Closed
Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1
Funding for PSW retirement savings pilots
Last Update: May 28, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,000,000 - $ 30,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : November 25, 2024
- Closing date : January 24, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
This program provides between $1 million and $30 million for pilot projects over 24 months. It supports retirement savings incentives for personal support workers and related administration, outreach, and reporting activities.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new program or service
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Attract or retain talent
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 30,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 1,000,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : November 25, 2024
- Closing date : January 24, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Advertising the pilot project
- Enrolling eligible personal support workers
- Providing incentives and depositing contributions into tax-assisted savings vehicles
- Managing the savings vehicles
- Tracking and reporting performance data
Documents Needed
- Completed application form
- Attestation section of the form
- CRA proof of organization type and status
- Proof of business number
- Additional response document
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Unions and industry associations
- Cooperatives and Indigenous organizations
- 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations
Who is not eligible
- Individuals
- Sole proprietorships and partnerships of individuals
- Provincial, territorial, or municipal governments and agencies
- Entities mainly funded by government agencies
- Entities subject to Quebec's M-30 Act without required authorization
Eligible expenses
- Incentives provided to participating personal support workers
- Salaries, wages, and mandatory employment-related costs for project staff
- Professional fees such as consulting, audit, technical, facilitation, HR, translation, and legal services
- Advertising and communication costs
- Other reasonable administrative costs for running the pilot project
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Maximizing the number of participating personal support workers
- Capacity and track record of the initial recipient
- Links to the target PSW population
- Incentive design that supports long-term saving
- Diversity of project models, regions, and official language representation
How to apply
- Step 1: Download the application form
- Obtain the Concept Application Form (EMP5688).
- Prepare the required supporting documents.
- Step 2: Complete the application
- Fill in the form and attestation.
- Attach the additional response document and proof of business number.
- Step 3: Submit by email or mail
- Email the application to ESDC or mail it to the Gatineau address.
- Submit only one copy before the deadline.
- Step 4: Receive confirmation
- Email submissions receive confirmation within 48 hours.
- Mail submissions receive acknowledgement within 14 days.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are screened for eligibility first.
- Eligible concepts are assessed against program priorities and main criteria.
- Applicants are notified of the decision by email.
- No appeal process is available.
- A funding agreement must be signed before any project activities begin.
Additional information
- Step 1 is a competitive call for concepts.
- Successful applicants are invited to Step 2.
- Applications are reviewed by email notification.
- Projects must not start before the funding agreement is signed.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1 Program
What is the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1?
This program provides between $1 million and $30 million for pilot projects over 24 months. It supports retirement savings incentives for personal support workers and related administration, outreach, and reporting activities.
How much funding can be received?
Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1 Funds up to $30,000,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was January 24, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1 program?
To be eligible for the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1 program, you must:
Canadian organization
Eligible applicant type
24-month PSW pilot
What expenses are eligible under Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1?
Advertising the pilot project
Enrolling eligible personal support workers
Providing incentives and depositing contributions into tax-assisted savings vehicles
Managing the savings vehicles
Tracking and reporting performance data
Who can I contact for more information about the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) by email at edsc.pssp-psw.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.
Where is the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1 available?
The Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1 program is available across Canada.