Do you have an employee who deserves to be rewarded for their exemplary work ethic during these difficult times? Thousands of critical service workers have made it possible for Canadians to stay safe and receive the care and critical services they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To recognize the hard work and courage of such critical service workers in Alberta, the provincial government has launched the Critical Worker Benefit Program. Eligible Albertans will receive a one-time payment of $1,200 in recognition of their hard work.
The Benefit will be distributed to more than 380,000 workers in the public healthcare, social services, and education sectors. In the private sector, workers who deliver critical basic services to Albertans, or support food and medical supply chains, would be eligible for the Benefit.
How do I apply?
Public sector workers who are eligible need not apply to the Program. The Alberta government is working directly with public sector employers to distribute the Benefit to eligible employees.
However, private sector employers must apply on behalf of their eligible employees. They can apply using the application portal, which will open for applications on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. The last day to apply to the program will be Friday, March 19, 2021.
Which public sector employees are eligible for the program?
The following public sector critical workers are eligible for the Benefit:
Health-care workers
To be eligible, healthcare workers:
- Must be located and working in Alberta
- Must have worked a minimum of 300 hours during the period of October 12, 2020, to January 31, 2021, for the same employer
- Must work in continuing care, acute care, addictions and mental health, homecare, or hospice care
Eligible healthcare employees working in First Nations communities can receive the Benefit. In this case, employers must apply on behalf of their staff.
Eligible health workers, such as Alberta Health Services employees, will get the Benefit through their employer. Employers in private sector healthcare must apply on behalf of their employees.
Eligible occupations
Examples of eligible healthcare occupations include:
- orderlies and patient service associates
- respiratory therapists and technologists
- nurses (RNs, RPNs, LPNs)
- food services
- housekeeping and maintenance
- unit clerks
Social services workers
Eligible social services workers must:
- Must be located and working in Alberta
- Have worked a minimum of 300 hours during the period of October 12, 2020, to January 31, 2021
- Be working as either children service providers or as community service providers
Eligible social services employees working in First Nations communities can receive the Benefit. Their employers must apply on their behalf.
Eligible occupations
The following social services occupations are eligible provided they meet the eligibility criteria listed above:
- disability service workers and instructors of persons with disabilities
- social and community service workers
- home support workers, housekeepers, and related occupations
- personal care aides
- shelter and crisis intervention workers
- child development workers and assistants
- early childhood educators (minimum 243 hours)
- family and youth counsellors
- home support workers
- bus drivers and other transport workers supporting clients
- food services, including cooks, attendants, and kitchen helpers
- housekeeping, cleaners, janitors, and caretakers
Education workers
To be eligible for the Benefit, education workers:
- Must have worked a minimum 300 paid hours for a provincial school authority or a contractor with a provincial school authority, between October 12, 2020, and January 31, 2021
Hours are for paid work and may include some online work where the work was performed with students.
The minimum number of paid hours (300) will be prorated for periods of time when schools were closed.
As each school district had different dates when schools were closed, minimum hour prorations will be calculated on a case-by-case basis for individual school authorities.
Eligible occupations
The following occupations are eligible if they meet the above-mentioned criteria:
- educational or teacher assistants
- bus drivers
- custodians and janitors
- school secretarial staff-related positions
Eligible education employees working in First Nations communities can get the Benefit. Their employers must apply on their behalf.
Which private sector workers are eligible for the Benefit?
To be eligible for the Benefit, private sector workers must:
- Must be located and working in Alberta
- Must earn $25 per hour or less
- Must have worked at least 300 hours between the period of October 12, 2020, and January 31, 2021
The following private sectors workers are eligible to receive the Critical Worker Benefit:
- Retail (grocery, pharmacy, gas, health, and personal care)
- Food manufacturing
- Truck transportation
- Warehousing and storage
- Private health clinics
- Private sector workers in First Nations communities
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