Youth

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you can get welfare if you can’t live at home – like if your parents can’t support you, won’t support you or are abusive. Although your worker will normally expect you to be in school or training, you can get welfare without being in school if you have a medical condition that prevents it, you have a child and no child care or you have to wait until September to start classes.

If your parents have abused you or are a threat to your safety, your worker isn’t allowed to contact them. Make sure that you clearly tell your worker that your parents are a threat to you if you don’t want them contacted. You may need a medical or councillor’s note to verify this.