The spouse of a student is an adult whose spouse is a full-time student at the vocational secondary or post-secondary (college or university) level and who is ineligible. Assistance is provided only to cover the NEEDS OF ADULTS who are in this situation: the student and dependent children of either spouse are covered by the financial assistance granted by the Ministère de l'Éducation (MEQ).
Assistance provided for the spouse of a student is paid to an adult who is considered a spouse WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 19 of the Act. This may be an adult who:
- is married to and lives with a student;
- lives with a student as his or her spouse and is the parent of that student's child or children, the child does not necessarily have to be dependent on them;
- is of full age, is of the opposite or same sex, lives with a student of full age as his or her spouse and has lived with that person for at least a year.
For the TWELVE-MONTH COHABITATION PERIOD required to establish the status of spouse, the non‑student adult and his or her dependent children are eligible for the adult-benefit plus any adjustments for dependent children that are applicable to them as single persons or families. After this period, the provisions regarding spouses of students apply to the student’s spouse only.