PSI Order vs Parenting Order in Saskatchewan: Which Gets You More Financial Help?
If you are a grandparent or relative raising a child in Saskatchewan and trying to decide between a Person of Sufficient Interest order and a parenting order under The Children's Law Act, 2020, the short answer is that each opens different doors — and the right choice depends on whether you need ongoing Ministry of Social Services support or an independent private court order. A PSI order gives you access to Extended Family Maintenance payments through the Ministry. A parenting order can grant decision-making responsibility under the Act but does not provide PSI maintenance. Neither is universally better. What matters is which benefits the child needs most.
This page walks through the financial consequences of each route so you can have an informed conversation with a legal aid lawyer or the Family Law Information Centre before committing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | PSI Order | Parenting Order (King's Bench) |
|---|---|---|
| Court | Provincial Court or Court of King's Bench, within an existing CFSA child-protection proceeding; the relative must be joined as a party | Court of King's Bench (private application under The Children's Law Act, 2020) |
| Filing fee | PSI is handled within an existing child-protection proceeding, not as a separate private filing | $300 |
| Ministry involvement | Yes — the Ministry of Social Services opens a file and assigns a caseworker | No — this is a private family law matter |
| Extended Family Maintenance | Eligible — monthly payments through the SFFA payment calendar | Not eligible — the child is no longer on a ministry file |
| Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) | Eligible for general SIS if income qualifies | Eligible for general SIS if income qualifies |
| Saskatchewan Employment Incentive (SEI) | Eligible through PSI status if not receiving SIS or SAID and child-age and earned-income rules are met | Eligible through the CCB pathway if not receiving SIS or SAID and child-age and earned-income rules are met |
| Canada Child Benefit (CCB) | Not eligible when MSS pays PSI maintenance and claims the CSA for the child | May qualify if the CRA primary-caregiver test is met; a court order alone is not sufficient |
| Legal authority for school and medical | PSI caregiver becomes the child's legal guardian under the CFSA s. 37 order | Decision-making responsibility as granted in the order under The Children's Law Act, 2020 |
| Annual ministry reviews | Yes — caseworker reviews placement annually (post-2023 Advocate recommendations) | No ministry reviews |
| Child's legal status | Non-ward (not in ministry care, but ministry-supervised) | Fully private — no ministry involvement |
The Financial Gap That Matters Most
The biggest single financial difference is Extended Family Maintenance. Under a PSI order, the Ministry of Social Services pays a monthly maintenance rate to support the child's basic needs. These rates are processed on fixed schedules through the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association and were increased by 3% across all family care providers in 2025–26 following the Advocate for Children and Youth's investigation into the PSI program.
Under a parenting order, you receive no PSI maintenance from the Ministry. If you meet the CRA primary-caregiver test, you may qualify for the Canada Child Benefit; SIS and SEI have separate eligibility rules, and SEI is not available while receiving SIS or SAID. Child support ordered against the biological parents has its own process.
For a grandparent on a fixed pension (OAS, GIS, CPP, or the Saskatchewan Seniors Income Plan), losing the monthly maintenance payment can be the difference between managing and falling short. For a working-age relative with steady employment income, the SEI and CCB together may be enough without ministry maintenance — and the freedom from annual caseworker reviews may matter more.
Who a PSI Order Is For
- Grandparents or relatives on a pension or low income who need the monthly maintenance payment to cover the child's food, clothing, and school costs
- Caregivers who want the Ministry's caseworker support for accessing other services (respite, Traditions of Caring training, crisis support)
- Situations where the biological parent's circumstances are unstable and ministry oversight provides a safety net for the child
- Relatives who do not want to pay a $300 filing fee and legal costs out of pocket (ministry-initiated PSI applications are funded by the Ministry)
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Who a PSI Order Is NOT For
- Relatives who want full independence from the Ministry of Social Services and do not want annual caseworker reviews or placement assessments
- Caregivers in stable, long-term arrangements where the biological parent is unlikely to seek the child's return and ministry supervision adds no practical benefit
- Anyone who is uncomfortable with a ministry file being open on the child
Who a Parenting Order Is For
- Relatives who want an independent private court order without ministry involvement
- Caregivers with sufficient income from employment, CCB, and SIS or SEI to support the child without Extended Family Maintenance
- Situations where the child's placement is stable and long-term, and the caregiver wants the finality of a private court order
- Relatives who plan to apply for child support from the biological parents through the Court of King's Bench
Who a Parenting Order Is NOT For
- Grandparents on a fixed pension who cannot absorb the loss of monthly maintenance payments
- Caregivers who need the Ministry's ongoing support services, including respite and crisis intervention
- Relatives who cannot afford the $300 filing fee plus potential legal costs ($250–$500 per hour for a private family lawyer in Regina or Saskatoon)
The Honest Tradeoffs
A PSI order comes with oversight. The Ministry assigns a caseworker, conducts annual reviews, and maintains a file on the child. Some relatives find this supportive. Others find it intrusive — particularly when the reason the child is in their care involves painful family circumstances they would rather keep private.
A parenting order does not provide PSI maintenance. You may qualify for CCB if you meet the CRA primary-caregiver test, and SIS and SEI have their own eligibility rules. If you are on a pension and the PSI maintenance payment is what keeps the household afloat, losing it is not a tradeoff — it is a crisis.
Jordan's Principle services (for First Nations children) and the Canada Pension Plan Children's Benefit, when a parent has died or is disabled, do not depend on whether the caregiver has a PSI or parenting order. The Active Families Benefit requires the claimant to be the child's parent or legal guardian, with the child aged 18 or younger at year-end; the adjusted family income limit and eligible-activity rules also apply.
How the Guide Helps You Decide
The Money and Support for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Saskatchewan guide includes a Care Arrangement Decision Tool that asks four questions about your current situation and maps you to the chapters, forms, and agencies that apply. It covers both PSI and parenting order routes in full, with application instructions, rate tables, and worked examples showing the financial difference for real household scenarios. The standalone SEI Calculator Worksheet lets you model the employment incentive under either arrangement before you commit.
If you are not sure which route is right, download the free Saskatchewan Kinship Money Checklist first — it lists every payment available and which agency runs each one, so you can see the full picture before making a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from a PSI order to a parenting order later?
A caregiver can ask the Court of King's Bench for a private parenting order under The Children's Law Act, 2020, but it is a separate court application, not an automatic conversion of a PSI order. A PSI order requires an existing CFSA child-protection proceeding, with the relative joined as a party; it is not a standalone private application. A private parenting order does not provide PSI maintenance, so discuss the effect on an existing PSI arrangement with Legal Aid or another lawyer before applying.
Does a PSI order mean the child is in foster care?
No. A child under a PSI order is a non-ward. They are not in the care of the Minister and are not in foster care. The Ministry supervises the placement, but the child lives with a trusted relative or community connection, not in a foster home. The 2023 Advocate investigation specifically examined how PSI placements differ from wardship.
Which order makes it easier to claim the Canada Child Benefit?
They do not work the same way. When MSS pays PSI maintenance, MSS claims the Children's Special Allowance and the caregiver cannot receive CCB for that child. With a private parenting order, you may apply using Form RC66 if you meet the CRA primary-caregiver test; the order alone does not establish eligibility.
What if I cannot afford a lawyer for either option?
Legal Aid Saskatchewan provides court representation to financially eligible clients in child-protection proceedings and high-conflict family matters. Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan offers summary legal advice through free clinics. The Family Law Information Centre provides self-help kits for private family-law filings; PSI status is handled within an existing child-protection proceeding. The guide lists contact details and phone numbers for these services.
Does the SEI pay more under a PSI order?
The SEI pays the same maximum rates regardless of whether you hold a PSI order or a parenting order: $400 per month for one child, $500 for two, and $600 for three or more. Eligible children are aged 0–12, or 13–17 who need child care due to special circumstances; the caregiver needs at least $500 in eligible monthly earned income and cannot be receiving SIS or SAID. Maximum rates apply through $2,200 in monthly family earned income; above that, payments taper by 30 cents per dollar until the income cap of $3,533.34 for one child, $3,866.67 for two, or $4,200 for three or more. PSI holders can qualify through PSI status; parenting-order holders need the CCB pathway.
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