As many may have already heard, the Alberta Government announced its new program to distribute one-time $1,200 payments to eligible workers in health care, social services, education, and some private sectors.  Included in this post is a link to the current government information posting on this benefit.

It is important to note that the posting indicates that more detailed information on eligibility and requirements will be available when the private sector application time period opens February 17, 2021.  Key current information posted includes:

•  The government states it intends to work directly with eligible public sector employers and no application need be made. Listed eligible public sectors are Health-care, Social Services and Education.  Within these categories only certain occupations are eligible and as an example in the Education sector the following are eligible if they have worked a minimum of 300 hours during the period of October 12, 2020 to January 31, 2021:

• educational or teacher assistants
• bus drivers
• custodians and janitors
• school secretarial staff- related positions

•   Private Sector employers must apply on behalf of their employees, which can be done starting February 17, 2021 and must be done by the deadline of March 19, 2021.

•   Private Sector employees must:

• earn $25 per hour or less
• have worked at least 300 hours between the period of October 12, 2020 and January 31, 2021
• Be located and working in Alberta
• work in either the Retail (grocery, pharmacy, gas, health, and personal care), Food Manufacturing, Truck Transportation, Warehousing and Storage, Private Health Clinics, or First Nation Communities; and fall within the listed eligible occupations.