Shelter Allowance Program
The shelter allowance program provides financial assistance for the following types of low-income households that must spend too much of their budget on rent:
- individuals 54 years old or over
- couples in which one spouse is 54 years old or over
- families (workers, students, income-security recipients or other low-income families) with at least one dependent child
The shelter allowance program takes into account the number of persons in your household, the type of household you live in, your income and your monthly rent. You may receive an allowance of up to $80 per month.
The following persons do not qualify for the shelter allowance program:
- a person who lives in a low rental housing unit (HLM) or a government-funded health and social services centre
- a person who receives a rent supplement or another government housing subsidy
- a person or his or her spouse, where applicable, who has belongings or cash amounts that exceed $50,000 in value (excluding the value of the residence, land, furniture and car)
Lowering of the eligibility age
The eligibility age will be lowered gradually over five years, one year at a time, as of October 1, 2011.
Eligibility age for the shelter allowance program for persons living alone and couples without children
|
Date
|
Eligibility age
|
|
October 1, 2011
|
54
|
|
October 1, 2012
|
53
|
|
October 1, 2013
|
52
|
|
October 1, 2014
|
51
|
|
October 1, 2015
|
50
|
If you think you qualify for the shelter allowance program, contact an office of Revenu Québec to request a Shelter Allowance Application or Renewal Form. Please note that this form is not available on the Internet.
For further information, consult the brochure Shelter Allowance Program (IN-165-V) or visit the website of the Société d'habitation du Québec.