Family Allowance is a form of financial assistance paid to all eligible families with one or more dependent children under the age of 18 living with them. Families may also be eligible for supplements, such as: the supplement for the purchase of school supplies, the supplement for handicapped children, and the supplement for handicapped children requiring exceptional care.

In certain situations, an application must be filed. For example, if:

• the child is adopted;
• the individual is an immigrant or becomes a resident of Québec;
• the child arrives in or returns to Québec;
• the individual lives in Québec but the child was born outside Québec;
• the individual obtains custody of the child;
• the individual shares custody of the child;
• the individual retains custody of the child following the breakdown of a union and he/she was not previously receiving the Family Allowance payments in his/her name;
• Retraite Québec requires an application to be filed.