Claiming welfare

[meth]

Just before I get any nasty answers, let me say that I have never claimed welfare (well I actually did once for 3 months when I was younger) and I have always worked. I don't like the idea of claiming welfare and I don't understand how some people just live off it.

Anyway, I am just curious about this. A friend was telling me that if you marry a Canadian citizen, you can only claim welfare after being in the country for more than 10 years, otherwise, whatever welfare the government pays you, your spouse will need to pay it back, is that true?

I have a degree and some experience to get a well paid job but let's say I become unemployed down the line and I am literally starving. Will I be able to claim any welfare?

 

[Leon]

It may be that it used to be 10 years for a spouse but now it is 3. If you were sponsored by your spouse and you find yourself on welfare within 3 years of getting your PR, your spouse will have to pay it back. This is also the case if you have left or divorced your spouse in the meantime.

Same if you sponsor your or your spouses parents. Old rules, you were responsible for them for 10 years, now it's 20. If your parents go on welfare within that time, you get the bill. If you co-sign for the sponsorship of your spouses parents, you get half the bill, even if you and your spouse are since divorced.

For sponsored children, you are responsible for 10 years or until they reach a certain age, whichever comes first.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I have a degree and some experience to get a well paid job but let's say I become unemployed down the line and I am literally starving. Will I be able to claim any welfare?

In order to sponsor you, your spouse will sign a contract with the government of Canada to support you and provide you with the necessities of life. If in the first 3 years after you land as a PR, your sponsor fails to do this and you claim welfare, then they will have to pay it back, as per that contract.

 

[meth]

What happens after 3 years? You become normal as other Canadian resident in regard to this?

 

[scylla]

What happens after 3 years? You become normal as other Canadian resident in regard to this?

Yes.

 

[meth]

Thanks a lot for all replies, truly appreciate it.