Blended family

A blended family includes a couple, whether married or not, and one or more children, born or adopted, from a previous union. After a change in your family situation or conjugal status, it is important to notify Retraite Québec, who will recalculate Family Allowance based on the new situation. Children under age 18 who live at least 40% of the time each month with their blended family could be eligible for Family Allowance.

How to notify us of a change?

Marriage or civil union
DescriptionEach parent receiving Family Allowance in his or her name must file an application for a change in conjugal status.
Living together in a de facto union
DescriptionEach parent receiving Family Allowance in his or her name must file an application for a change in conjugal status after 12 months or more of living together in a de facto union.
Birth or adoption within a blended family
Birth in Québec
DescriptionYou do not have to file an application to receive Family Allowance for the child. When the birth of a child is declared, the child is automatically signed up for Family Allowance.
Birth outside Québec
Adoption

Who receives Family Allowance?

Family Allowance is paid to only one person per family according to the following rules:

  • If both spouses are eligible for Family Allowance, the parent with the most children receives it.
  • If both spouses are eligible for Family Allowance and have an equal number of children, the parent with the youngest child receives it. However, if the youngest child is the couple's child, the mother receives the payment.
  • If only one of the spouses is eligible for Family Allowance, that parent receives it.

Amounts to repay

A change in your conjugal status or family situation can affect the amounts to which you are entitled. If you received overpayments, you must repay them. The repayment will be made from your next payments. It will be equal to:

  • 50% of your next payments if your family income is less than or equal to $35 000. We could withhold more than 50% of those payments if the balance of the amounts to be paid are not sufficient to repay your debt. In certain cases, we could withhold more than 50% of your payments, even if your income is less than or equal to $35 000;
  • 100% of your next payments if your annual family income exceeds $35 000.
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