School Start-up Supplement

Effective: August 1, 2023

An annual school start-up supplement [see Rate Tables] may be provided to:

• a family unit eligible for income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance if the family unit includes a person under 19 years of age who is attending school full-time;
• a child in home of a relative (CIHR) who is attending school full-time.
• [For more information on the CIHR program, see Related Links – Child in Home of a Relative (CIHR).]

In the case of parents who have a shared custody court order or a shared parenting agreement filed in the court, the parent who has the child listed as a dependent on their case will receive the school start-up supplement. The parents are then expected to make their own arrangements for sharing the school start-up supplement

Eligible recipients can be enrolled in any type of full-time school, including:

• kindergarten, even though attendance may be for less than a full day
• home schooling recognized by the Ministry of Education and Child Care
• online schooling program or alternative school program recognized by the Ministry of Education and Child Care
• post-secondary or trades program recognized by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

Where the person who is under 19 cannot take a full courseload, due to health, disability or other reasons such as the youth requires only 2 courses to graduate, the ministry may issue the full amount of the school start-up supplement.

Effective: August 1, 2023

In most cases the supplement will be included in a family’s July payment for the August benefit month to help cover expenses for a person under 19 years of age who is entering or returning to school in September. 

However, in cases where a person under 19 years of age is entering or returning to school later in the school year, the supplement may be issued at that time.  If the person received a school start-up supplement in September, they would not be eligible for another supplement.