COVID-19 Emergency Financial Support

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[COVID-19] Employee Assistance from the Alberta Government

Where do I apply for emergency funding?

Albertans who are self-isolating and unable to work can now apply online for emergency one-time funding from the province.

How much am I eligible to receive?

The application went live on Wednesday, March 25th on the province’s website. Eligible recipients will receive a one-time payment of $1,146 through an Interac e-Transfer.

How long does it take to receive the payment?

If approved, the payment will be processed within 24 to 48 hours.

Next steps: Verification Process

Once eligibility has been confirmed, Albertans will be asked to create a digital ID, which is required to complete the application. As part of the verification process, applicants’ identities will be verified with information from their drivers’ licence or ID card.

What is the aim of this assistance?

The temporary program is meant to bridge the gap until emergency federal funding comes available.

The roughly $50 million in funding is available to working adults who meet the province’s published criteria for self-isolation. This includes people who are the sole caregivers to dependents who must self-isolate and those who have otherwise been directed to self-isolate by health authorities.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible, recipients must also not have another source of pay or compensation.

Who is NOT eligible?

People are not eligible for the isolation support program if they:

  • were not working prior to beginning self-isolation;
  • are able to work from home;
  • are staying home to care for a dependent for a reason other than self-isolation;
  • haven’t experienced significant income loss;
  • are receiving other forms of income support or employer benefits; or
  • do not reside in Alberta.