Refugees: Myths and Facts #6
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Myth #6 Refugees receive more on welfare than Canadians
The Facts: Misinformation on this subject has been circulating for some time and has created a false perception that refugees are living the ‘high life’ in Canada. In actual fact, refugees and asylum seekers do not receive more than Canadians and permanent residents.[i] Asylum seekers ask for asylum at a port of entry or inland. As soon as they are accepted into the refugee process they can apply for a work permit. If they have no means of support, they can apply to the province for welfare while waiting for the work permit. A single refugee claimant able to work would receive a monthly amount of: $628 in Quebec, $610 in BC and $750 in Manitoba, which is the same as citizens of those provinces receive. [ii] Extra amounts can be given to people who are temporarily unable to work (a small minority). As of January 2018, in Quebec only 3.6% of people receiving ‘last resort special assistance’ were refugee claimants.[iii] Quebec government statistics show that after 11 months the number of refugee claimants receiving social assistance decreases greatly. And a study of welfare benefits paid in Canada from 1999-2011 showed that only 2%-4% were paid to refugee claimants depending on the year.[iv]
There are several categories of sponsored refugees; these are people who are already recognized as refugees before coming to Canada. Government assisted refugees (GARs) who have no income can receive financial assistance from the federal government through the Resettlement Assistance Program (or its Quebec equivalent) for up to a maximum of one year. These are the same amounts as provincial social assistance rates. Since they have no possessions, they also may receive a resettlement grant to purchase needed household items to set up a home. Most GARs must pay back the cost of their travel and health checks. This can be as much as $10,000, which puts a heavy burden on a family trying to integrate into a new country. Privately sponsored refugees are helped by small groups of Canadians who support them financially and socially for up to one year. They receive no social assistance at all.
[i] http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/do-government-assisted-refugees-receive-more-money-for-food-than-%20canadians-on-welfare-1.3230503
[ii] http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/asylum-seekers-support-housing-1.4252114
[iii] ‘Rapport Statistique sur la clientèle des programmes d’assistance sociale’, Janvier 2018, page 6.
www.mtess.gouv.qc.ca/publications/pdf/MTESS_stats-AS_2018-01.pdf
[iv] ‘’Social Assistance Receipt Among Refugee Claimants in Canada’’. Stats Canada. Yuqian Lu, Marc Frenette and Grant Schellenberg, April 2015.
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2015369-eng.htm
The Facts: Misinformation on this subject has been circulating for some time and has created a false perception that refugees are living the ‘high life’ in Canada. In actual fact, refugees and asylum seekers do not receive more than Canadians and permanent residents.[i] Asylum seekers ask for asylum at a port of entry or inland. As soon as they are accepted into the refugee process they can apply for a work permit. If they have no means of support, they can apply to the province for welfare while waiting for the work permit. A single refugee claimant able to work would receive a monthly amount of: $628 in Quebec, $610 in BC and $750 in Manitoba, which is the same as citizens of those provinces receive. [ii] Extra amounts can be given to people who are temporarily unable to work (a small minority). As of January 2018, in Quebec only 3.6% of people receiving ‘last resort special assistance’ were refugee claimants.[iii] Quebec government statistics show that after 11 months the number of refugee claimants receiving social assistance decreases greatly. And a study of welfare benefits paid in Canada from 1999-2011 showed that only 2%-4% were paid to refugee claimants depending on the year.[iv]
There are several categories of sponsored refugees; these are people who are already recognized as refugees before coming to Canada. Government assisted refugees (GARs) who have no income can receive financial assistance from the federal government through the Resettlement Assistance Program (or its Quebec equivalent) for up to a maximum of one year. These are the same amounts as provincial social assistance rates. Since they have no possessions, they also may receive a resettlement grant to purchase needed household items to set up a home. Most GARs must pay back the cost of their travel and health checks. This can be as much as $10,000, which puts a heavy burden on a family trying to integrate into a new country. Privately sponsored refugees are helped by small groups of Canadians who support them financially and socially for up to one year. They receive no social assistance at all.
[i] http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/do-government-assisted-refugees-receive-more-money-for-food-than-%20canadians-on-welfare-1.3230503
[ii] http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/asylum-seekers-support-housing-1.4252114
[iii] ‘Rapport Statistique sur la clientèle des programmes d’assistance sociale’, Janvier 2018, page 6.
www.mtess.gouv.qc.ca/publications/pdf/MTESS_stats-AS_2018-01.pdf
[iv] ‘’Social Assistance Receipt Among Refugee Claimants in Canada’’. Stats Canada. Yuqian Lu, Marc Frenette and Grant Schellenberg, April 2015.
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2015369-eng.htm