Skip to content
ENFR
Back to Benefits
Provincial Program · Prince Edward Island

PEI Social Assistance

PEI Social Assistance

PEI's Social Assistance Program helps residents whose income cannot cover the basic costs of living by providing financial help for food, shelter, and other essentials. Depending on your financial need, you may also receive help with child care, medicine, and other living essentials.

Last reviewed: September 2026

Useful Tips for Applying

Ask your caseworker about additional help for medicine, child care, and other essentials, since these may be available on top of the basic amount. If you have a disability, ask about a referral to the Disability Support Program. Report any income changes promptly to avoid overpayments.

Who May Qualify

You may qualify if you are a PEI resident age 18 or older and your income cannot cover the basic costs of living, and your property value is within the program's limits (around $300,000).

Required Documents

Proof of PEI residency, government-issued ID, proof of income and assets, and information about your housing and family costs. Your property value must be within program limits.

How to Apply

Call the PEI Social Assistance screening line to start an application. A caseworker assesses your income, assets, and housing costs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A common mistake is not reporting all income and assets, which can cause overpayments. Another is not asking about additional help for medicine and child care, which may be available. People also miss that if you have a disability, you may be referred to the Disability Support Program for more comprehensive help.

Preparing an application?

The Application Helper walks you through each question on this benefit's form in plain language.

Open Application Helper

You may also be eligible for…

PEI Housing AssistProvincial

PEI Housing Assistance

PEI Housing Assistance provides low-income Islanders with appropriate housing at a reduced cost. This can include renting a social housing unit or receiving a rent supplement that reduces the cost of rental market housing. The program is needs-based, with priority given to those assessed to be in the greatest need.

View details
PEI RenovationProvincial

PEI Home Renovation Programs – Accessibility

Home modification funding streams for eligible Prince Edward Island residents that may include accessibility work.

View details
PEI AASProvincial

AccessAbility Supports

AccessAbility Supports (formerly the Disability Support Program) is a Prince Edward Island program that helps Islanders with physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory, or mental disabilities who experience substantial impairment in their activities of daily living. Support is provided in five areas: Personal Supports, Housing Supports, Community Supports, Caregiver Supports, and Financial Supports. Under Personal Supports, this can include technical aids and assistive devices such as a wheelchair, along with life-skills training, in-home supports, and specialized care. The program's technical aids and assistive devices policy covers categories such as bathroom aids, bedroom aids, household aids, communication devices, feeding equipment and supplies, hearing aids, orthotic devices, prosthetic devices, visual aids, wheelchairs, and positioning and ambulatory aids. Housing Supports include vehicle and home modification funding, and Financial Supports can include Assured Income for basic needs.

View details

Need help from a real person?

Free disability-benefits navigation services are available if you'd like help understanding or applying for this benefit.

Government-funded navigation service

ResourceAbilities — Disability Benefit Navigation

Prince Edward Island (Kings, Queens and Prince Counties)

ResourceAbilities is a free, one-stop hub helping people with disabilities navigate, discover and connect with disability and accessibility-related services across Prince Edward Island. As a federally funded Disability Benefit Navigation provider, it offers one-to-one support to help Islanders with disabilities access the Disability Tax Credit and related benefits. Offices serve Kings, Queens and Prince Counties.

Languages: English, French

Kings County (Montague): 1-902-838-5879; Queens County (Charlottetown): 1-902-892-9149; Prince County (Summerside): 1-902-436-1296Website
Government-funded navigation service

Indigenous Disability Canada / BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)

National

Indigenous Disability Canada / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) is a national, Indigenous-led charitable organization providing cross-disability support and navigation services to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) peoples in Canada with disabilities. It delivers the National Indigenous Navigation Services to help Indigenous persons with disabilities access the Disability Tax Credit, the Canada Disability Benefit, and other federal, provincial and territorial disability benefits.

Languages: English, French

1-250-381-7303 (BC); 1-613-899-6893 (National Coordinator, Ottawa)Website
Government-funded navigation service

Disability Alliance Canada

National

Disability Alliance Canada is a national cross-disability non-profit that provides free one-on-one support to help people navigate federal disability programs, including the Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit (CPP-D), the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). They also offer educational guides, training and workshops, and help with applications, reconsiderations, and appeals.

Languages: English, French

Website

Application denied?

If your application is turned down, the Appeals Guide explains filing deadlines, escalation levels, and where to find free legal and advocate help.

Read the Appeals Guide

Resources in this area

Disability Advocacy

ResourceAbilities — Disability Benefit Navigation

ResourceAbilities is a free, one-stop hub helping people with disabilities navigate, discover and connect with disability and accessibility-related services across Prince Edward Island. As a federally funded Disability Benefit Navigation provider, it offers one-to-one support to help Islanders with disabilities access the Disability Tax Credit and related benefits. Offices serve Kings, Queens and Prince Counties.

View details Disability Advocacy

PEI Council of People with Disabilities

The PEI Council of People with Disabilities is a voluntary non-profit organization that supports Islanders with disabilities through advocacy, information, and referrals. It is the provincial cross-disability organization serving Prince Edward Island residents with disabilities and their families.

View details Government Services

AccessAbility Supports (PEI)

Prince Edward Island's provincial program that helps Islanders living with disabilities access the supports, equipment, and services they need to reach their full potential.

View details

Accessible Compass is an independent guide — we are not a government agency and do not process applications or approve benefits. We provide general information only, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Program rules may change. Always confirm with official government sources.

base44
Edit with Base44