You may be eligible for the shelter allowance program for the period from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, if you meet all the requirements.

Questionnaire

To find out if you are entitled to the shelter allowance, you can complete a brief questionnaire. It will only take a few minutes to complete.

If you have a spouse but you do not live together, choose individual or one of the single-parent family options.

• Individual 50 or Over Living Alone
• Couple With no Dependent Children in Which at Least One Person Is 50 or Over
• Couple With One Dependent Child
• Couple With Two or More Dependent Children
• Single-Parent Family With One or Two Dependent Children
• Single-Parent Family With Three or More Dependent Children

If none of the situations above apply, you are not entitled to the shelter allowance.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for the shelter allowance if you meet all the following conditions:

• You live in Québec.
• You were not exempt from income tax for 2024.
• When you apply (or on October 1, 2025, if you apply before that date), you or your spouse (if you have one) are in one of these situations:
  • You own the dwelling you live in.
  • You rent an eligible dwelling (room, apartment or house).
  • You live with a person you pay rent to.
• You or your spouse (if you have one) has at least one dependent child or will be 50 or over by September 30, 2026.
• If you were living in Québec on December 31, 2024, you and your spouse (if you have one) filed a Québec income tax return for 2024. If not, you must complete one and attach it to your application.
• On December 31, 2024, the total value of your (and your spouse's, if you have one) bank accounts, tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) and investments did not exceed $50,000. First home savings accounts (FHSAs) and registered plans (RRSP, RDSP, LIRA, RRIF, etc.) are not included in the $50,000.
• You spent at least 30% of your family income for 2024 on housing. To find out how to calculate this, see Calculating the Percentage of Your Income You Spend on Housing.
• Your 2024 family income is less than the maximum for the shelter allowance, based on your family situation and the percentage of your income you spend on housing (see below).

Maximum income

Maximum income for an unreduced amount

To be eligible for an unreduced amount, your family income must not exceed the maximum for your family situation as shown in the table below.

Family situation	Maximum family income
Individual 50 or over living alone	$22,900
Childless couple in which at least one person is 50 or over	$32,200
Couple with one child	$39,500
Single-parent family with one or two children	$39,500
Couple with two or more children	$45,500
Single-parent family with three or more children	$45,500

Maximum income for a reduced amount

If you meet the eligibility requirements but your family income is greater than the maximum in the table above, you may qualify for a reduced amount.

Your family income must then be less than the maximum in the table below. The maximums for a reduced amount are based on your family situation and the percentage of your income that you spend on housing. (see Calculating the Percentage of Your Income You Spend on Housing).

Family situation	Maximum family income based on the percentage of income spent on housing
	30% to 49%	50% to 79%	80% or more
Individual 50 or over living alone	$24,100	$24,700	$24,940
Childless couple in which at least one person is 50 or over	$33,400	$34,000	$34,240
Couple with one child	$40,700	$41,300	$41,540
Single-parent family with one or two children	$40,700	$41,300	$41,540
Couple with two or more children	$46,700	$47,300	$47,540
Single-parent family with three or more children	$46,700	$47,300	$47,540