Northwest Territories Income Assistance helps adults 19 and older pay for food, clothing, shelter and utilities when their income is below their needs. It is a month-to-month program run by Education, Culture and Employment (ECE): you apply for each month, and once you’re approved, ECE aims to issue your payment within 2 business days. The NWT doesn’t publish set payment dates.
How much you can get
Income Assistance has two main parts. The basic benefit is a set monthly amount for day-to-day needs, based on how many adults are in your family and where you live. On top of that, ECE pays your actual costs for rent or mortgage, heating fuel, power, water and sewage, if you qualify. Your income is then subtracted.
Basic benefit per month, from ECE’s April 2026 policy manual:
| Zone and communities | 1 adult | 2 adults |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1: Colville Lake, Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Tulita | $946 | $1,337 |
| Zone 2: Aklavik, Inuvik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Fort McPherson | $885 | $1,251 |
| Zone 3: Fort Liard, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Nahanni Butte, Sambaa K’e | $764 | $1,081 |
| Zone 4: Behchokǫ̀, Gamètì, Łutselk’e, Wekweètì, Whatì | $721 | $1,020 |
| Zone 5: Enterprise, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation | $706 | $998 |
| Zone 6: Dettah, Ndilǫ, Yellowknife | $573 | $810 |
If you live in room and board, you get a smaller basic benefit instead ($122 to $151 for one adult, depending on the zone), and ECE may help with the room and board cost.
Rent: if you rent, your name must be on the waitlist for low-cost or public housing to get the rent allowance. The allowance is based on the housing size your household needs; a single person qualifies for a room or a one-bedroom unit. Utilities are paid based on the due date on your bill.
Money you can keep: each adult can earn $500 a month, plus 25% of anything above that, without it reducing assistance. Up to $350 a month of unearned income per household is also left out.
Who qualifies
- You live in the Northwest Territories.
- You are 19 or older.
- Your needs (shelter, utilities, food and clothing) are greater than your income.
Seniors 60 and older, and adults 19 to 59 with a permanent or long-term disability, apply to a separate program: Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. You can’t get both at the same time. Leaving the NWT for more than 3 months, other than for medical care, also ends your eligibility.
How to apply
- Get an Income Assistance application from your local ECE Service Centre or from ECE’s forms and applications page.
- Take it to your local ECE Service Centre with your ID and information about your finances. A Client Navigator can help you fill it out.
- Hand in all your documents during the month you’re applying for. Applications must be received by the end of the month.
- For each month after that, fill out the monthly Reporting Form and send your supporting documents. You also fill out a full application once a year, or when your relationship status changes.
For help, call Income Security Programs at 867-767-9355 or toll-free 1-866-973-7252. Regional service centres: Beaufort Delta 867-678-8065, Dehcho 867-695-7338, North Slave 1-866-768-8145, Sahtu 867-587-7159, South Slave (Fort Smith) 867-872-7425 and South Slave (Hay River) 867-874-5050.
When it’s paid and how
The NWT doesn’t publish payment dates, so none are shown at the top of this page. Payments follow your monthly application instead. ECE’s service standards say it will:
- respond to your application within 3 business days of verifying all your documents; and
- if you’re approved, issue payment within 2 business days. Bank processing and mail time are extra.
Assistance is paid by cheque or direct deposit, or to a trustee. Rent and utilities can be paid straight to your landlord or utility company. The sooner you hand in your Reporting Form and documents each month, the sooner you’re paid.
If you use direct deposit and owe money to your bank, the bank may try to take the deposit, even though Income Assistance can’t legally be seized. Tell your Client Navigator if this happens.
Payment late or missing?
Allow 2 business days after approval, plus bank or mail time. If it still hasn’t arrived, call your Client Navigator or your ECE Service Centre, or 1-866-973-7252. Missing documents are the most common cause of delays. If you think ECE didn’t meet its service standards, you can fill out a Client Concern Form, and a Client Navigator can help you appeal a decision you disagree with.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords to release a payment. See common benefit scams.
Other help you might be missing
- NWT Child Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit for families with children under 18.
- NWT Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit and the Senior Home Heating Subsidy for seniors.
- The benefits checkup to see what else you may qualify for.
Common questions
What day is NWT Income Assistance paid?
There is no set day. Each month’s payment is issued within 2 business days of approval, once your Reporting Form and documents are verified.
How much is Income Assistance in Yellowknife for a single person?
The basic benefit is $573 a month for one adult in Yellowknife, Dettah or Ndilǫ. Your actual rent and utilities may be covered on top of that, if you qualify.
Do I have to apply every month?
Yes. Income Assistance is month to month. You send a Reporting Form for each month you need help, and it must be received by the end of that month.
Can I work and get Income Assistance in the NWT?
Yes. Each adult can earn $500 a month plus 25% of the rest without it being counted. Earnings above that reduce your assistance.
I’m 60 or older. Which program do I apply to?
Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. Applications open July 1 each year and are accepted any time after that.