Reference · Frontline workers

For settlement workers

Use MyEligible in appointments to help clients find federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal programs they may qualify for.

MyEligible is a free, privacy-first benefits navigator for Canada. Clients can use it on their own. Frontline staff can also use it during intake, appointments, or follow-up.

This page covers a practical 20-minute workflow, privacy talking points for clients, and how MyEligible fits alongside settlement services and other benefit finders.

When MyEligible helps

MyEligible works best when a client needs a broad picture of income supports, tax credits, municipal programs, and next steps across jurisdictions.

Good fit

Newcomers asking what they may qualify for after arrival, families with children, clients on low or modest income, disability or caregiving situations, or anyone who wants a printed checklist to take home.

Use alongside settlement services

MyEligible complements IRCC-funded settlement programs. It does not replace language training, employment services, or casework. Use it to find benefit programs your team may not know by heart.

Not a substitute for

Legal advice, tax filing, immigration applications, Indigenous-administered program eligibility, or crisis intervention. Refer those cases to the right agency or helpline.

20-minute appointment workflow

Most appointments follow the same pattern: run the quiz together, review the action plan, print a handout, and note follow-up steps.

  1. Open the quiz on a shared screen or tablet

    Go to the benefits quiz. No account is required. Answers stay in the browser on that device until the tab is closed.

  2. Enter the client's situation together

    Province, city, immigration status, months in Canada, household, income band, and life events (recent arrival, children, disability, job loss, and others). For newcomers, status and arrival timing can surface programs that generic finders often skip.

  3. Review the action plan first

    Results list first steps like getting a SIN, filing taxes, or applying for foundational credits before secondary programs. Say out loud that results are possibilities, not guarantees.

  4. Print or save the handout

    On the results page, choose Print / Save as PDF. The handout lists matched programs, application checklists, official links, and a disclaimer. Expand checklist sections before printing if you want document lists on paper.

  5. Book follow-up for applications

    Clients rarely apply to everything at once. Circle two or three action-plan items for the next visit. Use Benefit dates for payment timing and Sources to check program pages before the client applies.

Privacy talking points for clients

Many clients worry about sharing personal information. These points describe how MyEligible works today.

  • No account is required. MyEligible does not store quiz answers on a server.
  • The quiz runs in the browser. Closing the tab clears the session on that device.
  • If a client shares or bookmarks a results link, answers are encoded in the URL. Treat shared links like sensitive paperwork.
  • MyEligible does not sell user data or require an email to see results.
  • When analytics is enabled, we record anonymous categories only (for example province and life-event types), not names, SINs, or exact income.
  • If a client is uncomfortable answering aloud, they can run the quiz privately and bring the printed handout to a follow-up visit.

Features workers use most

Everything below is already on the site. No worker login or special account is required.

Newcomer-specific tips

MyEligible is built with newcomers in mind. These fields matter most in the first year.

  • Immigration status (permanent resident, refugee stream, work permit, study permit, and others) changes which programs appear.
  • Months in Canada affects some settlement and tax-benefit pathways. Ask when the client started living here full-time.
  • Many recurring benefits require a SIN and tax filing. The action plan flags SIN-first steps when they apply.
  • Municipal programs depend on the city selected in the quiz. If the city is not listed, clients still see federal and provincial results plus regional fallbacks.

Limits and when to refer elsewhere

Being clear about limits builds trust with clients and partner agencies.

  • Indigenous-administered and treaty-based programs are listed as referrals only until we partner with Indigenous-serving organizations. See Indigenous referrals on Sources.
  • Dollar amounts are estimates where published rules allow it. Some territorial and in-kind programs point clients to confirm details locally.
  • MyEligible does not file applications, calculate exact tax refunds, or give immigration advice.
  • For crisis support (domestic violence, homelessness, mental health emergency), use dedicated helplines and local crisis services first.

Report an error or suggest a program

Your feedback helps keep program information accurate for the next client.

If a program link is wrong, an amount looks outdated, or a client situation is not handled well, email matthew@myeligible.ca. Include the province, program name, and official source if you have one.

For settlement workers | MyEligible