Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP): Pro-rating and personal assets

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

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Pro-rating

RAP ongoing monthly allowances are to be pro-rated according to the below chart to ensure that RAP income support is provided for no longer than 12 months (or 24 months for Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS or exceptional circumstances) from the date of arrival in Canada. Pro-rating applies to both the first month after move-out and the last month of RAP, according to the end of commitment date. Other allowances added on to the commitment (e.g., special diet allowance) may also follow a pro-rated structure (for instance commencing from date of receipt of medical note).

The national standard formula for pro-rating a daily amount for most RAP allowances is RAP amount x 12 / 365 days, however transportation daily rates are calculated according to the actual costs of a two-way journey or a daily transit pass in the community (where available), up to a maximum of the monthly transit rate in that community.

Personal assets

Personal assets, for the purpose of RAP calculations, is the sum of money that RAP-recipients are bringing into Canada with them at their time of arrival, and/or will have access to during their time on RAP.

To determine the impact of reported personal assets on RAP entitlements, the RAP officer will first calculate the maximum personal assets that refugees can retain without affecting their level of income support by using the Maximum Allotment for Personal Assets table. Any remaining assets will be factored into determining how much of their outstanding RAP allowance will be adjusted. If there are remaining assets above the maximum allowable for personal assets, the refugee can then be given the option to apply the funds against the balance of their immigration loan before determination of whether the RAP allowance should be discontinued, or when monthly entitlements should resume.

The intent is that personal asset overages should be used by the clients as a source to meet their basic needs, as RAP income support is intended for clients who are unable to provide for the basic needs of themselves and their dependents. Where a client may possess personal assets beyond the maximum retention thresholds identified below, the overage adjustment (i.e., the amount over the maximum personal asset threshold, after any applicable loans payments) should be equalized over the remaining number of whole months in the commitment period to determine an equalized adjusted amount to the monthly income support amount.

Note: Pro-rated months may not have sufficient balance for the reduction in that month, so may not be factored in the equalization calculation, depending on the balance.

If the monthly adjustment is equal or greater than the monthly payment amount under 59003 (e.g., the monthly amount is reduced to 0 for all remaining commitment months), then the client may not require ongoing monthly income support, unless their financial situation changes. In some cases, upon review of the Declaration of Funds and Assets form and information available in GCMS, clients may be reporting large amounts of personal assets upon arrival that may have the potential to exceed their original committed amounts. Therefore, based on a quick scan of the reported personal asset amounts, RAP officers/RAP SPOs may wish to hold off on the issuance of the initial payment cheque until after calculations are made, in order to avoid potential overpayments.

Evaluating personal assets

At the time of arrival in Canada, refugees are asked by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to declare funds in their possession. This information is entered into the Global Case Management System (GCMS) under the confirmation of permanent residence screen, in the field titled “Funds in Possession”.

During RAP orientation delivered by SPOs, clients must declare funds and assets, either in their possession or which they can access or expect to receive at a later date. This information is included in the Declaration of Funds and Assets form found in the RAP SPO delivery handbook. RAP officers should confirm that all personal assets were declared either during the client’s initial interview with IRCC, or with the RAP SPO prior to issuing the initial payment cheque to the client.

Maximum allotment for personal assets

Personal assets are taken into consideration when determining the level of income support to issue to the client.

The following table shows the maximum personal assets that refugees can retain without affecting the amount of income support they may receive. Any remaining assets will be factored in when determining the level of income support to be issued.

Maximum amount allotted of personal assets (Canadian dollars)

Family Composition Amount
Single person $5000
Couple $7500
Single plus one dependant $7500
Each additional dependant $2500

Example

The following is an example of how income support would be calculated for a single mother with one dependant arriving in Canada with $8000 in personal assets.

  • Available personal funds upon arrival in Canada: $8000
  • Subtract: maximum allowable personal exemption: $7500
  • Amount in excess of the maximum allowable: $500

In this example, the family is $500 in excess of their personal assets limit, and this amount needs to be factored into their eligibility for income support.

The family should first be given the option to apply the funds against the balance of the immigration loan account before determination of impact to RAP entitlements.

If their balance of their loan account is already paid, or if the refugee chooses not to make a payment against their loans account, the remaining personal assets amount in excess of the maximum allowable amount should be applied against their future RAP payments on a dollar per dollar basis, spread out equally over the balance of remaining months in their commitment. In this way the monthly amounts issued under GL 59003 will be reduced until it reaches 0, at which time the clients may not require income support, unless their financial situation changes.

Liquidation of personal assets

If the officer has received information that a RAP client has personal assets or other sources of income, the officer should consult with their supervisor or manager on the possible options listed below.

IRCC RAP officers can determine what personal assets people have with them by:

  • asking the client
  • requesting from the SPO to submit on behalf of the client a signed copy of the Declaration of Funds and Assets on Arrival form
  • checking GCMS on the confirmation of permanent resident screen
  • asking the client for a copy of the CBSA forms (Immigrating or Settling in Canada – archived) completed upon arrival in Canada, if applicable.

Clients are not obligated to liquidate personal assets or gifts to receive RAP income support. However, possession of these assets should be taken into consideration in assessing their need for RAP, for instance if the assets owned by the client are beyond what is normally owned by people requiring income support, the income support may be reduced or refused.

All such decisions must be documented on the client’s file, with approval or consultation with the RAP supervisor.

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