 April 2026, 1 May 2026, 1 June 2026, 30 June 2026, 31 July 2026, 1 September 2026, 1 October 2026, 30 October 2026, 1 December 2026, 30 December 2026. The page gives these as the current year's dates without printing the year, and it was last updated October 1, 2026. Source: [quebec.ca](https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/social-assistance-programs-financial-assistance/benefit-amounts-and-payment-dates/benefit-payment-dates), checked 13 October 2026.
- [Nova Scotia Income Assistance (Nova Scotia)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/nova-scotia): Next payment: 28 October 2026. All dates: 28 January 2026, 29 January 2026, 30 January 2026, 25 February 2026, 26 February 2026, 27 February 2026, 27 March 2026, 30 March 2026, 31 March 2026, 28 April 2026, 29 April 2026, 30 April 2026, 27 May 2026, 28 May 2026, 29 May 2026, 26 June 2026, 29 June 2026, 30 June 2026, 29 July 2026, 30 July 2026, 31 July 2026, 27 August 2026, 28 August 2026, 31 August 2026, 25 September 2026, 28 September 2026, 29 September 2026, 28 October 2026, 29 October 2026, 30 October 2026, 26 November 2026, 27 November 2026, 30 November 2026, 29 December 2026, 30 December 2026, 31 December 2026. Each month's payment is delivered over three days near the end of the month before, so the list has three dates per month. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/coms/employment/income_assistance/information-for-clients.html), checked 13 October 2026.

Every benefit: [Benefit payment dates](https://canadaservicemap.ca/benefit-payment-dates).

## In every province and territory

Who handles it in each province and territory, with the official link.

| Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| [British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/british-columbia) | Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction | [Apply for income assistance](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/apply-for-assistance), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Alberta](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/alberta) | Alberta Supports, Income Support (Government of Alberta) | [Apply for Income Support](https://www.alberta.ca/income-support-how-to-apply), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Saskatchewan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/saskatchewan) | Saskatchewan Income Support (Ministry of Social Services) | [Apply for income support](https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/financial-help/saskatchewan-income-support-sis), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Manitoba](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/manitoba) | Employment and Income Assistance (Manitoba Families) | [How to apply](https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/eia/apply.html), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply by phone or in person; there is no online application. |
| [Ontario](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/ontario) | Ontario Works (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, delivered by municipalities) | [Apply for Ontario Works](https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-works), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Quebec](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/quebec) | Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (Services Québec) | [Apply for financial assistance](https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/social-assistance-programs-financial-assistance/applying-last-resort-financial-assistance), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [New Brunswick](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/new-brunswick) | Department of Social Development | [Social Assistance Program](https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.10295.Social_Assistance_Program.html), checked 12 October 2026 | Start by calling 1-833-733-7835 for screening; an appointment follows to complete the application. |
| [Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/nova-scotia) | Employment Support and Income Assistance (Department of Opportunities and Social Development) | [How to apply](https://novascotia.ca/coms/employment/income_assistance/HowtoApply.html), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply by phone at 1-877-424-1177 or at a local office; there is no online application. |
| [Prince Edward Island](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/prince-edward-island) | Social Assistance Program (Department of Social Development and Seniors, Government of PEI) | None on record | Call 1-877-569-0546 to be screened; eligible applicants then get an intake appointment. |
| [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/newfoundland-and-labrador) | Income Support, Department of Social Supports and Well-Being | [How to apply](https://www.gov.nl.ca/sswb/income-support/application/), checked 12 October 2026 | No online application; apply by phone at 1-877-729-7888 or by mail or fax. |
| [Yukon](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/yukon) | Social Assistance (Government of Yukon, Health and Social Services) | None on record | Start by phoning or visiting a social assistance office. |
| [Northwest Territories](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/northwest-territories) | Income Security Programs, ECE Service Centres (Department of Education, Culture and Employment) | [How to apply](https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/services/income-security-programs/income-assistance-program), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person at your local ECE Service Centre, where a Client Navigator can help. |
| [Nunavut](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/nunavut) | Income Assistance (Nunavut Department of Family Services) | [Find your local office](https://www.gov.nu.ca/en/social-supports/income-assistance-office-list), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person with the Income Assistance worker in your community. |

## More

- [Apply for Employment Insurance (EI)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/employment-insurance)
- [Canada Pension Plan disability benefits](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/cpp-disability)
- [Canada Disability Benefit](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/canada-disability-benefit)
- [Disability Tax Credit (DTC)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/disability-tax-credit)
- [Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/groceries-essentials-benefit)
- [Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/canada-workers-benefit)

## Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Apply for income assistance (welfare)", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance