Latest count of social assistance recipients across Canada is now available

The Social Assistance Summaries, 2023 report provides you with data on how many people were receiving social assistance in 2022-23 and how those numbers have changed over time. This annual report publishes data from every province and territory to track the number of social assistance cases and beneficiaries across Canada.

For each province and territory, the report includes:

• A brief description of the social assistance program(s);
• Analysis of the total number of cases and beneficiaries of social assistance over time by program;
• Analysis of social assistance beneficiaries as a proportion of the under-65 population over time by program;
• Analysis of disaggregated social assistance data (since 2021) by program for:
  • Cases and beneficiaries by household type;
  • Beneficiaries by gender or sex (depending on provincial or territorial nomenclature);
  • Heads of households by gender or sex for unattached singles and single parents;
  • Adult beneficiaries by age category; and
  • Percentage of cases receiving employment income.

For the total incomes available to those relying on social assistance, visit the Welfare in Canada report.

What’s new in the 2023 report?

New disaggregated variables:Social Assistance Summaries now includes data for five disaggregated variables, three of which are new in this year’s report:  

• Heads of households by gender or sex for unattached single adults and single parents; 
• Adult beneficiaries by age category; and  
• Percentage of cases with employment income. 

New programs: We are reporting on two new social assistance programs introduced in 2022-23: the Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities and the Basic Income Program in Quebec.

Disability data expansion: This year’s report now includes disability data, including disaggregated data, for four jurisdictions that do not have disability-specific social assistance programs – Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon.

Similarly, we have added data for two disability supplements for two provinces that also have disability-specific social assistance programs: Barriers to Full Employment under Income Support in Alberta, and Medical Barriers to Full Employment under Employment and Income Assistance in Manitoba.

Data reference period changes: Twelve of 13 jurisdictions now provide their data as an average over the fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). This year, Nunavut converted 2020-21 to 2022-23 data from calendar-year averages to fiscal averages. Conversely, Quebec provided this year’s data as point-in-time in March 2023, as opposed to fiscal year averages as it has done historically.

Definitions added: We updated program descriptions with definitions of disability where relevant and added definitions of employment income for each jurisdiction.  

New spreadsheet design: We redesigned the downloadable spreadsheets, so they are easier to navigate and use. For each province and territory, you will find total caseload data, relative caseload data, and disaggregated data.