Income Assistance Program - Background

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development's (AANDC) Income Assistance Program is one of five Social Development Programs. AANDC's Income Assistance Program is offered to eligible individuals and families who are ordinarily resident on-reserve.

AANDC has engaged in on-reserve income assistance activities for more than 40 years, with the broad objective of providing individuals and families with the means to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

AANDC also funds special needs allowances for goods and services which are essential to the physical or social well-being of an eligible recipient but are not included as items of basic need, such as furniture and the cost of a physician-recommended diet.

Additionally, AANDC funds active measures supports as a component of its Income Assistance program. Active measures constitute a proactive approach to help individuals move from income assistance dependency to leading more independent and self-sufficient lives with the skills and training they need to find and hold meaningful, sustainable jobs.

In general, AANDC provides funding to First Nations who, in turn, deliver Income Assistance programs and services to community members. In 2010-2011, 508 First Nations administered their own program (this figure does not include First Nations functioning under self-government arrangements that administer Income Assistance).

The 2010-2011 on reserve income assistance dependency rate was close to 34%, compared to approximately 5% for the rest of the Canadian population.

For further information on the Income Assistance Program in your community, contact the AANDC regional office nearest you.