A person is eligible for the 66/72 benefit when he or she is recognized as having a severely limited capacity for employment for 66 months out of the last 72 months. Eligibility for the 66/72 benefit is on an individual basis, upon the criterion of 66 months being met. As of January 1, 2025, the amount to be paid to a person eligible for the 66/72 benefit is $379. This amount is over and above the basic rate paid to an adult with a severely limited capacity for employment and the adjustment of the basic benefit. However, to receive this amount, the client must be considered an independent adult and not have a spouse. If a person becomes eligible for the 66/72 benefit, but has a spouse, his or her file will be processed individually and the regulations for the 66/72 benefit will be applied.
Periods considered in calculating the time limit
- Months in which the parent of an adult applying for eligibility to the program received the supplement for handicapped children requiring exceptional care;
- Months in which a person was living in Quebec and received one of the following amounts:
- A disability pension or an additional amount for disability after retirement under the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan;
- A disability pension under the War Veterans Allowance Act;
- The months in which a recipient of the Social Solidarity Program or the Basic Income Program was receiving a benefit from one of these programs.
Couple’s file
When a person becomes eligible for the 66/72 benefit, the file of this person and his or her spouse must be separated and processed individually. However, to facilitate processing, a joint file may be kept under the same regulations as are applied with separate files.
Dependent child
The dependent child or children must be included in the file of the adult eligible for the 66/72 benefit. In the case where both parents are eligible for the 66/72 benefit, only one of the parents will have the dependent child recorded on his or her file. In the case of a blended family, for the child to be recognized as the dependent of the adult eligible for the 66/72 benefit, he or she must be related to this parent (by birth or adoption) or the parent must have been granted custody by a judgment and appointed as guardian by the Superior Court.
Additionally, the income, property and liquid assets of the dependent child are not taken into account in calculating the benefit of the adult eligible for the 66/72 benefit.
Employment measure
A person eligible for the 66/72 benefit may be eligible for the participation rate if he or she is participating in a social assistance transfer program such as academic upgrading.
Adjustment for dependent minors
Persons eligible for the 66/72 benefit are entitled to adjustments when they have dependent children. In such cases, the basic benefit will be increased by a monthly amount of $22 for each dependent minor child on file. This is a one-time adjustment paid regardless of other adjustments that are provided for in the program. However, the children will be considered dependents of the parent eligible for the 66/72 benefit. When a dependent child is added, this adjustment will be paid in the month following the one in which the change occurs. When a dependent child is removed, the adjustment will cease to be paid in the month following the one in which the change occurs. Additionally, this adjustment is indexed on January 1 of each year based on the indexation factor established by the Taxation Act.
No other adjustment will be granted for a dependent minor child in the file of a person eligible for the 66/72 benefit.
Adults who are sheltered or required to be sheltered for social rehabilitation or adults in the care of an intermediate or family-type resource are ineligible for the adjustment for a dependent child of full age.
Adjustment for a dependent child of full age
An adjustment will be provided to cover the basic needs of children of full age, as they are ineligible for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).
Adults who are sheltered or required to be sheltered for social rehabilitation or adults in the care of an intermediate or family-type resource are ineligible for the adjustment for a dependent child of full age.
Child of full age in vocational secondary or post-secondary education
The basic benefit of a person who is eligible for the 66/72 benefit will be increased by a monthly equivalent of $373 for each dependent child of full age who attends a vocational secondary or post-secondary school, regardless of whether the child resides with his or her parents.
When a dependent child is added, this adjustment will be paid in the month following the one in which the change occurs. When a dependent child is removed, the adjustment will cease to be paid in the month following the one in which the change occurs. Additionally, this adjustment is indexed on January 1 of each year based on the indexation factor established by the Taxation Act.
Child of full age in general secondary school
This adjustment is not available for a child of full age in a general secondary school. However, if the child is a dependent of a parent eligible for the 66/72 benefit, he or she may apply for financial assistance as an adult.
Special benefits
Some special benefits are payable only to single-parent families. Other benefits may also be payable when the entire family situation is taken into account. It is therefore important to determine whether a spouse is present or absent (for example, when applying for the special benefit for haemodialysis).
Calculation of the 66/72 benefit
The amount paid to a person eligible for the 66/72 benefit is established monthly based on the situation of the previous month. Additional amounts may be added depending on the situation:
- The amount of $343 for an adult without a spouse;
- The adjustment for a dependent minor child;
- The adjustment for a dependent child of full age.
Individuals in the following situations do not receive an adjustment to the basic benefit:
- Sheltered adult;
- Minor sheltered adult with his or her child;
- Adult required to stay in a halfway house.
Additionally, the following resources must be considered and subtracted from the benefit insofar as they are not excluded:
- The adult’s monthly included income;
- The adult’s and his or her spouse’s annual included income;
- The included value of the adult’s property;
- The liquid assets of the adult and of his or her spouse.
Note: The income, property and liquid assets of children are not considered in establishing the amount paid to the person eligible for the 66/72 benefit. The same applies for the assets of a spouse.
New application
The calculation of the amount paid to a person eligible for the 66/72 benefit for a new application is based on recognized needs, regardless of the number of days elapsed in the month (not prorated).
Couples file
When a person becomes eligible for the 66/72 benefit, the file of this person and his or her spouse must be separated and processed individually. However, to facilitate processing, a joint file may be kept under the same regulations as are applied with separate files.
When a dependent child is added, this adjustment is paid in the month following the one in which the change occurs. When a dependent child is removed, the adjustment ceases to be paid in the month following the one in which the change occurs. Additionally, this adjustment is indexed on January 1 of each year based on the indexation factor established by the Taxation Act.