The adult who meets one of the following criteria for independence is not deemed to receive a parental contribution and does not have to take any steps in this respect.
The criteria for independence are the following:
- Has provided for his or her own needs for 2 years;
- Has held full-time employment or received benefits;
- Is or has been married or bound by a civil union;
- Has cohabited with the same person for a period of 12 months;
- Has a dependent child;
- Has a Diploma of Vocational Studies or a Diploma of College Studies;
- Is at least in her 20th week of pregnancy;
- Has not been a student for at least 7 years.
When an adult does not meet any of the criteria for independence, he or she is deemed to receive a parental contribution, and must take the relevant steps, except in one of the special situations described in section 18.4.3.
An adult is considered to be INDEPENDENT of his or her parents and shall not be deemed to receive a parental contribution where he or she:
Has provided for his or her own needs* and resided elsewhere than at the place of residence of his or her father or mother:
The adult has simultaneously and for at least 2 years, provided for his or her own needs and resided elsewhere than at the place of residence of his or her father or mother.
The adult must have provided for his or her own needs without regular financial assistance from his or her parents.
Any period during which the person attended an educational institution on a full-time basis**, and any periods that occurred before the age of 16, are excluded.
The time in question may consist of cumulative periods TOTALLING 2 YEARS.
* An adult is considered to have provided for his or her needs where he or she has:
- been a client under a last resort financial assistance program except if he or she was assisted in addition to a financial assistance from his or her parents;
- been paid for work;
- received benefits comparable to income replacement or income insurance (QPP, SAAQ, CSST, employment insurance, etc.) or payments resulting from a disability or injury;
- resided in a rehabilitation centre or hospital centre or been placed in the care of a shelter home , a foster family or an intermediate resource;
- Has received sums to compensate for the loss of physical integrity or bodily injury;
- Has resided in a rehabilitation centre or hospital centre, or has been placed in the care of a shelter home, foster family, intermediate resource or guardian under the purview of the Youth Protection Act (YPA);
- Has been living somewhere other than with his or her parents and has provided for his or her needs through means other than parental assistance (begging, illegal activities, etc.);
- been an inmate;
- was helped by a spouse.
REMUNERATION received from employment or from an employment-assistance allowance received from Emploi-Québec, which is equivalent to the adult-benefit for a person without a limited capacity for employment (SAN) is sufficient for the person to provide for his or her needs.
Other factors which may enable the person to provide for his or her needs with an income below the adult-benefit for a person without a limited capacity for employment (SAN), such as sharing housing and food expenses, are also taken into account.
** An adult is deemed to have attended an educational institution on a full-time basis where he or she:
- at the secondary level: takes at least 15 hours of classes a week
- at the college level: takes at least 4 courses or 180 periods
- at the university level: is enrolled in courses totalling 12 credits per session.
- Postsecondary studies, i.e. at a college, university, or other school recognized by the Bar, the Chambre des notaires, the Ordre des comptables agréés, etc., if the adult is taking at least 4 courses or 180 periods at the college level, or is enrolled in courses totalling 12 credits per semester at the university level;
- Postsecondary studies, if the adult is deemed to be a full-time student.
Under the Education Act school attendance is compulsory until the age of 16. This criterion for independence is based on a similar rule stated in the Act respecting financial assistance for students regarding parental contributions with respect to the loans and grants system.
All children living in Quebec must attend school from the first day of the school year after they turn 6 until the last day of the school year for the year in which they turn 16 or the term in which they obtain a diploma issued by the MEES, whichever occurs first.
The last day of the school calendar is set at June 23 of each year.
Has helf full-time employment or received benefits:
The adult has for at least two years, held full-time employment or received, for such employment, employment insurance benefits, benefits from the CSST or the SAAQ or income insurance payments, even if he or she was residing with his or her father or mother;
The work must have been the person's primary activity, and the remuneration received must have been sufficient to provide for the person's needs.
Cumulative periods totalling 2 years are accepted.
Benefits are adjusted in the following month if the marriage or civil union occurs while the person is receiving assistance.
Living together as a COUPLE FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR
Is currently living with another person of the same or opposite sex and has, at one time, cohabited with that person for a period of not less than one year:
- Refer to section 3.1.6 for the conditions for being considered a "spouse".
- Where the person acquires this status, benefits are adjusted in the month following the month when 12 months of cohabitation are completed.
Has or has had a DEPENDENT CHILD:
This could mean the father, the mother or both parents if each assumes responsibility for the financial needs of the child. Benefits are adjusted in the month when the child becomes dependent, while the person is receiving assistance.
It could also mean a brother, sister, uncle, aunt or grandparent or an adult who has obtained custody under a decision of a court if proof is provided.
The person's independence from his or her parents may be established from the fact that the person has formed a family with a DEPENDENT child who was BORN VIABLE.
Holds a Diploma of College Studies or a Diploma of Vocational Studies
The adult who holds a Diploma of College Students (DCS) or a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) is not eligible for a parental contribution.
Note that the adult must have been issued a diploma. This criterion does not apply to adults who received equivalent credits but were not issued a diploma.
Is in at least her twentieth week of pregnancy and her condition is confirmed by the prescribed document (medical certificate or report, or certificate from a midwife)
The written report from the midwife must indicate the name and birthdate of the adult, the number of weeks of pregnancy and the due date.
Contribution ceases in the month following the later of:
- the month in which the required supporting document is produced;
OR
- the date indicated on the medical certificate, if the doctor was unable to produce it earlier;
OR
- the month in which the person reaches her 20th week of pregnancy.
Where a person has an ABORTION, medical or spontaneous (miscarriage) she again becomes a dependant.
Has not been a full-time student FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS since ceasing to be subject to compulsory school attendance (16 years of age or less if he or she obtained a diploma issued by the MEQ prior to the age of 16).
This time may consist of cumulative periods totaling 7 years, regardless of whether or not the person was living with his or her parents. When the time is not continuous, it is cumulative.
Any time before the age of 16 is subtracted from the total (except when he or she has received a diploma from the MEES prior to the age of 16).
Benefit is adjusted in the month following the one in which this criterion is met.
SUMMARY TABLE OF INDEPENDENCE CRITERIA
|
CRITERIA |
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED |
|
Has provided for his or her own needs AND lived outside the family home for at least 2 years.
|
Proof of residence outside the family home for this period. Proof of income for this period.
|
|
Has, for at least 2 years, held employment AND/OR received employment insurance benefits or parental insurance benefits of a sufficient amount to meet his or her needs.
|
Proof of work income or income replacement benefits.
|
|
Is or has been married or bound by a civil union.
|
Marriage certificate or certificate of civil union.
|
|
Is currently living together as a couple with another person of the same or opposite sex for a period of 12 consecutive months.
|
Written declaration from both spouses. Proof of cohabitation for a period of at least 12 months (e.g. lease).
|
|
Has or has had a dependent child. It may be a child who was born live but subsequently died.
|
The child’s long form birth certificate. Proof that the child was or is dependent. The child’s death certificate.
|
|
Holds a DCS (Diploma of College Studies) or a DVS (Diploma of Vocational Studies).
|
Photocopy of the original diploma.
|
|
Is in at least her 20th week of pregnancy.
|
Medical certificate (SR-40) or report signed by a midwife.
|
|
Has not been a full-time student for at least 7 years since ceasing to be subject to compulsory school attendance.
|
When the adult states the end date for his or her studies in the form “Application for Services – General Information” (3003A), no other proof is necessary. A written declaration is sufficient.
|