In Canada, social programs provided by the government exist to give assistance to and aid citizens outside what the market provides. Many programs are run at the level of the provinces. If you are a recipient of a social program either by the federal government or provincial government, you need to change your address accordingly to make sure your file is updated. To make it easier for you, we gathered in this article the social programs offered at the provincial level and the details on how to make your change of address with them!
Change of address for social assistance programs?
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH THE CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM
What is the Employment Insurance Program (EI)?
The EI program supplies temporary income support to those who are unemployed and are looking for employment or to upgrade their skills, as well as special benefits to workers who took time off work due to specific life events.
Who must change their address for the Employment Insurance Program?
You need to notify the Government of Canada of your new address if you are an EI claimant or have received EI benefits in the past year. This will ensure that no delays will occur when receiving benefits if they are payable and that your T4E is mailed to the correct address for your tax return in the following year.
How to change your address for the Employment Insurance Program?
To change your address for the EI program, you need to:
- Sign in to your My Service Canada Account
- Under the “Change” tab, select the “View/change my mailing address and telephone number” option
- Select the “Change” button to update your information
What you should know!
If your residential address happens to be different than your mailing address, you can’t update your information online. In that case, two options are available to you:
- Visit the nearest Service Canada Centre
- Call 1-800-206-7218
- Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time
If you need more info on the Employment Insurance program, refer to this article!
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH QUEBEC’S MINISTÈRE DU TRAVAIL, DE L’EMPLOI ET DE LA SOLIDARITÉ SOCIALE
What is the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS)?
MTESS is an agency responsible for providing social solidarity services and administering last-resort financial assistance to persons and families that cannot meet their own needs.
Who must notify the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale of a change of address?
If you are currently receiving benefits under the Social Assistance Program, you need to inform the MTESS of a change of address.
How to change your address with the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale?
To change your address with the MTESS, three options are available to you:
- Use the Service québécois de changement d’adresse, either online or with the help of a Services Québec information officer, and provide the required information.
- To contact a Service Québec information officer, call:
- Québec area: 418 644-4545
- Montréal area: 514 644-4545
- Elsewhere in Québec: 1 877 644-4545
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- To contact a Service Québec information officer, call:
- Fill out a Statement of Change form and either:
- Take it in person to a Local Employment Centre or Services Québec office that provides social solidarity services, or
- Send it in by mail:
Direction du Centre de communication avec la clientèle Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
150, rue Monseigneur-Ross, 5e étage
Gaspé (Québec)
G4X 2S7
- Contact the Centre de communication avec la clientèle.
- Montréal region: 514 873-4000
- Toll-free elsewhere in Québec: 1 877 767-8773
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What you should know!
If you choose to use the Service québécois de changement d’adresse to notify the Ministère of your change of address, you need to provide the following information:
- former address;
- new address;
- social insurance number;
- date of birth;
- file number at the Ministère.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH ONTARIO’S MINISTRY OF CHILDREN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
What is the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services?
The Ministry manages two different social assistance programs: Ontario Works that provides income and employment supports to those who are temporarily in financial need and the Ontario Disability Support Program that provides income and employment supports to those with disabilities.
Who must notify the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services of a change of address?
If you are receiving Ontario Works, you have to inform the Ministry of a change in your situation.
If you are an Ontario Disability Support Program recipient, you need to inform the Ministry of a change of address.
How to change your address with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services?
Ontario Works:
To change your address for Ontario Works, two options are available to you:
- Complete the Changes Report form that is included in the monthly mailout
- Report the changes to your caseworker in person or by phone
What you should know:
In the Changes Report form, you can also include any other change to your circumstances, such as family size, income, or housing costs. It is important to inform the Ministry of any change as it may alter the amount of money you receive each month.
Ontario Disability Support Program:
To change your address for the Ontario Disability Support Program, you need to contact your local ODSP office in person, by phone or by mail.
What you should know:
- You need to include your nine digit member ID when you submit any information to your local office. You can find the number on your monthly statement.
Refer to this list for all the changes you need to report to your local ODSP office.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH BRITISH COLUMBIA’S FAMILY & SOCIAL SUPPORTS
What is Family & Social Supports in British Columbia?
The provincial government in British Columbia offers two types of assistance:
- Income Assistance which provides assistance to those in financial need and with no other resources to help them transition to employment
- Disability Assistance which provides financial or health support to Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
Who must change their address for Family & Social Supports?
If you are a recipient of Income Assistance or Disability Assistance, you must keep your information updated. You can check your My Self Serve account for all your personal information.
How to change your address with Family & Social Supports?
To change your address for both Income and Disability Assistance, two options are available to you:
- Include the change on your next monthly report
- Contact Income and Disability Services
- Call 1 866 866-0800 (toll-free)
- Visit an office in your area
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH ALBERTA’S MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
What is the Ministry of Community and Social Services?
The Ministry of Community and Social Services provides income, employment, disabilities and community-based supports, as well as family & community support services.
Who must notify the Ministry of Community and Social Services of a change of address?
If you are a recipient of any type of support provided by the Ministry, you must report a change to your address to ensure you get the support you need.
How to change your address with the Ministry of Community and Social Services?
To change your address with the Ministry, you need to contact your social worker responsible of your case as soon as possible.
What you should know!
You need to report other important changes, like a change in employment or marital status to your social worker too. Refer to this list of all changes for more details.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH MANITOBA’S EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
What is the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Program?
The EIA Program is made to provide help to those who have no other way of supporting themselves or their families, as well as helping people get back to work by providing supports to employment.
Who must change their address for the Employment and Income Assistance Program?
If you are receiving EIA benefits, you have to immediately report all changes in your family, living arrangements, address, income or assets to staff.
How to change your address for the Employment and Income Assistance Program?
To change your address for the EIA Program, two options are available to you:
- Use the online Manitoba Address Change Service
- Contact an EIA office
- Winnipeg: 204-948-4000
- Toll free: 1-877-812-0014
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH SASKATCHEWAN’S MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES
What is the Ministry of Social Services?
The Ministry of Social Services provides assistance for income support, child and family services, supports for persons with disabilities and affordable housing.
Who must notify the Ministry of Social Services of a change of address?
If you are receiving any form of social assistance from the Ministry, you must report a change of address to prevent any delay in receiving your social assistance benefits.
How to change your address with the Ministry of Social Services?
To notify the Ministry of a change of address, there are two types of forms you can complete depending on the social assistance you receive:
- For Saskatchewan Assistance: fill out the Move form.
- For Transitional Employment Allowance: fill out the Transitional Employment Allowance Change Report
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH NOVA SCOTIA’S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
What is the Department of Community Services?
The Department of Community Services provides social services like the Disability Support Program and the Employment Support & Income Assistance to Nova Scotians in need.
Who must notify the Department of Community Services of a change of address?
If you are receiving any form of social assistance from the Department, you need to report a change to your situation to make sure your file is updated.
How to change your address with the Department of Community Services?
To change your address with the Department, you need to contact your local Community Services office.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITH NEW BRUNSWICK’S SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
What is the Social Assistance Program?
The provincial government provides financial assistance is given to people who have no other income to meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.
Who must change their address for the Social Assistance Program?
If you are a Social Assistance Program recipient, you must report your new address to the Ministry of Social Development.
How to change your address for the Social Assistance Program?
To change your address for the Social Assistance Program, you need to contact a Social Development office.
