See the complete fare structure for 2024.

Project description

Passes and fares

Eligible individuals (status)

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FAQ

As a reference, below are the thresholds for that will be used to determine eligibility based on an individual's family situation.

• You are a low income adult aged 16 or over* living alone, in a couple, with or without children
• You are a full-time student aged 16 or over
• You receive social assistance
• You are a newcomer

Students aged 20 or under

• Full-time students aged 20 or under on September 1 of the current year are not eligible since the STO already offers a discount through various existing passes and fares. See full-time Student Fares (Age 17 to 20)

Students aged 21 or over

• To be eligibile, full-time students aged 21 or over must have a family income below the low income cut-offs (LICOs) as defined every year by the Government of Canada. As a reference, below are the cut-offs for the current year. They will be used to determine eligibility based on the number of persons in the household. The amounts are updated at the beginning of each year.

If I am eligible, what must I do?

If you are a person living alone
You must submit the following documents:

• A photocopy of your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the current year;
• A photocopy of the Statement for the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit for the current year;
• For persons under 18, a photocopy of one of the documents proving that you are a fully emancipated adult: court order, marriage certificate or divorce order. 

If you are in a couple
You must submit the following documents for you and your spouse living at the same address:

• A photocopy of your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the current year;
• A photocopy of the Statement for the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit for the current year;
• For persons under 18, a photocopy of one of the documents proving that you are a fully emancipated adult: court order, marriage certificate or divorce order. 

If you have children
In addition to the documents above, you must also submit:

• A photocopy of the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for the curent year.

Place the filled form and the required document(s) in a sealed envelope addressed to: STO social fare program.

The envelope can be:

• Mailed to 111 Jean-Proulx, Gatineau, Quebec, J8Z 1T4

OR

• Dropped off in person at one of the STO service points*:
  
  *Check the business hours before you go.
  
  Note: NO photocopies of your documents will be made at the service points

Processing the request

Allow about one month to process your application. Note that you must reapply every year. Please allow at least one month between the time you reapply and your desired renewal date.

Confidentiality of personal records: Only photocopies of the documents are accepted, and once the application has been processed, all documents will be destroyed.

1. What is a social fare?
2. What reduced fare passes are available?
3. Are social fares also accepted by paratransit?
4. How much does it cost?
5. Who can buy a social fare?
6. What are the required supporting documents?
7. How do I submit an application?
8. How long will it take to get a response?
9. What must I do once I have received a response?
10. How can I find out if I am eligible?
11. Do eligible persons receive a special card? Will they be easy to identify?
12. How will you ensure the confidentiality of personal information?
13. Can eligible persons get a life-time reduction?
14. Are students eligible?
15. Are seniors eligible?
16. Can persons who have not filed an income tax return still apply?

A social fare is a fare where eligibility is based on a person's family income, supported by the appropriate documents. It allows low income individuals and families to take the bus at a more affordable cost.

Eligible individuals have two options:

1. A monthly pass for unlimited access to public transit for a month;
2. The e-wallet to pay for single trips.

Yes, definitely. The same fare is valid on both regular transit and paratransit. Individuals are eligible for the fares, regardless of the service they use.

In short, it is a discount of more than 30% of the Regular fare on a monthly pass and the e-wallet.

In 2024, the monthly pass is $64.00 per month for a savings of $46.00 per month compared to the regular fare, and the e-wallet is $2.70 or a savings of $1.00 per trip.

When the social fare takes effect in January 2023, the following persons will be eligible:

Recipients of the social Assistance program;

Newcomers to Canada – less than 12 months;

Low income adults aged 16 or over, living alone, in a couple, with or without children with a family income below the low income cut-offs (LICOs) as defined every year by the Government of Canada.

Note that persons under 18 must be deemed fully emancipated by a court order or be married or have been married. 

The supporting documents requested may vary depending on status – only photocopies are accepted and all documents will be destroyed once the application has been processed.

This cut-off is revised annually and depends on a person's family situation, number of dependents and the size of the community/city.

As a reference, below are the thresholds for that will be used to determine eligibility based on an individual's family situation.

For recipients of the social assistance program
You must submit:

• A photocopy of your claim booklet provided by Quebec's Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS);

For newcomers

You must submit one of the following documents:

• A photocopy of your claim booklet provided by Quebec's Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS).

OR

• A photocopy of the Confirmation of Permanent Residence issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

OR

• A photocopy of the Refugee Protection Claimant Document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

If you are a person living alone
You must submit the following documents:

• A photocopy of your most recent Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the current year.

AND

• A photocopy of the Statement for the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit for the current year.

FOR persons age 18

• A photocopy of one of the documents proving that you are a fully emancipated adult: court order, marriage certificate or divorce order.

If you are in a couple

• The spouse living at the same address must submit the same supporting documents as the primary applicant.

If you have children

In addition to the documents above, you must also submit:

• A photocopy of the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for the current year.

Application forms are available at all STO service points and a printable version is online at sto.ca.

Once the form has been completed, you must include with it all the required documents to prove your eligibility.

You must place all the documents in a sealed envelope addressed to: STO social fare program.

The envelope can be:

• Mailed to 111 Jean-Proulx, Gatineau, Quebec  J8Z 1T4

OR

• Dropped off in person at an STO service point*

We need one month to process your request. Contact us at 819 770-3242 or in person at our service points to find out the status of your request.

If you already have a Multi card, please bring it with you. The first card is free, but if it is lost or stolen, a card replacement fee of $10 will apply.
Once that is done, you will have everything you need to make your first purchase. 

Subsequent loading can be done in person at an STO service point, your local retail outlet or on line. To learn more, click here.

Refer to ligne 236 of your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the current years to know your net income.

Add up all the income of all the adults in your family who are aged 16 or over who are not full-time students and who live at the same address. 

Then refer to the table below. Find your eligible cut-off according to the total number of persons in your family, including dependents, and children aged 20 or under who are full-time students. 

If your total family income is higher than the cut-off, you are not eligible. 

If your total family income is lower than the cut-off, you are eligible. 

As a reference, below are the thresholds for that will be used to determine eligibility based on an individual's family situation.

 With the smart card, everything is managed electronically. Riders eligible for the social fare will have the same card as riders in the Adult category. 

When they load their pass or e-wallet, the fare offered will be reduced.

To board a bus, the card is validated like all the other smart cards. Only the green light glows to confirm that the pass is valid.

Only photocopies of the documents are accepted, and once the application has been processed, all documents will be destroyed. We do not keep any documents or photocopies containing personal or confidential information.

No, the status must be renewed every year. In general, eligibility will be valid for a period of 12 to 23 months. You have to reapply no lather than July of each year, and include your Notice of Assessment and the other documents required for your application.

There is a rate available for full-time students. The ECHO rate may be available to a student who is part of a family whose parents are eligible or who meets the established eligibility criteria.

No, seniors are not eligible simply because the cost of their monthly pass is lower.

No, except for newcomers who have arrived in Canada within the last 12 months, who must submit specific supporting documents.