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The information below is obtained from Red Cross. The original document can be found here.
Immediate Financial Emergency Assistance for Alberta Fires evacuees
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How will evacuees receive the emergency financial assistance?Answer: There are a number of scenarios to receive immediate financial assistance based on individuals’ and families’ registration details. They are listed as follows:
- An electronic transfer of funds for those who registered with the Red Cross before noon on May 11, 2016 and provided an email upon registration. This would have then been followed by a confirmation email sent to you by the Red Cross, confirming your registration details. Once your email address was confirmed, you should have received an electronic transfer of funds.
- For those who have registered with the Red Cross and have already confirmed their registration details, but do not have access to online banking or have declined the electronic transfer of funds– the Canadian Red Cross will follow up with you in the coming days to ensure you receive the financial assistance in an alternative way.
- For those who have registered with the Canadian Red Cross before noon on May 11, 2016 but do not have an email address or did not provide an email address – if you have confirmed your information with the Red Cross , and have received an SMS text with further instructions, you can visit any Canada Post office in Canada to claim your emergency financial assistance, according to the information you provided to the Red Cross upon confirming your registration.
- For those who have registered with the Canadian Red Cross before noon on May 11, 2016 but have not yet received a confirmation email to confirm your registration details – we sincerely appreciate your patience at this difficult time and will be in touch with you to provide your immediate financial assistance in the coming days.
- For those who have not yet registered with the Canadian Red Cross, you need to register to be eligible to receive assistance. Visitwww.redcross.ca/registration so we can meet your needs moving forward.
- Question: How do evacuees pick up a Money Gram cheque from Canada Post?Answer: Evacuees who did not provide an email address upon registration are being provided financial assistance through a Money Gram cheque from Canada Post, as oppose to an electronic transfer of funds. This is because without an email address, an electronic transfer of funds done through online banking is not possible.Evacuees who registered with the Canadian Red Cross before noon on May 11, 2016 and have confirmed their information with the Red Cross, should receive an SMS text with further instructions. Evacuees can then visit any Canada Post Office in Canada to claim financial assistance in the amount of $600 per adult and $300 per child, according to the information provided to the Red Cross upon confirming their registration.
- Question: How do evacuees deposit the electronic transfer of funds? Answer: Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the electronic transfer of funds.
- Question: When will evacuees receive the emergency financial assistance?Answer: The distribution of immediate financial assistance from the Red Cross is currently underway. This is being done through a variety of ways, including electronic transfer of funds through email, money orders, cash cards, or vouchers – depending on people’s current location in Canada and the quickest, most secure way to receive these funds.
- Question: Why $600 per adult and $300 per child?Answer: Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, the Canadian Red Cross is providing $600 per adult and $300 per child to help provide another method of immediate emergency assistance, as thousands of people still remain out of their homes and communities. This is based on our standards for providing assistance to families during a disaster. This initial support is still part of the emergency relief operation. As people return home and communities become accessible, we will look to reach the most vulnerable based on a case by case basis. This is identified through confidential personal assessments throughout the rebuilding and recovery process.
- Question: Will evacuees who have relocated outside of the province of Alberta receive assistance as well?Answer: Yes – Red Cross assistance is coordinated and can reach people wherever they are now located in Canada.
- Question: Can evacuees still register with the Red Cross?Answer: Yes – for those who have not yet registered with the Canadian Red Cross, you need to register to be eligible to receive assistance. Visitwww.redcross.ca/registration so we can meet your needs moving forward.
- Question: Am I eligible to receive both the Red Cross and government financial assistance?Answer: Yes – The financial assistance being provided by the Red Cross to evacuees is entirely separate from assistance being provided by the government.
- Question: What are your plans with the rest of the funds?Answer: The Canadian Red Cross is committed to standing by those affected not only during this time of emergency, but in the weeks, months and years ahead, as we help individuals, families and entire communities to rebuild and recover from this devastating disaster. As people return home and communities become accessible, we will look to reach the most vulnerable based on a case by case basis. This is identified through confidential personal assessments throughout the rebuilding and recovery process. Details regarding Red Cross recovery assistance will be announced in the coming weeks, as
The information below is obtained from Red Cross. The original document can be found here.
Electronic Funds Transfer for Alberta Fires Evacuees – FAQs
- I’m having trouble depositing this into my bank account.
Please contact your financial institution with any technical questions. You can also contact http://interac.ca/en/about/contact-us.html?view=contactus for any questions regarding the deposit process with electronic fund transfers. - What banks will accept RBC deposits?
Please contact Royal Bank of Canada for this information. - What if I improperly enter my PIN?
If you improperly enter your PIN and are unsuccessful with accessing your electronic transfer of funds, please contact [email protected] . They will have to take your information and cancel the first electronic transfer of funds. They will then resend a new PIN, followed by a second email with a new link to access your electronic transfer of funds. - What if I try to enter my PIN too many times and then the funds are no longer accessible?
If you improperly enter your PIN and are unsuccessful with accessing your electronic transfer of funds, please contact [email protected] . They will have to take your information and cancel the first electronic transfer of funds. They will then resend a new PIN, followed by a second email with a new link to access your electronic transfer of funds. - What happens if I received the email for the electronic transfer of funds but do not have access to online banking?
For those who have registered with the Red Cross and have already confirmed their registration details, but do not have access to online banking, please contact [email protected] – the Canadian Red Cross will then follow up with you in the coming days to ensure you receive the financial assistance in an alternative way. - Do I have to accept the electronic funds transfer? Can I receive my financial assistance in another way?
If you’ve been provided an electronic funds transfer and you have access to accept, we encourage you to do so, as this method will help to effectively and efficiently meet your needs. However, if you believe this is not the best option for you, please contact your local Red Cross office to discuss your options. - How do I decline the electronic funds transfer?
Once you log in to your online bank account, you will have the option to decline the electronic transfer. - Why am I getting $600 dollars? Or $300 per child?
Please understand this initial support is still part of the emergency relief operation. As people return home and communities become accessible, we will look to reach the most vulnerable based on a case by case basis. This is identified through confidential personal assessments throughout the rebuilding and recovery process. - You sent me the wrong amount of money – I have more children/adults than you gave me money for?
Please submit a request to [email protected] to review your account profile if this is the case. - What is the difference between the Red Cross assistance and the assistance I will receive from the government?
The support being provided by the Red Cross is completely separate from the assistance being provided by the government of Alberta.Assistance is being provided by the Red Cross to all individuals and families who have registered with the Red Cross and confirmed their registration. The breakdown for financial assistance is as follows:$600 per adult
$300 per child Please connect with the government of Alberta for more information on how they will be assisting those affected by the wildfires. - Why am I receiving a PIN and no link?
The first email only gives you a PIN, so please wait for a second email that will give you the link to the deposit. Please use the PIN from the first email to access the deposit. These second e-mail will arrive within the next 24 hours. - Why can’t my bank help me? They are unable to access without a proper link on the email I received?
The bank will be able to help you with your deposit once you receive TWO emails. The first email only gives you a PIN, so please wait for a second email that will give you the link to the deposit. Please use the PIN from the first email to access the deposit. This second e-mail will arrive within the next 24 hours. - The pin I got didn’t work. I contacted my bank and they redirected me to you?
Please send an email to [email protected] . Our team will have to take your information and cancel the first electronic transfer of funds. We will then resend a new PIN, followed by a second email with a new link to access your electronic transfer of funds. - What banks will accept Interac electronic transfer of funds (e-transfers)?
Please take a look on the Interac website for more information. www.interac.ca