Are there income supports or social assistance programs available to newly arrived refugees in Ontario in 2024?

1. What federal income supports exist on arrival — the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)

The core immediate income support for resettled refugees in Canada is the federal Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), administered through local Service Provider Organizations that deliver “immediate and essential services” and monthly income support to eligible government-assisted refugees who cannot meet basic needs; RAP is explicitly designed to cover start‑up costs and ongoing basic needs during the initial settlement period ^{[1] [7]}. RAP includes both a one‑time start‑up payment and ongoing monthly payments tied to provincial social assistance rates; IRCC and sector groups note the program’s purpose is temporary assistance to help refugees establish themselves ^{[1] [7] [3]}.

2. Recent change: RAP rates updated Sept. 1, 2024

National and sector reporting shows RAP rates were revised effective September 1, 2024; advocacy and training organizations point out sponsors and program calculations must use the new rates from that date forward ^[2]. Fact‑checking outlets and summaries cite concrete numbers reflecting the September 2024 update (for example, an archived summary cited ranges such as $3,197.89 for an individual up to $9,326.16 for a larger family for the start‑up or related funding buckets), and note monthly RAP support is based on provincial social assistance benchmarks and is limited to a maximum of one year in most cases ^[3].

3. Who is eligible — distinctions matter (government‑assisted, privately sponsored, claimants)

Eligibility and access differ by refugee pathway: government‑assisted refugees are the typical RAP recipients and get RAP casework from local SPOs; privately sponsored refugees are normally supported financially by their sponsors and are not entitled to provincial social assistance during the sponsorship period (usually one year) ^{[1] [7] [4]}. Refugee claimants (people who lodge protection claims after arriving) are treated differently: some municipalities and provincial programs note refugee claimants can apply for Ontario Works if they meet paperwork and eligibility requirements while they await hearings, but they are generally expected to first pursue federal supports where applicable ^{[6] [5]}.

4. Provincial/supplementary supports in Ontario — Ontario Works, ODSP and local help

Ontario has its own social assistance programs (Ontario Works and ODSP) that can provide financial and employment supports; some documentation and municipal pages state refugee claimants with the required documentation may apply for Ontario Works while waiting for a hearing, and Convention refugees may be eligible for Ontario Works in certain circumstances ^{[6] [8]}. Policy guidance also makes clear refugees who are already receiving RAP or who are privately sponsored are expected to have pursued those avenues first before provincial income support is considered ^{[5] [4]}.

5. Non‑governmental and emergency supports

Organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross and local settlement agencies provide short‑term emergency relief (for instance, up to 72 hours of emergency help) and navigation assistance — housing referrals, help to submit claims, employment assistance and legal aid signposting — which can be crucial in the immediate arrival period but are distinct from ongoing income benefits ^{[9] [6]}.

6. Public debate and misinformation — amounts are often misrepresented

Multiple fact‑checks and refugee sector sources warn that online claims about very large annual “tax‑free” refugee benefits are misleading; the monetary components of RAP are limited in duration and purpose, tied to provincial social assistance levels, and do not equate to the inflated totals sometimes shared online ^{[10] [11] [3]}. Reporting and sector pages underline that many refugees receive limited or no government income support depending on their pathway and resources, while others receive temporary RAP support only if they lack other means ^{[7] [12]}.

7. What the sources do not fully cover

Available sources do not mention precise current monthly RAP payment figures for each household size in Ontario in 2024 beyond the cited ranges and summaries, nor do they provide a complete list of municipal‑level programs or how often claimants successfully transition between RAP and provincial assistance — readers seeking individual eligibility determinations should consult IRCC, local RAP Service Provider Organizations, or Ontario Works offices for case‑specific guidance ^{[2] [1] [6]}.

Bottom line: Newly arrived refugees in Ontario can access federal RAP income support and settlement services (with rates updated Sept. 1, 2024); privately sponsored refugees rely on sponsors, and some claimants may access Ontario Works or other provincial supports if they meet criteria — but amounts, eligibility and duration differ by pathway and are frequently mischaracterized in public discourse ^{[1] [7] [2] [3] [4] [6]}.