Are you unable to pay for basic living costs such as food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities?
Social Assistance provides financial support to people who cannot afford basic living costs such as food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. It can also help you access programs to transition to employment.
If you are eligible for Social Assistance, the amount of money you receive depends on your situation, including the number of members in your household and all sources of income.
In addition to Social Assistance, the program may also help with other needs such as childcare, transportation, and prescription drugs, depending on your unique situation. For more information on benefits, click here.
The goal of Social Assistance is to help you reach your goals and become self-sufficient. We offer a wide range of programs and services to support you in moving forward.
If you are in need, you may qualify for Social Assistance. You may be eligible if:
- You are not working or not earning enough to meet your basic needs
- You are waiting for other sources of money to arrive
- You are unable to work
- You urgently need food, shelter or other necessities
To be eligible for Social Assistance, you must be:
- At least 19 years old, or as early as 18 years of age if you are disabled and eligible under the Extended Benefit Program (EBP).
- A resident of New Brunswick and not living in a First Nation community
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Unable to pay for your household’s basic needs
To determine if you are eligible, we add up all your household income from all sources. If your total household income is less than the rate for your family type, your household is likely eligible to receive financial help.
Gather the following information before you contact the Department of Social Development. You will need to provide:
- Your mailing address
- Your home address (if different from your mailing address)
- Your rental or mortgage costs
For every member in the household, you will need to provide:
- First and last name
- Birthdate
- Medicare number
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Income from all sources, including employment, Employment Insurance, etc.
- Assets, such as bank accounts, car, house, etc.
Call Social Development at 1-833-733-7835. An agent will take your call. They will ask questions to see if you may be eligible for Social Assistance.
If you may be eligible for Social Assistance, the agent will make an appointment for you to complete the application package and provide the required documents.
Once your application is complete, we will review the information to see if you meet the program’s financial requirements. We will also assess your employability.
Along with financial support, Social Assistance offers other areas of support, such as the Career Development Opportunities Program. This program can help you reach your goals. Click here to learn more about the Career Development Opportunities Program.
Along with your mailing and home addresses and rental/mortgage costs, please be prepared to provide the following for every member of your household:
First and last name
Birthdate
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Income from all sources, including employment, Employment Insurance, etc.
Assets, such as bank accounts, car, house, etc.
Medicare number