Financial assistance for educational expenses is granted to cover the necessary expenses incurred while pursuing a program of study, namely, living expenses and tuition fees. The amount of financial assistance is calculated based on only the months during which the student is enrolled in full-time studies, or if the student is deemed full-time, or if the student is deemed enrolled in full-time studies, under the meaning of An Act Respecting Financial Assistance for Education Expenses.
Financial assistance for educational expenses is calculated to determine assistance for the period from September to August of the following year, inclusively. In general, it is deposited in the student’s account on the 28th of every month to cover the expenses of the subsequent month.
Generally speaking, living expenses considered under the income security program are apportioned over the periods in which they must be paid.
NEW APPLICATION
When a new application is filed, financial assistance for educational expenses is calculated in keeping with the attribution rules and accounts for the income received or to be received during the month of application.
Dropping out
When a client drops out of his program of study and files an application for income security, the amount of loans and bursaries received for the month of application is considered liquid assets. The amount of loans and bursaries that the adult or dependent child receives as a student is excluded if it is used for the purposes intended within six months of receipt. This liquid asset is excluded for the purpose of calculating the first and second asset tests.
Unsanctioned use of assistance
If the assistance from loans and bursaries is not used for the purposes intended, the amount used toward unsanctioned ends will be considered for the purpose of calculating assistance for the following month. The recipient is not deemed to have made unsanctioned use of assistance if part or all of the amount was used to:
- reimburse a student loan;
- pay tuition fees and living expenses within 6 months of having lost his student status;
- transfer this amount to an RRSP, an individual savings plan or an institutional savings plan recognized by the Minister or in a registered education savings plan.