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Getting help with costs in your region

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If you are sick or having trouble finding a job, you may need help paying for food, rent or medicine. There are different programs that can help you with some of these costs. Income assistance, also sometimes called financial assistance or social assistance, is for people who need help paying for these basic needs. If you apply for income assistance, you may want to talk to your case worker about your health and money concerns so they can get you the most help possible.

 
Programs in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP)

In Saskatchewan, you can apply for income assistance through the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP) if you need help paying for things like your food, rent, clothing and medicine. The amount of money you can get from SAP depends on how much money you make, the size of your family and where you live. When you apply for SAP, you may also be able to get other benefits, such as:

  • health benefits (such as prescription drugs, dental and eye care)
  • northern food allowance
  • money for utilities (heating and electricity)
  • travel allowance (for medical appointments or job interviews)
  • disability allowance
  • job training and help finding work

You can talk about your needs with your case worker when you apply for SAP to see if you can get these extra benefits. To apply for SAP, you can call the Social Services Contact Centre at 1-866-221-5200 or (306) 798-0660 in Regina. The TTY numbers are 1-866-995-0099 and (306) 787-1065 in Regina.  You can also visit your local Service Centre for more information.

If you need help getting job training or finding work, you can talk to your case worker.  They often have contacts with employment programs that may help you find a job or pay for child care if you get a job.

If you have a disability, the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program may be able to help you pay for your costs of living, such as food, rent and clothing, and your medical needs, such as transportation to appointments and special food. This program is for people with serious or long-term disabilities. It may or may not be available to people with chronic hepatitis C. It gives you the same amount of money as SAP but the rules are a bit different in order to meet the needs of people with disabilities. If you have a disability and you need extra help with getting things like special food to eat or transportation to your medical appointments, you can talk to your case worker to see if you can apply for SAID.

If your application for SAP or SAID is turned down or you think that the amount of your monthly cheque is wrong, you have the right to challenge the decision by making an appeal. An appeal can be made by talking to the unit administrator at your local service centre.

 
Programs in Canada

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

If you’ve worked before in Canada, your employer probably made deductions on your paycheque for Employment Insurance (EI) and CPP. When you retire (usually when you’re 65) you can collect CPP but CPP also has a disability program for people who can’t work because they’re sick.

Programs in Canada

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

If you've worked before in Canada, your employer probably made deductions on your paycheque for Employment Insurance (EI) and CPP. When you retire (usually when you're 65) you can collect CPP but CPP also has a disability program for people who can't work because they're sick. Click here for more information on how to apply for CPP Disability and remember you have the right to appeal if they say you don't qualify.

Employment Insurance (EI)

EI is a program for people who have stopped working because they were laid off (EI Regular Benefits), had a baby (EI Maternity and Parental Benefits) or are too sick to work (EI Sick Benefits). EI payments cover a shorter period of time and it's for people who have had a job in the last year or so.

Jobs with Benefits

Some jobs come with sick pay or disability benefits that can pay you if you have to stop working. You can ask your Human Resources (HR) department what coverage you have at work. You can also ask about Employment Assistance Programs (EAPs) which help people with short-term counselling or referrals.

Published 2010.