That said, the SAID program doesn’t just focus on income assistance and covering fees. They also focus on the needs of the client, and support their integration into the community. When it comes to income amounts, those are specific to the person.
How The SAID Program Works
In Saskatchewan, the SAID program is made up of 3 different benefits. These are the living income benefit, the disability income benefit and the exceptional needs income benefit. Just because you’re approved for the SAID benefit doesn’t mean that you’ll get approved for all of these. Here’s how they work.
Living Income Benefit
With the living income benefit, your basic costs are all lumped into one payment. This means that you get to control how much you spend on your shelter, food and other basic needs. Essentially, the funds are given directly to you, and you have control over how you spend them.
Disability Income Benefit
These funds are meant to be used for any costs associated with your disability. So this can include things like prescriptions, medical equipment or any other costs that may come up.
Exceptional Needs Income Benefit
Depending on your disability, you may require special products that aren’t covered by the rest of your income. This can include things like special foods, clothing or home care. If you’re in need of a service animal, this benefit can be used to cover the cost of caring for that service animal.
Who’s Eligible?
In order to receive the SAID benefit, you do have to be eligible. In order to be eligible, you have to meet the eligibility criteria. These include:
- Living in Saskatchewan
- Being 18 years of age or older
- Having a significant permanent disability
- Being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or having refugee status
- Lacking the funds needed to meet your daily needs
When it comes to having a disability, a Disability Impact Assessment is required. This assessment will determine whether or not you meet the requirements to get approved for the SAID program.
Amounts You Can Receive
How much you can receive with the SAID program really just depends on your specific needs. There’s really no cap, and the amounts are specific to each person who is approved. That said, there is a cap on the amount you can receive for the living income benefit. It varies based on where you live, how many adults are in the home, and how many dependent children you have.
The least you can get per month is $991, whereas the most you can get is $1,844. Here are the amounts you can get for other portions of the SAID benefit.
| Benefit | Monthly Payment Amount |
| Telephone | $30 |
| Electricity | $84-$136 |
| Energy | $93-$125 |
| Water/Sewer | $50-$74 |
| Laundry Allowance | $10-$25 |
| Childcare (with a licensed childcare provider) | $10-$41 per day |
| Disability Income Benefit | $70 |
| Northern Living Supplement | $50 per person |
| Household Task Benefit | $25 |
| Exceptional Needs Activity Benefit | $25 |
| Personal Living Benefit | $310 |
2025 Payment Dates
In Saskatchewan, the date that you receive your payments is based on how you receive them. That said, the most common way to receive them now is through direct deposit, meaning that the money will be put directly into bank accounts on the agreed-upon dates. Here are the payment dates for 2025.
| Month | Cheque Mail Date | Direct Deposit Date |
| July | June 25 | June 27 |
| August | July 28 | July 30 |
| September | August 26 | August 28 |
| October | September 25 | September 29 |
| November | October 28 | October 30 |
| December | November 25 | November 27 |
| January 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| February 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| March 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| April 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| May 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| June 2026 | TBD | TBD |
SAID Program 2025
As of right now, there’s no new information regarding the SAID program for 2025.
The Application Process
When applying for SAID, it’s not as simple as just filling out an application. There are a few steps you need to take to get through the whole process. However, as you may have guessed, the process starts with filling out an application.
You can fill out an application with SAID in one of three ways. You can apply online or visit the local Social Services Office, or you can call 1-877-567-7243. Once you have completed this step, the program will require some information from you. This includes you:
- SIN number
- Information about spouse/common-law partner or dependants
- Financial information
- Assets you own
- Income from pensions and benefits
- Documents pertaining to your home
- Bank statements
After this, you then have a total of 30 days to provide the following information:
- Direct deposit information
- Financial information
- Asset information
- The completed mandatory questionnaire
- Benefit and pension information
Once You’ve Applied
Once the application process has been completed and you’ve been approved for SAID, you will be required to provide more details regarding your disability to ensure the right amounts and services are being provided to you when you receive your first payment. It’s also important to maintain contact and report any changes to ensure you maintain the correct benefits for the entire time you’re eligible.
Changes you should report include:
- Moving
- Finding a job
- A change in the number of dependants
- Income changes
- Health changes
- Banking information changes
Other Social Assistance Programs in Saskatchewan
As we’ve mentioned, SAID is just one of the programs offered by Social Assistance in Saskatchewan. Some other programs that are offered are:
- Saskatchewan Income Support
- Saskatchewan Employment Incentive
- Saskatchewan Housing Benefit
Each of these programs works differently than SAID and has different requirements.
Saskatchewan Income Support
The SIS program, also known as Saskatchewan Income Support, is available to those with low income who are unable to pay for their basic needs. In order to be eligible, though, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Be living in Saskatchewan
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be considered low-income or have no income
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status
You also have to have already explored every other reasonable option to support yourself and your family. In order to apply, all the same information that you needed for SAID is required. One of the major differences, though, is the amounts that you can receive.
For the basic amount, if you live outside of the Northern Administration District, then the Adult Basic Benefit is $ $365 per month. If you live inside the Northern Administration District, the Adult Basic Benefit is $435 with a $65 per child, Adult Basic Benefit.
When it comes to the Shelter Benefit, which is meant to pay mortgages, rent, utilities and other costs associated with housing, the rates also vary depending on where you live. For those who live in Saskatoon/Regina, the rate is $660 for singles, $845 for couples without children, $1,085 for families with 1-2 children, and $1,265 for families with 3+ children. For those who live in the rest of the province, the rates are $600 for couples, $735 for couples without children, $840 for families with 1-2 children, and $945 for families with 3+ children.
Saskatchewan Employment Incentive
The Saskatchewan Employment Incentive is a benefit meant for working families who are still considered to be low-income. How much you receive with this benefit is based on how much you make per month and how many children you have. That said, if you make between $500 and $2,200 per month, you can get the full amount. Here’s what you could qualify for:
- $400 with 1 child
- $500 with 2 children
- $600 with 3 plus children
The maximum monthly income you can earn to qualify is:
- $3,533.34 with 1 child
- $3,866.76 with 2 children
- $4,200 with 3 plus children
In order to be eligible, you need to:
- Be living in Saskatchewan
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Have a SIN number and Saskatchewan Health Services Number
- Earn a minimum of $500 per month before deductions
- Have children between 0-12 or 13-17 who need childcare due to special circumstances, and receive the Canada Child Benefit from the Canada Revenue Agency
- Not receive SIS, SAID, SES or the childcare subsidy
This means you’d also have to file your annual tax return in order to receive this financial assistance payment.
Saskatchewan Housing Benefit
This helps those eligible families pay for rent and housing costs in Saskatchewan. You’re eligible as a renter if you meet the following conditions:
- Spend 35% or more of your annual before-tax income on housing costs
- Have household assets worth $300,000 or less
You must also have an income below $43,100 for singles and couples, $52,900 for singles and couples with one dependent, and $63,800 for singles and couples with more dependents.
The exact amounts of extra money to help with rent that you can receive with this benefit include:
- $175 for singles and couples that spend 35 to 45 percent of their annual income
- $225 for singles and couples that spend 45 percent or more of their annual income
- $225 for singles and couples with one dependant that spends 35 to 45 percent of their annual income
- $275 for singles and couples with one dependant that spends 45 percent or more of their annual income
- $275 for singles and couples with two or more dependants that spend 35 to 45 percent of their annual income
- $325 for singles and couples with two or more dependants that spend 45 percent or more of their annual income
Final Thoughts
While this benefit isn’t available to those who live in other provinces, like Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or British Columbia, it is available to those in Saskatchewan who qualify. This program is meant for those with disabilities who need help financially as well as getting the benefits that they’re entitled to. However, if you don’t qualify for the SAID program, there are other low-income programs in Saskatchewan that eligible students and eligible families could qualify for.
