Newcomer / immigrant

New to Canada? Here are some important benefits you should know about. You may also be able to get other benefits depending on your situation. View the ‘Starting points’ menu to see what situations apply to you or answer the ‘Questionnaire’ to get personalized recommendations.

New to Canada? Here are some benefits that you should know about that can help you as you get settled.

Common newcomer / immigrant benefits

disability support 

These benefits can help with things like income, transportation, or medical expenses if you or someone you know is living with a disability.

View the [Disability benefits compass](https://disability.benefitswayfinder.org/) for more information about the four key disability benefits (including federal benefits) for persons with disabilities in your province or territory.


Common disability support benefits

Disability support

caring for a child 

These benefits can help you with the costs of raising a child.

Common caring for a child benefits

Caring for a child

lost my job

These benefits can get you money while you figure out what's next.

Common lost my job benefits

Lost my job

medical support

These benefits  can help you pay for the costs of medical care, like drugs or special equipment.

Common medical support benefits

Medical support

emergency money need

If you have nowhere to stay, need money urgently to pay rent, are fleeing abuse, or have other urgent money needs, these benefits can help.

If you have an urgent money need such as: you have nowhere to stay, you need money urgently to pay rent, or you are fleeing abuse, these benefits can help.

Common emergency money need benefits

Emergency money need

housing support

These benefits can help you lower the cost of your housing expenses, like rent, heating, and electricity.

Common housing support benefits

Housing support

caring for an adult

These benefits can help with the costs of caring for another adult.

Common caring for an adult benefits

Caring for an adult

education costs

If you're a student or thinking about going back to school, these benefits can help reduce your costs.

Common education costs benefits

Education costs

veteran

If you’re a veteran, these benefits can help increase your income and reduce your expenses.

These benefits can help veterans with their incomes and expenses.

Common veteran benefits

Veteran

indigenous

If you are Indigenous learn about benefits designed specifically for Indigenous people below.

If you are Indigenous there are many things that affect the benefits you can get and the dollar amounts you can get from them. These include the agreements your band or governing body has with provincial, territorial, and federal governments. Before applying to any benefits, you should speak with your governing body, if applicable.

- If you are First Nations: speak with your administration, band, or governing body
- If you are Inuit: speak with your governing body or hamlet administration office
- If you are Métis: speak with your governing body, if applicable.

[AFOA Canada](https://afoa.ca/) and [Prosper Canada](https://prospercanada.org/) are currently seeking funding to develop an online tool that serves the needs of Indigenous people living in Canada.

Important

You can learn about benefits designed specifically for indigenous people below.

Common indigenous benefits

Indigenous

senior / retired person

These benefits can help increase your income if you're an older adult or you are retired.

These benefits can help increase your income if you are an older adult or you who are retired.

Common senior / retired person benefits

Senior / retired person

If you are Indigenous there are many things that affect the benefits you can get and the dollar amounts you can get from them. These include the agreements your band or governing body has with provincial, territorial, and federal governments. Before applying to any benefits, you should speak with your governing body, if applicable.
<ul>
<li>If you are First Nations: speak with your administration, band, or governing body</li>
<li>If you are Inuit: speak with your governing body or hamlet administration office</li>
<li>If you are Métis: speak with your governing body, if applicable.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://afoa.ca/">AFOA Canada</a> and <a href="https://prospercanada.org/">Prosper Canada</a> are currently seeking funding to develop an online tool that serves the needs of Indigenous people living in Canada.

If you do not have legal status in Canada, or if you are a temporary resident, you should seek legal advice before applying to any benefits. If you get benefits that you aren’t eligible for, you might end up having to pay them back. You can find free legal services for people living on low incomes on the Government of Canada’s <a href="https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/aid-aide.html">Legal Aid Program</a> website. On it, there are links for programs in every province and territory.

Your guide to government benefits that can help put more money in your pocket.

Benefits wayfinder

Your guide to government benefits that can help put more money in your pocket.

Not sure where to start?

Are you an agency worker?

Introduction to the Benefits wayfinder