FOR SENIORS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES - 2020 Edition - Québec.ca
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PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES
FOR
SENIORS
2020 Edition
This is a Gouvernement du Québec publication. This guide is available for download on the government’s official website (Québec.ca) at Québec.ca/aines. The information in the guide was verified in July 2019, but the programs and services mentioned are subject to change at any time. The information provided in this publication has no legal value. Any reproduction for commercial purposes is prohibited without prior permission from the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. For more information about management of Gouvernement du Québec copyrights, visit www.droitauteur.gouv.qc.ca. ISBN : 978-2-550-85108-0 (PDF) Legal deposit – Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2019 © Gouvernement du Québec, 2019 All rights reserved for all countries. Translated from the original French.
FOREWORD
The purpose of this guide is to inform seniors and their families
about the main government programs and services available to
them. Information about each program and service is provided
under the headings Description, Target group, What to do,
When, Who to contact and Note.
The information contained in this guide provides an overview
of the government program or service concerned and is
intended to help you determine whether it applies to you.
To obtain additional information, see the “Who to contact”
section.
The current PDF version of the guide has a number of
advantages: the table of contents enables direct access to the
individual articles; links in the text provide immediate access
to additional information; the layout has been optimized for
printing on a standard printer.
If you would like to print specific pages of the guide, you can
go to a Services Québec office, where you will have access to
a computer and a self-service printer.
The Web version of the guide provides additional information
on the various topics. It is available, along with the PDF version
of the guide, in Québec.ca at Québec.ca/aines.
For any information about Gouvernement du Québec
programs and services, visit the Services Québec website at
Québec.ca/services-quebec or call 418-644-4545 (Québec region),
514-644-4545 (Montréal region) or 1-877-644-4545 (elsewhere
in Québec).
We wish to thank our colleagues at the government
departments and bodies concerned, without whom this guide
would not have been possible.
III
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD III
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES 1
Access to your medical record 1
Complaints about health and social services 2
Devices that compensate for a physical deficiency 2
Flu vaccinations 3
Health services covered outside Québec 3
Hearing aids 4
Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811 4
Optometric services 5
Registering for a prescription drug insurance plan 5
Visual aids 6
HOME HELP 7
Financial assistance for domestic help services 7
Home care support services 8
Meals on Wheels 8
HOUSING 9
9
9
10
11
11
12
12
13
14
TRANSPORTATION 15
Ambulance transportation for people age 65 or older 15
Disabled parking permit 16
Driving ability and mandatory medical examinations 17
Eligibility for paratransit 18
IV
JUSTICE 19
Complaints and investigations in case of violation of rights and freedoms 19
Grandparents’ rights of access to their grandchildren 20
Making or amending a will 20
Power of attorney 21
Prearranged funeral services contracts and prepurchased sepulture contracts 21
Protection mandate 22
Protective supervision of persons of full age 22
Resources for seniors experiencing abuse 23
Search for a protection mandate by the Barreau du Québec 23
Search for a protection mandate by the Chambre des notaires 24
TAX CREDITS 25
Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program 25
Independent living tax credit for seniors 26
Senior assistance tax credit 27
Solidarity tax credit 27
Tax credit for caregivers 28
Tax credit for home-support services for seniors 29
Tax credit for medical expenses 29
Tax credit for respite of caregivers 30
Tax credit for seniors’ activities 31
Tax credit for volunteer respite services 32
OTHER TOPICS 33
Pensions from a foreign country 33
Retirement pension under the Québec Pension Plan 33
APPENDICES 35
OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 35
Age-Friendly Municipalities Initiative 35
Age-Friendly Québec Program 35
Programme Initiatives de travail de milieu auprès des aînés en situation de vulnérabilité 35
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND BENEFITS 35
GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC SERVICES 35
Services Québec 35
Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse 35
Commission des services juridiques 36
Curateur public du Québec 36
V
Directeur de l’état civil 36
Local community service centres 36
Ministère de la Justice 36
Ministère des Transports 36
Office de la protection du consommateur 36
Office des professions du Québec 36
Protecteur du citoyen 36
Régie du bâtiment du Québec 36
Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights 36
Retraite Québec 37
Secrétariat aux aînés 37
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS 37
Association des grands-parents du Québec 37
Association québécoise des centres communautaires pour aînés 37
Réseau FADOQ 37
OTHER USEFUL REFERENCES 37
Chambre des notaires 37
Éducaloi 37
Pair program 37
Réseau d’information des aînés et aînées du Québec 37
VI
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Access to your medical record Who to contact
Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec For more information, contact the body or enterprise in
question or the Commission d’accès à l’information.
Description
All institutions in the public-sector health and social services You can reach the Commission by calling one of the following
network and private-sector enterprises that hold your medical numbers:
record are required to respond to your request to view its Québec region: 418-528-7741
contents. A medical record consists of documents concerning Montréal region: 514-873-4196
any information of a medical or social nature. A medical record Elsewhere in Québec: 1-888-528-7741 (toll free)
is treated as confidential.
To find out more about access to a medical record
Target group held by a public body or a private enterprise, or for
Anyone with a medical record, or their legal representative, a model request for access to personal information,
or anyone authorized by law to access another person’s file visit the Commission d’accès à l’information website at
(subject to certain conditions). www.cai.gouv.qc.ca.
The Commission’s website also provides a model application
What to do for review (in the case of a public institution) and a model
To consult your medical record, submit a written request to application for the examination of a disagreement (in the case
the person in charge of access to the documents held by the of a private institution).
public body or private enterprise in question. Access to your
record is free of charge; however, a fee may be charged for the
reproduction of documents (photocopies). The list of persons
in charge of access to documents held by public bodies is
available on the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec
website.
When
You can submit a request for access to your medical record at
any time. The person in charge of access to documents held
by a public body must respond to your request within 20 days
following its receipt. However, that period may be extended
for 10 days if the person in charge notifies you beforehand.
The person in charge of access to documents held by a private
enterprise has 30 days to respond to your request following its
receipt. In both cases, failure to respond by the expiry of these
time periods is equivalent to a refusal.
In the event of a refusal to allow you access to your medical
record, you may apply to the Commission d’accès à l’information
for a review of the decision. The application must be made, in
writing, within 30 days following the date of the decision of
the person in charge at the public body or private enterprise
or the expiry of the time granted to the person in charge for
processing a request for access.
1
Complaints about health and social services Devices that compensate for a physical
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux deficiency
Description Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
Anyone who believes they have been wronged or is dissatisfied Description
with the services provided by a health and social services The Program for Devices That Compensate for a Physical
institution can express their dissatisfaction or file a complaint, Deficiency provides, free of charge, devices that compensate
orally or in writing, with the service quality and complaints for a person’s motor impairment.
commissioner. The institution’s users’ committee or the
regional complaint assistance and support centre can help The devices covered by the program are orthoses, prostheses,
users with the complaint process. ambulation aids (for example, a cane), standing aids, locomotor
Any case of maltreatment of a user may also be reported to assists (such as a wheelchair) and posture assists (devices that
the service quality and complaints commissioner. support the body in a seated position to help a person use a
locomotor assist).
Target group
All users of health or social services or their representatives, the Target group
heirs or legal representatives of deceased users and anyone Persons insured under the Québec Health Insurance Plan who
who wishes to report a situation to the service quality and have a physical deficiency within the meaning of the Regulation
complaints commissioner. respecting devices which compensate for a physical deficiency.
What to do What to do
Contact Services Québec to obtain the contact information for To obtain an orthosis, a prosthesis, an ambulation aid or a
the service quality and complaints commissioner or the user standing aid, you must have a prescription from an orthopedist,
assistance and support resources in your region. a physiatrist, a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, a rheumatologist
or a geriatrician indicating your need. You must then contact a
Who to contact public facility or a private laboratory authorized by the Régie
To contact Services Québec, call one of the following numbers: de l’assurance maladie du Québec.
Québec region: 418-644-4545
Montréal region: 514-644-4545 To apply for a locomotor or posture assist, you must contact
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-644-4545 (toll free) a physical impairment rehabilitation facility authorized
by the Régie and go there with a medical prescription. A
Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY): multidisciplinary team will evaluate your needs, determine
1-800-361-9596 (toll free) the device that is appropriate for you and provide you with
the insured services to which you are entitled.
To find out more about the system for the examination of
complaints concerning the health and social services network,
visit the “Health” section of Québec.ca.
Who to contact
For more information ab out the Program for
Devices That Compensate for a Physical Deficiency,
visit the Régie de l’assurance maladie website at
www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca.
To find out how to contact an authorized public facility or a
private laboratory in your region, call the Régie de l’assurance
maladie at one of the following numbers:
Québec region: 418-646-4636
Montréal region: 514-864-3411
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-561-9749 (toll free)
2 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Flu vaccinations Health services covered outside Québec
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
Description Description
A flu vaccination, or flu shot, is recommended as the best The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec reimburses outlays
means of protecting oneself against the flu, an infection that for professional services rendered by physicians, dentists or
spreads easily and can have serious consequences. The flu optometrists outside Québec, provided the same services are
vaccine is safe. It is offered free of charge to people age 75 covered in Québec. The cost paid for services is reimbursed up
and older and people 6 months of age and older who have a to the rates in effect in Québec, even if the insured person paid
chronic illness. Annual vaccinations are given because the flu more. That is why it is important to take out private insurance
viruses constantly change and the effectiveness of the vaccine covering all or part of the costs that the Régie does not cover.
fades over the year following vaccination. Hospital services covered include services received during a
Target group hospital stay or at a hospital outpatient clinic.
Anyone who wants to reduce the risk of catching the flu or You are not required to pay for insured hospital services you
prevent complications associated with influenza infection. The receive elsewhere in Canada, because their cost is paid in full
flu vaccine is particularly recommended for people who are at by the Régie under an interprovincial agreement. To receive
a higher risk of being hospitalized for the flu due to their age services, all you have to do is show your Health Insurance Card,
or health (including children under 6 months of age). It is also which must be valid
recommended for people who live in the same household For hospital services received outside Canada, the Régie
as a person at higher risk of being hospitalized, caregivers to reimburses, at pre-set rates, the cost of services received as a
such persons, pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester result of a sudden illness or an accident, as follows:
and health care workers.
• A maximum of C$100 per day for hospitalization
What to do • Up to C$50 per day for health care received at a hospital
To be vaccinated, contact your local community service centre outpatient clinic
(CLSC), your family physician or a medical clinic. To find out
where to get vaccinated, you can also visit the website of The Régie also reimburses up to C$220 per hemodialysis
your integrated health and social services centre (CISSS) or treatment and the required medication, regardless of whether
integrated university health and social services centre (CIUSSS). the person is hospitalized.
When Target group
A vaccination campaign is held annually, generally beginning in Anyone holding a valid Health Insurance Card who received
early November. However, the flu vaccine can be administered health services covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan
throughout the flu season (fall and winter). It generally takes outside Québec.
around two weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective.
To retain your health insurance coverage, you must be present
Who to contact in Québec 183 days or more, whether consecutive or not, per
To find out how to contact the CLSC for your region or for calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Proof is required.
more information about the Flu Vaccination Program, visit the Absences of 21 consecutive days or less are not considered in
“Health” section of Québec.ca or call Services Québec at one the calculation of the 183 days.
of the following numbers:
What to do
Québec region: 418-644-4545
To apply for a reimbursement of the expenses paid, complete
Montréal region: 514-644-4545
the Application for Reimbursement – Healthcare Services Covered
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-644-4545 (toll free)
Outside Québec form, attach the originals of all requested
Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY): invoices and receipts, and send the form and documents to
1-800-361-9596 (toll free) the Régie.
When
As of the date you received the services, you have one year to
apply for a reimbursement for medical, dental or optometric
services, and three years to apply for a reimbursement for
hospital services.
Who to contact
You can download the application for reimbursement
form from the Régie de l’assurance maladie website at
www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES 3You can also obtain the application form or get more
information by calling the Régie at one of the following
Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux
numbers:
Québec region: 418-646-4636 Description
Montréal region: 514-864-3411 Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811 are free, confidential
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-561-9749 (toll free) telephone consultation services. Through the Info-Santé 811
services, a health professional can be reached at any time
Send the required documents and duly completed form to
for advice or information about a non-urgent health issue.
the following address:
The Info-Social 811 service makes it possible to consult a
Service de l’application des programmes Q022 psychosocial intervention worker.
Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
C. P. 6600 Info-Santé 811 does not replace emergency services. In the
Québec (Québec) G1K 7T3 event of an emergency, it is important to go to a hospital
emergency room or call 911 for assistance. Info-Santé can help
you determine whether it is an emergency or not.
Hearing aids
Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec Target group
Description Anyone in Québec who has a health or psychosocial problem.
The Hearing Devices Program enables people with a hearing
deficiency to obtain devices to improve their hearing. They may What to do
need a hearing aid or an assistive listening device (for example, You can contact Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811 by telephone
a telephone with amplifier) to compensate for problems that or, if you have a hearing or speech impairment, via the Bell
persist despite the use of an aid. Relay service (dial 711).
Target group
Persons insured under the Québec Health Insurance Plan who When
have a hearing deficiency within the meaning of the Regulation Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811 services are available
respecting hearing devices and insured services. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to do
Who to contact
To benefit from the Hearing Devices Program, you must:
You can reach Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811 by dialling
1. Obtain a medical certificate from an ear, nose and throat 811. Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811 services are currently
(ENT) specialist (otorhinolaryngologist) confirming the available in all regions of Québec except the Cree territory
hearing loss and indicating whether or not it is permanent of James Bay and Nunavik. If you have a hearing or speech
impairment, dial 711.
2. Obtain an audiogram and an attestation of the need for
a hearing device from an ENT specialist or an audiologist For more information about Info-Santé 811 and Info-Social 811
following an evaluation of your hearing loss services, visit the “Health” section of Québec.ca.
3. Depending on the type of device needed, go to either
a hearing aid acoustician or a distributor of assistive
listening devices and provide the documents that you
have obtained
Who to contact
For more information about the Hearing Devices Program,
visit the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec website at
www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca.
For more information about the required documents, call the
Régie at one of the following numbers:
Québec region: 418-646-4636
Montréal region: 514-864-3411
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-561-9749 (toll free)
4 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICESOptometric services Registering for a prescription drug
Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec insurance plan
Description Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
The Optometric Services Program provides seniors with Description
certain services paid for by the Régie de l’assurance maladie There are two types of prescription drug insurance plans in
du Québec. For example, a senior can consult an optometrist Québec: a public plan and private plans. The public plan is
for a full eye examination, be treated for a sudden eye problem administered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.
such as conjunctivitis, or obtain a prescription for eyeglasses Private plans are managed by private insurance companies.
or contact lenses following an examination.
Before age 65, all residents of Québec who are eligible for a
Target group private group insurance or employee benefit plan must join
Persons insured under the Québec Health Insurance Plan who that plan. They must also provide coverage under that plan
are in any of the following situations: for their spouse and children, if they are not already covered
by another private plan.
• They are age 65 or older.
Persons who are not eligible for a private plan on their own or
• They are age 18 to 64 and have been receiving last-resort through their spouse must register for the Public Prescription
financial assistance (or the dependant of a recipient) for at Drug Insurance Plan.
least the past 12 consecutive months.
As of age 65, persons are automatically registered for the Public
• They are age 60 to 64 and have been receiving a spouse’s
allowance for at least the past 12 consecutive months and, Prescription Drug Insurance Plan. However, if they are eligible
without this allowance, would be eligible for last-resort for a private plan, they must choose between being insured:
financial assistance. • only by the public plan, administered by the Régie
• They have a visual impairment and are registered with a • by the public plan (basic coverage), administered by the
recognized facility specialized in visual aids. Régie, and a private plan (supplemental coverage), or
• They are afflicted by a sudden eye problem. • only by a private plan offering at least the basic coverage
provided by the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan
What to do
Persons who choose to retain the basic coverage of their private
To obtain any of the services provided by an optometrist free
plan, after making sure it is at least equal to that provided by
of charge, simply show the optometrist your valid Health
the public plan, must ensure that their spouse under age 65
Insurance Card.
and, if applicable, their children are also covered. They must
also contact the Régie to cancel their registration for the Public
Who to contact Prescription Drug Insurance Plan.
For more information about the optometric services
covered by the program, visit the “Citizens” section of
the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec website at
Target group
Everyone who meets the following eligibility requirements
www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca or call the Régie at one of the following
must register for the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan:
numbers:
Québec region: 418-646-4636 • They are a resident of Québec within the meaning of the
Montréal region: 514-864-3411 Health Insurance Act.
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-561-9749 (toll free)
• They are duly registered with the Régie de l’assurance
maladie du Québec pursuant to the Health Insurance Act.
• They hold or are eligible to hold a valid Health Insurance
Card.
• If they are under 65 years of age, they must not be eligible
for a private prescription drug insurance plan on their own
or through their spouse.
• If they are 65 years of age or older, they must not be
registered for a private prescription drug insurance
plan offering the basic coverage provided by the Public
Prescription Drug Insurance Plan.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES 5Persons under 65 years of age who, because of their former
or current employment relationship, usual profession or usual
Visual aids
Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
occupation, are part of a group that offers a group prescription
drug insurance plan offering the basic coverage provided by Description
the public plan and who meet the eligibility requirements The Visual Devices Program enables people who have low
must join the private plan. vision or are functionally blind to borrow reading, writing
and mobility aids, as well as certain aids for daily living. The
What to do program also provides financial assistance for acquiring and
If you are under 65 years of age, you must register with the looking after a guide dog.
Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan in one of the following
ways: Target group
• Use the online “Registration or deregistration” service, on Persons insured under the Québec Health Insurance Plan who
the Régie’s website, if your family situation and age allow have a visual deficiency within the meaning of the Regulation
you to use this service (clicSÉQUR account mandatory). respecting hearing devices and insured services.
• Call the Régie (have your Health Insurance Card on hand).
What to do
• Go to a Régie reception desk or service point with your To borrow a visual device, you must apply to one of the facilities
Health Insurance Card. recognized by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
that specializes in the rehabilitation of people with a visual
If you are over 65 and previously chose to be covered by a
impairment.
private prescription drug insurance plan offering the basic
coverage provided by the public plan but now wish to register If you are deemed eligible for the program following an
for the public plan, you must either: evaluation of your visual impairment and needs, you will
receive training in the proper use of your visual device.
• call the Régie (have your Health Insurance Card on hand), or
• go to a Régie reception desk or service point with your Who to contact
Health Insurance Card
For more information about the Visual Devices Program,
visit the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec website at
Who to contact www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca.
For more information about the Public Prescription
Drug Insurance Plan or to find out where the Régie de To find out how to contact a facility recognized by the Régie
l’assurance maladie offices are, visit the Régie’s website at de l’assurance maladie, call the Régie at one of the following
www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca or call one of the following numbers: numbers:
Québec region: 418-646-4636 Québec region: 418-646-4636
Montréal region: 514-864-3411 Montréal region: 514-864-3411
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-561-9749 (toll free) Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-561-9749 (toll free)
To find out more about the registration and deregistration
service, visit the Régie’s website.
Note
If you are registered for the Public Prescription Drug Insurance
Plan while being eligible for a private plan, you must repay to
the Régie the cost of any prescription drugs paid for during
the period of non-eligibility for the public plan.
If you fail to comply with the obligation to be covered by a
prescription drug insurance plan, you must pay Revenu Québec
an amount equal to the premium under the public plan for all
of the full months during which you had no coverage.
6 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICESHOME HELP
Financial assistance for domestic help services To receive variable financial assistance in addition to fixed
financial assistance, a person must:
Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
• be 65 years of age or over
Description
The Financial Assistance Program for Domestic Help Services • be 18 to 64 years of age, require domestic help services
enables individuals who meet the eligibility requirements to and be referred by a local community service centre (CLSC),
receive a reduction in the hourly rate charged when they use an integrated health and social services centre (CISSS) or
domestic help services. The services must be provided by a an integrated university health and social services centre
domestic help social economy business recognized by the (CIUSSS)
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
What to do
Under the program, a person pays only the difference between
To benefit from the program, contact and enter into an
the rate charged by the business and the amount of financial
agreement with a domestic help social economy business
assistance granted to the person. The assistance granted is
recognized by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services
paid directly to the business that provides the services. The
sociaux. Then fill out the Application for Financial Assistance
program offers fixed financial assistance, to which may be
and Service Agreement forms and send them to the Service de la
added variable financial assistance.
contribution et de l’aide financières at the Régie de l’assurance
Domestic help services covered by the program consist of maladie du Québec, either directly or through the business.
heavy and light housework. Light housework includes general
upkeep of living areas and equipment used daily, laundering, When
preparation of non-diet meals, grocery shopping and other You can apply at any time.
errands. Heavy housework includes major cleaning (washing
of walls, ceilings and windows), as well as clearing snow or
leaves from the main access to the home. Who to contact
For more information about the Financial Assistance Program
Fixed financial assistance of $4 for each hour of service rendered for Domestic Help Services, visit the Régie de l’assurance
is granted to all clients of recognized businesses, regardless maladie du Québec website at www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca.
of their state of health or income. Variable financial assistance
ranging between $1.46 and $11.68 for each hour of service To find out how to contact a domestic help social economy
rendered is granted to individuals or families who meet the business recognized by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services
eligibility requirements. The amount of the variable assistance sociaux, call the Régie at one of the following numbers:
is added to the fixed financial assistance and is determined on Montréal region: 514-873-9504
the basis of the income and situation of the individual or family. Elsewhere in Québec: 1-888-594-5155 (toll free)
Target group Send your forms to the following address:
Varies according to the program component: Service de la contribution et de l’aide financières
Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
• Single-parent or two-parent families all of whose members 425, boulevard De Maisonneuve Ouest, bureau 213
are residents or temporary residents of Québec under the Montréal (Québec) H3A 3G5
Health Insurance Act
• People living as a couple who have no children, or people
living alone who are 18 years of age or older and are
residents or temporary residents of Québec under the
Health Insurance Act
HOME HELP 7Home care support services Meals on Wheels
Local community service centres Regroupement des popotes roulantes
Description Description
The primary purpose of home care support services is to provide Meals on Wheels is a service that delivers hot meals to homes,
assistance to persons with diminishing autonomy so that they thereby helping some people remain in their home and
can remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Certain providing others with respite.
services are also available to informal caregivers who provide
non-professional support, either ongoing or occasional, thus Target group
avoiding or reducing the length of hospital stays and facilitating
Seniors, people in convalescence, people with disabilities,
the return home after an illness or surgery. Home care support
pregnant women and informal caregivers. Eligibility
services may be provided on a temporary or long-term basis,
requirements vary from one Meals on Wheels organization
depending on the person’s needs. Fees may be charged for
to the next.
certain services.
Services include: What to do
• Professional care and services (nursing care, psychosocial To sign up for the Meals on Wheels service, contact the
services, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, specialized Regroupement des popotes roulantes.
rehabilitation services, nutrition services, medical services,
Charges for the service vary from one organization to the next.
etc.)
• Personal care services (hygiene, dressing, eating, transfer Who to contact
or food services, administration of medication, etc.) For more information about the Meals on Wheels service
• Services for informal caregivers (supervision, respite, etc.) or to find the Meals on Wheels branch serving your area,
visit the Regroupement des popotes roulantes website at
• Equipment loans www.popotes.org.
Target group
Varies according to the program component:
• Persons with a temporary or permanent disability or
diminishing autonomy who are not admitted to a hospital
or long-term care facility
• Informal caregivers to such persons
What to do
To apply for home care support services, contact the local
community service centre (CLSC) nearest you.
When
You can apply at any time.
Who to contact
To find out how to contact the CLSC nearest you, dial 811 or
call Services Québec at one of the following numbers:
Québec region: 418-644-4545
Montréal region: 514-644-4545
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-644-4545 (toll free)
Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY):
1-800-361-9596 (toll free)
8 HOME HELPHOUSING
Cancellation of a lease by a tenant lease). If your dwelling is rented out again before the end of the
period, you are required to pay only the rent corresponding to
Régie du logement
the period during which you were a tenant in the dwelling. If
Description you received services and care that were provided for in the
A tenant may cancel a current lease in certain situations, such lease for your dwelling, you are required to pay only the part
as if he or she is allocated a dwelling in low-rental housing, can of the rent corresponding to the cost of the services (such as
no longer occupy his or her dwelling because of a disability, or meal services) and care (such as nursing care) that you actually
is admitted permanently to a residential and long-term care received while you lived in the dwelling. You therefore do not
centre (CHSLD), an intermediate resource, a private seniors’ have to pay for services you did not receive.
residence or any other residential facility providing the care
or services required by the tenant’s state of health. Who to contact
For more information about the cancellation of a lease by a
However, a lease cannot be unilaterally cancelled by a tenant tenant, call the Régie du logement at one of the following
for other reasons, such as the purchase of a house, divorce, numbers:
formation of a new household, the need for a larger dwelling,
Montréal, Laval and Longueuil regions: 514-873-2245
financial problems or moving for employment reasons.
Other regions: 1-800-683-2245 (toll free)
In order for a tenant to leave a dwelling when the situation does You can also visit the Régie’s website at www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca.
not allow him or her to cancel the lease, the tenant may come
to an agreement with the landlord, preferably in writing, assign Discriminatory refusal to lease
the lease or sublet the dwelling to another person. In the case Commission des droits de la personne
of assignment or subletting of the dwelling, the tenant must et des droits de la jeunesse
notify the landlord of that intention in writing and indicate the
name and address of the person to whom the tenant intends to Description
assign the lease or sublet the dwelling. The landlord’s consent is The Charter of human rights and freedoms prohibits landlords
required, but the landlord may not refuse to consent without a from showing discrimination in renting out a dwelling. There
serious reason. In the case of refusal, the landlord must inform is discrimination where a landlord refuses to lease a dwelling
the tenant of the reasons for refusal within 15 days following to a person based on any ground of discrimination prohibited
receipt of the notice of the tenant’s intention to assign the lease by law.
or sublet the dwelling. Failure to do so means the landlord is The prohibited grounds of discrimination are race, colour, sex,
presumed to have consented. gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation,
civil status, having children, age, religion, political convictions,
What to do language, ethnic or national origin, social condition (for
Notify your landlord in writing that you want to cancel your example, being a social assistance recipient or an employment
lease and send the landlord, preferably by registered mail, insurance claimant, or having a modest income), a handicap
the documents attesting to your situation (for example, or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.
confirmation of your admission to a CHSLD, a written opinion
of a physician concerning your disability or an attestation from Target group
your locality’s housing bureau to the effect that you were Anyone who believes they have been discriminated against
allocated a dwelling in low-rental housing). when refused housing by a landlord.
When What to do
Unless the parties agree otherwise, the cancellation of the If you wish to file a complaint or for more information, contact
lease takes effect: the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la
jeunesse. The service is free.
• two months after a notice is sent to the landlord along
with the required documents, if the lease is for a set term Who to contact
of 12 months or more To contact the Commission des droits de la personne et des
• one month after the notice is sent, along with the required droits de la jeunesse or for any other question concerning
documents, if the lease is for a set term of less than complaints, call 1-800-361-6477 (toll free).
12 months or for an indeterminate term For more information about the recourses available in the
You must pay your rent up to the end of the period specified event of discrimination with respect to housing, visit the
in the notice (one or two months, according to the type of Commission’s website at www.cdpdj.qc.ca.
HOUSING 9Grant for seniors to offset • Your family income was equal to or less than the maximum
family income giving entitlement to the grant.
a municipal tax increase
Revenu Québec • You received or were entitled to receive a municipal tax bill
in your name for the residence for 2020.
Description In addition, your residence must be:
The grant for seniors to offset a municipal tax increase is
financial assistance provided to seniors whose residence has • an entirely residential assessment unit
increased significantly in value. The increase is based on the • consist of only one dwelling, and
municipal property assessment roll.
• serve as your principal place of residence (on the billing date
Target group shown on the municipal tax bill for the year in question)
The measure is intended for seniors. To be entitled to the grant,
you must meet at least one of the following two conditions: What to do
To apply for the grant, complete and enclose the Grant for
• An amount corresponding to the potential grant determined
Seniors to Offset a Municipal Tax Increase form (TP-1029.TM-V)
further to the current assessment roll is shown on either
with your income tax return.
your municipal tax bill or the form entitled Amount of the
Potential Grant to Offset a Municipal Tax Increase that was Who to contact
issued by your municipality. For more information, contact Revenu Québec at one of the
• A grant was provided to you or to a co-owner of the following numbers:
residence in the last year concerned by the previous Québec region: 418-659-6299
assessment roll. Montréal region: 514-864-6299
Elsewhere in Canada: 1-800-267-6299 (toll free)
In addition, all of the following conditions must be met:
• On December 31, 2019, you Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY):
Montréal region: 514-873-4455
¡ were 65 or over
Elsewhere in Canada: 1-800-361-3795 (toll free)
¡ were resident in Québec, and
You can also visit Revenu Québec’s website at
¡ had owned your residence for at least 15 consecutive years www.revenuquebec.ca.
10 HOUSINGLow-rental housing Placement of an adult in a residential centre
Société d’habitation du Québec or public residence
Description Local community service centres
The Low-Rental Housing Program enables low-income Description
households to live in a subsidized dwelling. Selected Three types of lodging are available to people whose autonomy
households pay rent equal to 25% of their income, including has diminished to the point that their ability to live in their own
heating and hot water costs. However, additional amounts home is compromised:
may also be payable for electricity and certain other services.
• Residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs) offer,
Target group on a temporary or permanent basis, lodging to adults
The program is intended for low-income households. You are experiencing loss of functional or psychosocial autonomy.
eligible for the program if you meet the following requirements:
• Intermediate resources take in people entrusted to them
• You are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within by a public institution and whose condition requires room,
the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, board, support or assistance services.
and reside in Québec. • Family-type resources are operated by natural persons who
• You or your household’s income is equal to or less than receive in their principal place of residence a maximum
the maximum amount allowed (which varies according to of nine adults entrusted to them by a public institution in
the number of people in the household and the region). order to meet their needs. Due to their condition, these
people require room, board, support or assistance services.
• You have resided in Québec or in the landlord’s (lessor’s)
selection area (if the landlord has specified a selection area Target group
under a bylaw) for at least 12 of the 24 months preceding
Non-independent adults or adults with diminishing autonomy.
the application.
• You must be able to meet your own basic needs (in What to do
particular, personal care and everyday household chores), To apply for lodging for yourself or for a relative, contact the
either independently or with help from an outside resource local community service centre (CLSC) nearest you. If the
or a personal caregiver. person is already in a general and specialized hospital centre,
Other criteria may apply. In some cases, the requirements the institution makes the arrangements.
related to residence in Québec or in the landlord’s selection
area may not apply to people with disabilities or victims of When
domestic violence. You can apply at any time.
What to do
To apply for housing under the Low-Rental Housing Program,
Who to contact
contact a housing bureau, a housing cooperative or a non-profit To find out how to contact the CLSC nearest you, dial 811 or
housing organization in your region. call Services Québec at one of the following numbers:
Québec region: 418-644-4545
When Montréal region: 514-644-4545
You can apply at any time of the year. The waiting period to Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-644-4545 (toll free)
obtain housing depends on a number of factors, including
the number of households on the waiting list and the type of Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY):
housing sought. 1-800-361-9596 (toll free)
Who to contact Note
To find out how to contact the housing organizations in The financial contribution payable by an adult lodged in any of
your region, call the Société d’habitation du Québec at the above facilities is determined in accordance with the rules
1-800-463-4315 (toll free) or visit the Société’s website at set out in the Act respecting health services and social services.
www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca.
HOUSING 11RénoRégion Program Rent supplement
Société d’habitation du Québec Société d’habitation du Québec
Description Description
The RénoRégion Program provides financial assistance to The Rent Supplement Program makes it possible for
low- or modest-income owner-occupants in rural areas for major households and individuals with low incomes to live in privately
home repairs. owned rental dwellings or dwellings belonging to housing
The housing unit must require at least $2,000 worth of work cooperatives or non-profit organizations, while paying rent
to correct one or more major defects. An amount covering up similar to that paid for low-rental housing (HLM).
to 95% of the approved cost of the admissible work, but not Under the program, a household pays rent equal to 25% of
exceeding $12,000, is granted under the program and is paid its income, to which certain costs may be added. The Société
once the work has been completed. d’habitation du Québec pays the landlord the difference
The work must be performed by a contractor holding the between that amount and the rent it recognizes (generally
appropriate licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. speaking, the rent specified in the lease).
The work must not start until after the owner-occupant has
obtained a certificate of admissibility from his or her municipality Target group
or regional county municipality (RCM) and must be completed The program is intended for low-income households. Persons
within six months following the date of issuance of the certificate with a physical or intellectual disability or persons in exceptional
of admissibility. circumstances (such as women who are victims of domestic
violence) may also be eligible, according to the low-income
Target group housing rules.
The program is intended for owner-occupants of a housing Available dwellings are attributed on the basis of a waiting list,
unit who meet the following eligibility requirements: taking into account the following main criteria:
• They live in a municipality with a population of under 15,000 • Type of household applying for a dwelling (seniors, a family)
or in an area of a municipality with a population of 15,000
or more that does not have a public water or sewer system. • Household composition (person living alone, couple, family
with children)
• Their household income does not exceed the maximum
allowable level, which varies depending on the region and What to do
household size. To apply for a rent supplement, contact the local housing
• They occupy the housing unit as a primary residence. bureau and complete the appropriate form.
• The value of their residence, excluding the value of the land,
does not exceed the maximum level set by the municipality
When
or RCM, and that value may not exceed $115,000. You can apply at any time.
Who to contact
What to do
To find out how to contact your housing bureau, call the Société
To benefit from the program, contact your municipality or RCM,
d’habitation du Québec at 1-800-463-4315 (toll free) or go
as applicable. You will be informed of the required steps.
to the “Répertoire des organismes” section of the Société’s
website at www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca.
When
You can register for the program during the registration period
set by your municipality or RCM.
Who to contact
For more information about the program, contact your
municipality or RCM. You can also call the Société d’habitation
du Québec at 1-800-463-4315 (toll free) or visit the Société’s
website at www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca.
Note
The RénoRégion Program applies to all municipalities in the
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region. It does not
apply to the cities of Gatineau and Laval or to the greater Longueuil,
Montréal or Québec areas. Northern villages and Indian reserves
are also not covered by the program.
12 HOUSINGResidential adaptation What to do
Société d’habitation du Québec To apply for financial assistance, complete the program
registration form and send it to the Société d’habitation du
Description Québec. If you are a tenant, your landlord must first consent
The Residential Adaptation Assistance Program grants financial to the work and complete the applicable section of the form.
assistance to owners of a dwelling occupied by a person with
a disability for the purpose of carrying out adaptation work to When
meet the person’s needs. The work must constitute a simple, You can apply at any time.
low-cost solution, such as installing an outside access ramp,
remodelling a bathroom or widening door frames.
Who to contact
Three options are offered. To obtain the program registration form or for more
information, call the Société d’habitation du Québec at
Option 1 – Professional support 1-800-463-4315 (toll free) or contact the nearest local
This option includes the support of an occupational therapist community service centre (CLSC). To find out how to contact
and a certified inspector to assess the adaptation needs. The the CLSC, call Info-Santé at 811.
maximum financial assistance varies between $16,000 and
$33,000, depending on the disabled person’s household
income and the need to install specialized equipment,
among other things.
Option 2 – Self-determined needs and work
This option does not include any support. Once the eligible
person is registered, the work to be done is chosen based on
the list of eligible work established by the Société d’habitation
du Québec.
The maximum financial assistance is $8,000 per eligible person.
Option 3 – Retroactive financial assistance
This option applies to work completed during the 12-month
period prior to registration for the program. The Société
d’habitation du Québec sends the eligible person the list of
eligible work.
The financial assistance granted is equal to 50% of eligible
expenses, up to $4,000.
Target group
This program is intended for anyone with a deficiency causing
a significant and persistent disability who is likely to encounter
obstacles in performing everyday activities in their home. To
be eligible for the program, the disabled person must:
• reside in Québec, but not on an Indian reserve
• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• provide a supporting document proving that their disability
is significant and persistent
HOUSING 13Shelter allowance Who to contact
Société d’habitation du Québec To obtain a Shelter Allowance Application form, contact Revenu
Québec at one of the following numbers:
Description Québec region: 418-266-1016
The Shelter Allowance Program provides financial assistance Montréal region: 514-940-1481
to low-income households that devote too large a proportion Elsewhere in Canada: 1-855-291-6467 (toll free)
of their budget to housing. The maximum amount of monthly
assistance is $80. The amount is determined on the basis of the Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY):
number of people in the household, the type of household, Montréal region: 514-873-4455
the monthly rent and the household’s annual income. Elsewhere in Canada: 1-800-361-3795 (toll free)
Target group You can also visit Revenu Québec’s website at
The program is intended for low-income households. You are www.revenuquebec.ca.
eligible for the program if you meet the following requirements:
Note
• You are 50 years of age or older and live alone. To be eligible for the program, you and your spouse, if
• You are in a couple and one of the spouses is 50 years of applicable, must have filed a Québec income tax return for the
age or older. year preceding the application. You must also have resided in
Québec on December 31 of the year preceding your application
• You are a member of a low-income family with at least one and have resided in Canada for at least one year on that date.
dependent child, including a child age 18 or older who is
a full-time student.
The program applies to homeowners, tenants, rooming house
occupants and any individual who shares a dwelling with one
or more other occupants.
You are eligible for the program if you devote more than 30%
of your total income to housing.
You are not eligible for the program if:
• you live in low-rental housing or in a government-funded
health and social services institution
• you receive a rent supplement or another direct housing
subsidy from the government
• you or your spouse, where applicable, has property or cash
valued at more than $50,000 (excluding the value of your
residence, land, furniture and car)
What to do
To apply for the shelter allowance, complete the Shelter
Allowance Application form, available at Revenu Québec
offices, and send the form and required documents to Revenu
Québec. The Société d’habitation du Québec has entrusted
the administration of the Shelter Allowance Program to Revenu
Québec.
When
You can apply at any time. If you are eligible, the allowance
will be granted as of the month following your application.
However, it takes two to three months to receive the first
payment. The payments for the first two or three months are
therefore made retroactively. Every year, Revenu Québec will
send you a re-evaluation form.
14 HOUSINGTRANSPORTATION
Ambulance transportation for people Target group
All residents in Québec.
age 65 or older
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux What to do
To benefit from free ambulance transportation, ask your
Description attending physician or the caseworker designated by the
Ambulance transportation is not always free, even for people hospital centre where you were treated to confirm that your
age 65 or older. Whether it is free is determined by the Ministère transportation by ambulance was necessary.
de la Santé et des Services sociaux in accordance with the
health and social services user transportation policy. Who to contact
Transportation is free on the following conditions: For emergency ambulance service, call 911. For more
information about the cost of ambulance services, call Services
• The person transported is resident in Québec. Québec at one of the following numbers:
• The person transported is 65 years of age or older at the Québec region: 418-644-4545
time of transportation by ambulance. Montréal region: 514-644-4545
• The person transported is assessed by the hospital physician Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-644-4545 (toll free)
or the physician’s representative, who attests to the need Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY):
for ambulance transportation. 1-800-361-9596 (toll free)
• The transportation takes place in Québec.
Note
• The person is transported to the nearest and most If you decide to return home by ambulance, you must pay the
appropriate hospital at the time the ambulance is requested. associated costs if such service was not authorized.
TRANSPORTATION 15Disabled parking permit Persons with a hearing or speech impairment (TTY):
Montréal region: 514-954-7763
Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-565-7763 (toll free)
Description
A disabled parking permit gives people with disabilities access To obtain the application form online or for additional
to parking spaces reserved for handicapped persons, whether information about the parking permit, visit the Société de
they travel in a vehicle as the driver or a passenger. The permit l’assurance automobile website at www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca.
is issued by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
Send the completed and signed form to the following address:
Vignette de stationnement pour personnes handicapées (act. 6630)
Target group Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
Persons with a disability, regardless of whether they are C. P. 19850, succursale Terminus
resident in Québec. The permit holder must have a disability Québec (Québec) G1K 8Z4
resulting in a loss of independence or risk to health and safety
with respect to travelling short distances that do not require
the use of a vehicle (for example, to get from a parking space Note
to the entrance of a shop). A disabled person who owns a A disabled parking permit is associated with the holder, not
motorcycle or scooter can apply for a sticker that must be with a vehicle. It must be used solely for the needs of the permit
placed on the licence plate. holder, who must carry the accompanying certificate at all
times.
What to do
To apply for a permit, see a health professional recognized by
the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. If the health
professional deems that your condition justifies a permit, he
or she will complete the Disabled Parking Permit Application
form. To apply for a parking permit for a motorcycle or scooter,
complete the Disabled Parking Permit Application – Motorcycles
and Scooters form. Send the completed form(s) to the Société.
The permit costs $17.10.
When
You can apply for a disabled parking permit at any time.
Who to contact
To obtain the application form or for more information, call
the Société de l’assurance automobile at one of the following
numbers:
Québec region: 418-643-7620
Montréal region: 514-873-7620
Elsewhere (Québec, Canada, United States):
1-800-361-7620 (toll free)
16 TRANSPORTATIONYou can also read
