Saskatchewan Employment Incentive: Rates, Eligibility, and How to Apply

The Saskatchewan Employment Incentive (SEI) puts up to $600 per month into the hands of low-income working families raising children — and that includes kinship caregivers with a Person of Sufficient Interest order or anyone receiving the Canada Child Benefit. If you are working part-time while raising a grandchild or a relative's child, the SEI is one of the first programs to check.

How Much the SEI Pays

The maximum monthly payment depends on how many eligible children are in your household:

• 1 child: $400 per month
• 2 children: $500 per month
• 3 or more children: $600 per month

These amounts are tax-free. You receive the full maximum when your gross family employment income falls between $500 and $2,200 per month.

Once your income exceeds $2,200, the SEI claws back at 30 cents per dollar. That means the benefit phases out entirely at approximately $3,533 per month for one child, $3,867 for two children, and $4,200 for three or more.

Who Qualifies

To be eligible for the SEI, you need to meet all of these conditions:

• Minimum earned income: At least $500 per month from employment or self-employment (self-employment income is calculated at 40% of gross revenue)
• Eligible children: Children aged 0 to 12, or children aged 13 to 17 with special needs
• Benefit linkage: You must either be receiving the Canada Child Benefit for the children or hold a PSI order where the Ministry of Social Services pays maintenance

The program explicitly includes PSI caregivers. If you have a PSI order and you work, you qualify even though the Ministry claims the Children's Special Allowance instead of you receiving the CCB directly.

How the SEI Interacts With Other Benefits

The SEI stacks with most other supports:

• Canada Child Benefit (CCB): The SEI does not reduce your CCB, and CCB payments are not counted when calculating your SEI eligibility
• PSI maintenance: PSI payments for the child are excluded from the SEI income calculation
• Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS): SEI payments reduce SIS dollar-for-dollar, so the two programs do not combine well — but if your earned income qualifies you for SEI, you are likely above the SIS threshold anyway
• Family Health Benefits: Getting approved for SEI automatically qualifies your household for Family Health Benefits, which covers children's dental, annual eye exams, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, and emergency ambulance at no cost

That automatic health coverage is a significant bonus. Many kinship caregivers do not realize that an SEI approval unlocks a second benefit without a separate application.

How to Apply

Apply through the Ministry of Social Services online SEI portal using a Saskatchewan Account. You will need:

1. A Saskatchewan Account login
2. Proof of employment income (recent pay stubs or, for self-employment, a record of gross revenue)
3. Confirmation that you are receiving the CCB for the children, or documentation of your PSI order

Report your monthly earned income by the designated monthly cut-off date — missing the reporting deadline can delay or suspend payments.

A Real Example

Sarah earns $1,800 per month working 30 hours a week in Saskatoon. She has taken in her two nieces (ages 4 and 7) under a private parenting order. She receives the Canada Child Benefit for both children. Her income falls squarely in the $500–$2,200 maximum-benefit window, so she receives the full $500 per month for two children.

On top of that, her 4-year-old is enrolled in licensed childcare at the $10-per-day capped rate under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement. Her 7-year-old is in subsidized after-school care. And her SEI approval automatically triggered Family Health Benefits for the whole household.

What Happens When Your Income Changes

If your income rises above $2,200 per month, your SEI payment starts shrinking. If it drops below $500, you lose eligibility. Report changes promptly — late reporting can trigger overpayment recovery.

If you lose your job entirely, the SEI stops because it requires active employment income. At that point, Saskatchewan Income Support becomes the fallback.

The Saskatchewan Kinship Financial Help Guide maps the full picture of how the SEI fits with PSI maintenance, the CCB, SIS, and other supports based on your specific care arrangement.

See more Saskatchewan guides →