Individuals and families who receive social assistance benefits will also be eligible for financial support through refundable tax credits, child benefits for households with children, and, where applicable, additional social assistance payments. Some of these benefits and credits are indexed to inflation while others are not. Inflation indexing is important as it protects the value of benefits and credits from being eroded by increasing costs of living.

Table A7 and the summary sections below indicate which provincial or territorial benefits and credits were indexed to inflation as of January 2025, insofar as those benefits apply to the example households in Welfare in Canada; other benefits and credits that may be indexed are not included. Any changes to indexation made throughout the calendar year and any pertinent additional information is in the footnotes.

Federal benefits are not included in Table A7. Of the three federal benefits that our example households were eligible for in 2025, two – the GST/HST credit and the Canada Child Benefit – are indexed to inflation. The third, the federal Canada Carbon Rebate (received in the first four months of 2025 by households in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan), ended in 2025 but prior to its discontinuation was adjusted based on changes to the federal carbon tax.

Changes in indexation since 2024:

• Nova Scotia began indexing basic social assistance benefits as of January 2025.

Summary of indexing by income component, as of January 2025:

• Basic social assistance benefits were indexed in five jurisdictions: Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and the Yukon. In two other jurisdictions, these benefits were indexed in one program but not another (Manitoba for MSPD and Rent Assist but not EIA, and Ontario for ODSP but not OW).
• Additional social assistance benefits were indexed in two of the twelve jurisdictions that provided them: Alberta (for the Children’s School Expenses benefit) and Nova Scotia (the Disability Supplement).
• Provincial or territorial child benefits were indexed in five of the eleven jurisdictions where such a program existed and households receiving social assistance had access to the benefit: Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, and the Yukon.
• Provincial or territorial tax credits/benefits were indexed in three of the eleven jurisdictions where these credits/benefits existed: Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

Table A7: Indexation of Provincial/Territorial Benefits and Credits, as of January 2025

1. This applies to the Children’s School Expenses benefit available to the couple with two children.

2. The amount of the BC Family Benefit is not indexed to inflation, but the net income reduction threshold is indexed. Note that British Columbia provided a monthly BC Family Benefit Bonus between July 2024 and June 2025, which was an enhancement to the BC Family Benefit intended to help address the impact of rising expenses due to inflation.

3. The BC Climate Action Tax Credit ended in 2025 to align with the removal of the BC consumer carbon tax. Before its discontinuation, the amount of the credit was adjusted in step with changes to carbon tax rates. Final payments were issued in April.

4. The amount of the BC Renter’s Tax Credit is not indexed to inflation, but the adjusted income reduction threshold is indexed.

5. Indexation is based on the March Manitoba CPI of each year and is applied as of July 1. Note that indexation only applies to amounts provided to an unattached single household; amounts for non-disabled spouses and for all children are not indexed.

6. Shelter support for households in private rental accommodation, also known as Rent Assist, is indexed to the median market rent set by the CMHC.

7. The Manitoba Child Benefit was not available to households receiving income assistance in 2025.

8. Social assistance benefits are indexed to the New Brunswick CPI on April 1 each year.

9. Neither the Income Supplement Benefit for families with children nor the Household Supplement are indexed to inflation.

10. The New Brunswick School Supplement was received by the couple with two children household.

11. Note that Newfoundland and Labrador provides additional benefits to the unattached single with a disability household through a Personal Care Allowance and top-ups for rent and utilities via the Department of Health and Community Services. These are not indexed but assist with the costs of these items.

12. The Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit (NLCB) is indexed to the Newfoundland and Labrador CPI and calculated from October to September. Note that the phase-out threshold for the NLCB is not indexed.

13. The Northwest Territories pays actual costs for rent up to 25 per cent over CMHC average rents, using Canadian National Occupancy Standards for bedrooms. The Northwest Territories also pays actual fuel and utilities costs.

14. The Northwest Territories Cost of Living Offset ended in 2025 to align with the repeal of the Northwest Territories carbon tax. Before its discontinuation, the amount of the offset was adjusted in step with changes to carbon tax rates. Final payments were issued in April.

15. Nova Scotia began indexing basic social assistance benefits and the Disability Supplement effective January 1, 2025.

16. The School Supplies Supplement received by the couple with two children is not indexed to inflation. The Disability Supplement received by the unattached single with a disability was indexed as of January 2025.

17. Most Income Support households in Nunavut reside in public housing. Rents and utilities in public housing are heavily subsidized by the territorial government.

18. The Nunavut Carbon Credit ended in April 2025. Final payments were issued in January and April 2025.

19. Prince Edward Island introduced the PEI Child Benefit as of January 2025.

20. Basic social assistance benefits are indexed to the Quebec CPI excluding alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and recreational cannabis every January. Note that the Monthly Adjustment, Participation Allowances, and Manpower Training benefits were not indexed.

21. Additional benefits received through social assistance are indexed to the Quebec CPI as above. Shelter benefits received as an additional benefit through Revenu Québec are not indexed.

22. Family Allowance benefits and the Single Parent Supplement are indexed to the Quebec CPI as above; however, the School Supplies Supplement is not indexed.

23. Note that Saskatchewan pays for utilities costs for the household receiving benefits from the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program, in addition to the SAID Living Income Benefit.

24. In 2025, Saskatchewan was the only jurisdiction in Canada that did not have a provincial child benefit program. Note that, within its social assistance programs, Saskatchewan provides a Children’s Basic Benefit for residents of the Northern Administrative District and for families that are not eligible for the Canada Child Benefit; this benefit is not indexed.

25. The Saskatchewan Low Income Tax Credit (SLITC) is indexed to the national CPI. Note that the SLITC is enhanced by an additional 5 per cent, in addition to indexation, in the 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 tax years.

26. Basic social assistance benefits are indexed to the Whitehorse CPI in November of every year.

27. The Yukon Carbon Price Rebate ended in 2025 to align with the removal of the federal consumer carbon pricing system. Before its discontinuation, the amount of the rebate varied with the amount of federal levies collected on fuel use in the territory. Final payments were issued in April.