RAP (Resettlement Assistance Program) Rates

The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) is a contribution program through which the Government of Canada provides assistance for resettled refugees to establish themselves in their new home. The program has two main components: income support and a range of immediate essential services. The income support also has two components: start up allowances and monthly income support.

Start Up Allowances

The Start-up allowances include a one-time payment intended to cover the initial cost of settling in Canada (Please consult the start-up sheet for specific breakdown and rates).

These allowances include:

Staple allowance
Basic household needs allowance
Furniture allowance
Regular and seasonal clothing allowance
Winter clothing allowance
Utility installation allowance
Linens allowance
School start-up allowance (if applicable).

Note: For BVOR and PSR clients, start-up costs are covered by the sponsoring group.

Monthly Income Support

Monthly income support is intended to cover basic needs such as food, incidentals, shelter, transportation and a communication allowance. Other special allowances may be added based on need. To determine the actual amount of financial assistance that may be required in a particular city or province, sponsors should consider the prevailing Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) rates in the expected community of settlement. Please consult the RAP rate sheets for the specific rates in your province

Refugees sponsored through the Blended VOR Program are eligible for the following income support benefits:

Food and incidentals (basic needs),
Basic shelter,
Housing supplement (new)
Communication allowance (new)
Transportation,
Age of majority top-up allowance (if applicable) (new),
Special Dietary allowance (if applicable) (new), and
Maternity food allowance (if applicable).

The remaining costs, including start-up and additional special expenses as required, are covered by the sponsoring group.

Transportation Allowance

In all provinces, a transportation allowance will be provided to each adult including seniors as per the rate of public transit for adults and seniors in their community, or a minimum of $75/month, whichever is greater. In communities where there is no public transit, a flat transportation rate of $75 is issued.

*NEWS – Upcoming Changes to the RAP Rates (effective as of January 01, 2022)

Please be informed that the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) has increased its income support levels in order to ensure RAP

to align basic monthly income support amounts with provincial social assistance rates and that RAP rates continue to respond to financial needs of resettled refugees.

PLEASE NOTE: These changes came into effect on January 1^st, 2022 and are summarized as follows:

Increase to RAP core rates (basic and shelter) to bring them up to parity with provincial social assistance rates, including for senior allowances where applicable.
Increase to the monthly communication allowance from $30/month to $75/month to support access to virtual services.
Standardizing the age of majority for RAP program at 18 in all provinces.
Standardizing transportation rates across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) per details provided in the table below (link).

Both social assistance and RAP rates are subject to change, and sponsoring groups are expected to provide support in accordance with the RAP rates and policies in place at the time of the refugee’s arrival and over the course of their sponsorship period. These changes are necessary in response to the rising cost of living and to ensure that RAP income support levels are aligned with provincial social assistance rates.

The updated RAP rates are now reflected in the RSTP’s Minimum Financial Support Calculator as of the implementation date on January 1^st, 2022. IRCC’s Post-arrival Financial Support FAQs will also be updated to reflect these changes.

Summary of changes to each impacted RAP benefit :

Increases to basic allowances

Increases to basic allowances to bring RAP income support to parity with provincial social assistance
PROVINCE	INCREASE (MONTHLY)
BC	$175/adult in food and incidentals, including senior rates.
AB	No change
SK	$30/adult – food and incidentals $163-$377 / household (depending on family size) – shelter
MB	Singles ($186) and couples ($84) increase to food and incidentals $46 to $371/household depending on family size- Shelter
ON	Change in Senior rates only: $76-$219 – food and incidentals $18-$36 – shelter
NB	$17 – food and incidentals (singles only) $10 – shelter (singles only)
NB income supplement		Change from $75 to $120 ; And eligibility from <19 to <18 based on standardized age of majority for RAP
NS		Range $20-$40 depending on composition – food and Incidentals. Range $11-$13 depending on composition – shelter.
NFLD		$223 shelter increase for single family composition only
PEI		$120- $461 ( depending on composition ) – food and incidentals

Increases to the communication allowance

Increase to communication allowance to support connectivity in virtual environments
Communication allowance (all provinces)	Given the shift to delivery of most services virtually, the communication allowance will be increased to be sufficient to cover monthly internet connection costs, so that resettled refugees may access settlement services and other support systems required to meet their needs in today’s context. The monthly communication allowance will be increased from $30 to $75 per household

Age of Majority standardized to 18 (all provinces)

Standardizing the Age of Majority to 18 in all provinces

Impacted provinces:

BC, NB, NS, and NFLD

Currently the age of majority is 19 in four provinces (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland)
The age of majority will be standardized to 18 in all provinces. This change will ensure that all 18-year old dependants have access to adult rates and the ability to manage their own finances, in alignment with the age of majority with overseas application forms, which can be signed by applicants 18 or older
The Age of Majority Top up Allowance, which was introduced in 2017 to cover the gap for families in those four provinces who no longer receive CCB after their dependent turns 18, will be discontinued, as all clients will now have access to adult rates once they turn 18 years of age.

Standardization of transportation rates (GTHA)

Standardizing transportation rates across the GTHA

$156/month for all of the following:

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)

including cities of:

Toronto
Hamilton
Regions of Halton
Regions of Peel
Regions of York
Regions of Durham

In the GTHA, clients might often live, work and access services in different adjoining communities and therefore access multiple transit systems within their area of settlement. They also may settle or find housing in an adjoining community where the transit rates differ from their community of original destination.
The transportation allowance for the GTHA will be aligned with the highest monthly fare within the GTHA catchment area to support client access to the full network of transit systems serving their area, which clients regularly access for services or employment regardless of their city of destination within the GTHA.
As is currently the case, the monthly transportation allowance may be waived in areas with no public transit system as long as alternative transportation is provided at no cost to the refugee, or if the allowance is provided in kind, such as through free bus passes or access to programs for low-income residents.