Yukon Social Assistance helps you pay for food, shelter, utilities and clothing when you don’t have enough money to live on. Under Yukon’s Social Assistance Regulation, it is paid in advance on the first day of each month, and you must hand in a monthly application form to keep getting it. The amount depends on your household size, where you live and your costs.
How much you can get
Your social worker adds up the allowances you qualify for and subtracts any income you have. These are Yukon’s rates from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026. “Area 2” means Carcross, Carmacks, Teslin, Haines Junction, Dawson City, Pelly Crossing, Mayo, Watson Lake, Ross River and Faro.
| Household size | Food, Whitehorse | Food, Area 2 | Food, Old Crow | Rent, up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $335 | $370 | $577 | $711 |
| 2 people | $638 | $704 | $1,102 | $960 |
| 3 people | $917 | $1,011 | $1,579 | $1,140 |
| 4 people | $1,162 | $1,280 | $2,003 | $1,170 (4 or more) |
All amounts are monthly. Rent is paid at your actual cost, up to the maximum. Food rates continue for larger households; the full rate sheet goes up to 10 people.
Other monthly allowances you may get:
- Fuel and utilities: set by season. For one person in Whitehorse it is $477 from June to September, $557 in October, April and May, and $635 from November to March. It is higher for larger households and outside Whitehorse.
- Clothing: $103 for each adult (14 and older) and $56 for each child aged 1 to 13.
- Incidentals: in Whitehorse, $72 for one person or $214 for two or more. It is higher in Area 2 ($82 or $236) and Old Crow ($131 or $368).
- Special diet: up to $47 a month per person, if a doctor recommends it.
- Yukon Supplementary Allowance: $250 a month if you’re 19 or older and either can’t work because of a severe or long-term disability, or are old enough for Old Age Security. You can also earn up to $3,900 a year that isn’t counted as income.
Extra help (Schedule B) may cover things like transportation, a phone, school costs, winter clothing and household items, depending on your situation. You may also get help with low-cost generic prescriptions if no other plan covers them, but you must get approval before you buy them.
Who qualifies
Social assistance is a last resort after you’ve tried other sources of income. You may be eligible if:
- you live in the Yukon;
- you don’t have enough money to meet your basic needs, and neither does your spouse or partner; and
- you, or the last working person in your relationship, don’t have a First Nation Status Number. If you do, ask Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada or your First Nation’s office for help instead.
You can’t get it if you’re visiting the Yukon or taking a post-secondary program. If you qualify for another government program, you must use that first. Leaving the Yukon ends your eligibility, except for approved medical travel or treatment for up to 6 months.
Money from work, EI, CPP, OAS, GIS, child support, loans, gifts and e-transfers counts as income. The Canada Child Benefit, the GST credit and the disability tax credit don’t.
How to apply
- Book an intake appointment. Phone the social assistance office in your community. In Whitehorse, call 867-667-5674 between 9 and 9:30 am on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.
- Gather your documents: 2 pieces of ID for each family member, proof of housing costs (lease, rental form, mortgage or utility bill), proof of income and assets (such as your notice of assessment or pay stubs), the employment history form your social worker emails you, and bank statements for the past 90 days printed on the day of your appointment.
- Go to the appointment. It takes 1 to 1.5 hours, and you can bring a support person. You’ll talk about your situation and any money you’ve received in the last 31 days, and sign forms.
If you’re approved, you’ll get a written decision and payments start once your eligibility is confirmed. If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for a review.
Payment dates and how it’s paid
Yukon’s Social Assistance Regulation says assistance is paid in advance on the first day of each month. The dates at the top of this page are the 1sts that fall on a business day. Yukon doesn’t say which day it pays when the 1st is a weekend or holiday, so those months aren’t shown. Ask your social worker.
You must apply every month. Hand in your monthly application form, with rent receipts, utility bills, pay stubs and bank statements as needed, by the 1st of the month before. For example:
| Assistance for | Hand in your form by | Report money you got during |
|---|---|---|
| October | September 1 | August 1 to 31 |
| November | October 1 | September 1 to 30 |
| December | November 1 | October 1 to 31 |
| January | December 1 | November 1 to 30 |
If you hand it in after the 15th of the month, your cheque may be late.
Payment late or missing?
First check that your monthly form went in on time. Then contact your social worker, or call 867-667-5674, email [email protected], or visit the office at 3168 3rd Avenue in Whitehorse. Yukon doesn’t publish a set number of days to wait.
Report changes right away, such as a new job, a move or someone joining or leaving your household. Missing documents or unreported changes are common reasons for a late or smaller payment.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords to release a payment. If you get a message about your benefits, call the office yourself. See common benefit scams.
Other help you might be missing
- Yukon Child Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit: monthly payments for families, not counted as income by social assistance.
- Yukon Seniors Income Supplement and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for low-income seniors.
- The benefits checkup to see what else you may qualify for.
Common questions
When is Yukon social assistance paid?
In advance on the first day of each month, as long as your monthly application form went in on time. The calendar at the top of this page shows the dates.
How much is social assistance in the Yukon for a single person?
In Whitehorse, a single person can get $335 for food, rent up to $711, $103 for clothing and $72 for incidentals, plus a seasonal fuel and utilities allowance. Your income is subtracted from the total.
Do I have to reapply every month?
Yes. You hand in a monthly application form by the 1st of the month before the month you need help for.
When do Yukon social assistance rates go up?
Every November 1, with the Whitehorse Consumer Price Index. The rates on this page run to October 31, 2026.
Can I work and still get social assistance?
Yes. If you can work, you must look for paid work, and you can still get help with basic needs while you work. Your earnings count as income, so your payment goes down.