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Source verified October 4, 2026
National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027
Income support for on-reserve communities and Yukon
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Chiefs and councils of First Nations bands recognized by the Government of Canada
See full eligibility
Overview
National Income Assistance Program Guidelines 2026 to 2027 support eligible recipients delivering income assistance to on-reserve residents and First Nations in Yukon as a last resort program. The program funds basic needs, special needs, disability income supports, pre-employment assistance, and service delivery case management.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop workforce skills
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Funds to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter costs.
- Special needs allowances for goods and services essential to the physical or social well-being of clients and dependants.
- Disability income supports.
- Pre-employment supports, including individualized case management through personalized assessments and action plans.
- Service delivery funding, including standard case management, for recipients to administer the program.
Documents Needed
- Work plan or proposal
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Chiefs and councils of First Nations bands recognized by the Government of Canada
- Tribal councils
- Provinces or Yukon
- Indigenous communities and organizations
- Political or treaty organizations
Eligible expenses
- Food, clothing, shelter, personal incidentals, essential household items, non-medical transportation and moving costs, and funeral or burial costs up to $3,500, or up to $6,000 to repatriate remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
- Disability income support rates and benefits.
- Service delivery and administrative costs, including salaries, wages and benefits; travel; training; office supplies; telecommunications; computer systems; printing; professional services; data collection and management; and case management systems.
- Client assessments, basic skills and job training, certificates, and loaned computer equipment for eligible pre-employment supports participants.
- Transitional supports, childcare, and financial incentives such as training allowances, wage subsidies, and working allowances.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Pre-employment supports funding cannot be used to address shortfalls in other programs.
Eligible geographic areas
- On reserve
- Yukon
How to apply
- Submit a work plan or proposal for review and approval to be considered for pre-employment supports funding.
Processing and Agreement
- Successful recipients receive funding according to their approved work plan or proposal based on projected caseloads and expenditures.
- Pre-employment supports recipients must report results quarterly, along with core Income Assistance results, in the same Data Collection Instrument (DCI #455897A).
- All pre-employment supports recipients must complete an annual survey by May 31st of the following fiscal year.
- NFR Grant recipients must report annually in the NFR Grant Results Report (DCI #33315098), including the total number of unique clients and dependants supported over the entire fiscal year.
Additional information
- These guidelines are read alongside the signed funding agreement, applicable provincial or Yukon legislation, ISC regional office program manuals or guidelines, and other ISC-approved documents.
- Where ISC has entered into agreements with provinces, those obligations take precedence over the program delivery requirements and standards in these guidelines.
- Access to services must be provided in both official languages where there is significant demand.
Frequently Asked Questions about the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 Program
What is the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027?
National Income Assistance Program Guidelines 2026 to 2027 support eligible recipients delivering income assistance to on-reserve residents and First Nations in Yukon as a last resort program. The program funds basic needs, special needs, disability income supports, pre-employment assistance, and service delivery case management.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 program?
To be eligible for the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 program, you must:
The applicant must be one of the eligible recipient types listed in the guidelines.
For pre-employment supports funding, the recipient must demonstrate implementation capacity for individualized case management.
The recipient must have full support from First Nations leadership and reasonable access to job training, partnerships, or labour market opportunities.
What expenses are eligible under National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027?
Funds to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter costs.
Special needs allowances for goods and services essential to the physical or social well-being of clients and dependants.
Disability income supports.
Pre-employment supports, including individualized case management through personalized assessments and action plans.
Service delivery funding, including standard case management, for recipients to administer the program.
Who can I contact for more information about the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027?
You can contact Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
Where is the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 available?
The National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 program is available across Canada.
Is the National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 a grant, loan, or tax credit?
National Income Assistance Program — Guidelines 2026 to 2027 is a Grant and Funding