1.10 - Incarcerated Clients

Clients who are remanded to a correctional institution for more than 30 days may not be entitled to assistance benefits .
 

Applicants leaving a provincial correctional institution who do not have a permanent address may be entitled to basic assistance benefits if staying at an emergency shelter or if using the local probation office's address. This allows the individual to receive funds as soon as possible upon being released, thereby reducing the probability of the individual reoffending.

Applicants leaving a provincial correctional institution may be screened prior to being released as part of their discharge plan. If deemed potentially eligible for basic assistance benefits, the applicant will remain screened in and an Office Registration appointment is made with a Needs Assessment Specialist. For example, if an inmate has a release date of March 31st, the inmate may be screened in on March 2nd and have an appointment date for the release date of March 31.

If eligible, the applicant will receive basic assistance benefits effective the date of the office registration. After one month, if the client does not have a permanent address he may be considered as experiencing homelessness.

Once released from the correctional institution, applicants must apply at the office where they will be living.