Saskatchewan Income Support Application: How to Apply for SIS

When a grandparent or relative suddenly takes in a child and has no employment income to fall back on, Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) is the provincial safety net. It covers basic living costs and shelter — but the rates, rules, and application process are spread across multiple government pages with no single walkthrough. Here is how SIS actually works for kinship caregivers.

Current SIS Rates (effective May 1, 2026)

SIS pays three components: an adult basic benefit, a children's benefit, and a shelter benefit.

Adult Basic Benefit:

• Outside the Northern Administration District: $365 per adult per month
• Inside the Northern Administration District: $445 per adult per month

Children's Basic Benefit:

• $65 per child per month in the Northern Administration District
• $400 per child per month if the child is ineligible for the federal Canada Child Benefit

Most kinship caregivers who are receiving the CCB will see the $65 rate. The $400 rate applies when the child is ineligible for the federal CCB. A caregiver cannot claim CCB for a child while the Ministry of Social Services claims the Children's Special Allowance under a PSI order; ask MSS how the child's status is treated in your SIS household calculation.

Shelter Benefit (monthly maximums):

In Regina and Saskatoon:

• Single person: $660
• Couple with no children: $845
• Family with 1–2 children: $1,085
• Family with 3+ children: $1,265

In the rest of the province:

• Single person: $600
• Couple with no children: $735
• Family with 1–2 children: $840
• Family with 3+ children: $945

These are caps, not guaranteed amounts. Your actual shelter benefit is based on your real rent or housing costs, up to the maximum.

How to Apply

You can apply for SIS three ways:

1. Online: Through the Ministry of Social Services application portal
2. By phone: Call 1-888-345-0850
3. In person: Visit your local MSS Service Centre

You will need:

• Identification for yourself and the child
• Proof of your current address and housing costs (lease, utility bills)
• Income verification (pension statements, bank statements, CRA Notice of Assessment)
• The child's birth certificate or proof of care documentation

SIS payments start from the date your complete application and all verification documents are received by MSS. There is no retroactivity beyond the start of the application month, so apply as soon as you know you need support — do not wait until everything is perfectly organized.

Income Exemptions That Matter for Caregivers

SIS is a means-tested benefit, but not everything counts as income:

• Canada Child Benefit: Excluded. Your CCB does not reduce your SIS.
• PSI maintenance payments: Excluded. If you receive PSI money for the child, it does not count against your SIS for your own adult needs.
• Earned income: The first $375 per month (single), $475 (couple), or $500 (family) of employment income is exempt. Above that, SIS reduces.
• Incidental income: The first $200 per month from non-employment sources is exempt.
• Saskatchewan Employment Incentive: SEI payments reduce SIS dollar-for-dollar.

This means a grandparent receiving OAS and CPP pension income may still qualify for SIS if the pension is modest, because the pension is assessed after the exemptions are applied.

Emergency Needs While You Wait

If a child arrives suddenly — a parent is hospitalized, incarcerated, or the Ministry intervenes — you may need food, a crib, clothing, or formula before your SIS application is processed.

Contact your local MSS Service Centre and ask about Short-Term Emergency Assistance or the Household Health and Safety Benefit. MSS workers can issue emergency food vouchers or short-term funds while your formal application and background checks are pending.

Reporting Changes

Once you are on SIS, report changes on the applicable schedule:

• Report address or housing changes within 10 days so MSS can adjust your shelter allowance
• Report household composition changes immediately, such as when a child leaves or returns to a parent
• Report monthly earned income by the designated cut-off date

Report changes promptly so MSS can update your assistance.

SIS Versus Other Supports

SIS is the benefit of last resort. If you have at least $500 per month in employment income, check whether you qualify for the Saskatchewan Employment Incentive, which can pay up to $400–$600 based on the number of eligible children and automatically includes Family Health Benefits. SEI payments reduce SIS dollar-for-dollar, so ask MSS how the programs affect your household amount. If the child is under a PSI order, the maintenance payment is set under its own agreement; compare that amount with any SIS benefit for which you qualify.

The Saskatchewan Kinship Financial Help Guide maps how SIS fits alongside PSI maintenance, the CCB, SEI, and other programs — and which combination you qualify for depends entirely on your care arrangement and income.

See more Saskatchewan guides →