You can get Yukon Social Assistance if you do not have enough money to meet your basic needs and:
- Your partner or spouse does not make enough money to meet your basic needs.
- You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You do not have a First Nation Status Number and/or the last working person in your relationship does not have a First Nation Status Number.
If you have a First Nation Status Number, you can ask for help from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) or your First Nation’s office.
A social worker will look at your food, shelter, and utility needs, as well as any and all money you have received in the 31 days before you apply. If all the money you received in the last 31 days is less than you need, you will likely be eligible for social assistance.
If you are eligible for child support or maintenance, you must apply to the Maintenance Enforcement Program. This is considered a financial resource and you must report it as income on your application for social assistance.
You need to bring:
- 2 pieces of personal identification (ID) for each family member;
- proof of housing costs. This can be a rental form, lease agreement, mortgage information or utility bill;
- proof of any income or assets. This can be a notice of assessment of your last tax return or recent pay stubs;
- the employment history form the social worker emailed to you; and
- bank statements from the past 90 days. Make sure these are printed on the date of your intake.
To start your social assistance application, you must set up an intake appointment with a social worker.
To schedule this appointment:
- If you live outside of Whitehorse, phone the social assistance office in your community.
- If you live in Whitehorse, phone the office in Whitehorse between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. You will complete a pre-intake appointment over the phone with a social worker. The social worker will speak with you to see if you are eligible for social assistance. If you are eligible, they will set you up with an intake appointment and email you form to complete before the intake appointment.
This first meeting with a social worker will last 1 to 1.5 hours. During this appointment your social worker will see if you are eligible for social assistance. You will have to sign some documents including a consent form and have the chance to tell your story. You can also bring a support person to this appointment if you want to. If you are married or live with your partner, they must attend the appointment with you.
To prepare for this intake appointment, you must bring:
- 2 pieces of personal ID for each family member
- A rental form, lease agreement, or mortgage information
- Documents that show money or assets (such as a Notice of Assessment for your last tax return or pay stubs)
- The social assistance report form that the social worker emailed to you
- The employment history form that the social worker emailed to you
- Bank statement from the past 90 days. These should be printed on the day of your intake.
After your intake appointment and if you are approved to receive social assistance, your assistance is assessed each month. You apply for assistance by submitting your assistance application card (ARC) along with any require documents, such as:
- Utility bills
- Job search documentation
- Rent receipts
- Pay stubs
- Bank statements
- Proof of child support or maintenance
You can submit your ARC close to 1 month before your regular assistance cheque. If you submit your ARC after the 15th of the month you may receive your cheque late.