One-time Recovery Support Program - Frequently Asked Questions

Program overview and eligibility
How to access this support
Direct financial assistance - electronic fund transfers
 

Program overview and eligibility 

What is the One-time Recovery Support Program?  

• This program offers a one-time financial contribution of $1,250 towards recovery efforts for those who experienced impacts during the 2023 Alberta Wildfires. The intention of the program is to support households who have impacts and/or ongoing challenges due to the event, to contribute to the impacted households continued recovery and to better understand the impacts of the 2023 Alberta Wildfires.  

Who is eligible for the One-time Recovery Support Program?  

• Households eligible for this assistance include homeowners, tenants and those living in community-owned housing, including those living in Indigenous communities, and located in an area impacted by the 2023 Alberta Wildfires. To be eligible for this support, households must register by Friday March 28. 
• Households not already registered and authenticated during the 2023 Alberta Wildfires will need to complete those steps to confirm eligibility for this program. 
• Households that have already registered do not need to re-register as these households will be contacted by the Red Cross directly by email or by phone. 
• This program will provide a one-time payment to eligible households upon completion of a questionnaire. 

How much assistance could I receive through this program?  

• This program will provide a one-time payment of $1,250 to eligible households to support with recovery related needs.  
• You must complete base criteria including validation of identity, confirmation of living in the impacted area during the time of the wildfires and completion of a questionnaire. 

Are small businesses eligible for this program?  

• No, small businesses are not eligible for this program.  

I am a landlord. Am I eligible for this program?  

• No, landlords are not eligible for this program.  

How to access this support 

How can I access the financial assistance provided by the Canadian Red Cross? How soon after registration can I expect to receive the funds? 

• If your household was not previously registered with the Canadian Red Cross following the 2023 Alberta Wildfires, the first step is to register with the Canadian Red Cross by calling 1-833-966-4225, Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. MT.
• Once registered, the Canadian Red Cross must verify your identity and your eligibility for assistance, which can take some time. Please monitor your email for a confirmation of your registration and next steps to access this assistance if you are eligible.
• Please note: If you have already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone or in person, you should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for 2023 Alberta Wildfires that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed. 

I have called the Canadian Red Cross and have been waiting on the line. 

• We are experiencing a high volume of calls as many people are currently reaching out to learn more about this assistance and to register. 
• We apologize for any delays in the registration process. Thank you for understanding and know our staff are working hard to ensure eligible households can register as quickly as possible.  

How long will it take once I register to get my financial assistance?  

• Once you register with the Canadian Red Cross, we must verify your identity and your eligibility for assistance, which can take some time. Typically, once financial assistance is approved, it could take up to 7  business days to receive your funds. We appreciate your patience throughout this process.  
• Please note: If you have already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone or in person, you should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for 2023 Alberta Wildfires that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed.

I have not received an email confirming my registration. What should I do?  

• If your registration confirmation from the Red Cross is not in your inbox, please check your email bulk, junk or spam mail folders.  
• Once you find the email, please add the Canadian Red Cross email address to your "approved sender" list or in your address book to avoid future emails being labelled as junk or spam.  
• If the email from the Red Cross is not in your email bulk, junk or spam folders, you can call us back for additional support.  
• Please note: If you have already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone or in person, you should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for 2023 Alberta Wildfires that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed. 

Will I have to pay taxes on financial assistance I receive from the Canadian Red Cross? 

• The Canadian Red Cross is unable to provide individualized tax advice. Given that tax rules are fact specific and vary depending on the context, we encourage you to reach out to a tax advisor if you have questions. 

Why have I not received my money?  

• Our teams are continuing to work hard to reach those who have identified themselves as still requiring support.  

Does the Canadian Red Cross ask for banking information for access financial assistance? Have you heard of fraud attempts? 

• Unfortunately, there are some people who may try to take advantage of those impacted by a disaster through fraudulent tactics. 
• The Canadian Red Cross will never ask for your banking information, social insurance number or credit card number during registration or to receive assistance. 
• The Canadian Red Cross communicates only via email, phone, or in-person and would never send a link through a text message to invite you to register or receive assistance.
• The Red Cross encourages people to stay informed from credible sources, such as the Government of Canada’s website for fraud prevention tips.
• If you suspect you have been a victim of fraudulent activity, please contact your local police authority.  

Direct financial assistance - electronic fund transfers 

What happens if I received the electronic transfer of funds, but I don’t have access to online banking right now? Is there an expiry? 

• Standard electronic banking transfers expire after 30 days. If you do not accept this transfer of funds within this period, it does not mean you won’t receive Red Cross financial assistance. Your registration profile will be updated accordingly, and you will be able to receive an alternative form of this financial assistance. 

If I have auto-deposit enabled for e-transfers sent to my email, will my e-transfer from the Canadian Red Cross be deposited automatically? 

• Yes, if you have auto-deposit enabled for e-transfers, the funds will be automatically deposited into your account. 
• If you do not have auto-deposit enabled, a PIN is required and will be emailed to you. 
• You will still receive a PIN email if you have auto-deposit enabled. If you have auto-deposit enabled and your funds are deposited without issue, you can ignore the PIN email. 

What happens if I don’t want to accept the electronic funds transfer? 

• The Red Cross is committed to providing assistance to people affected by this disaster. However, you are by no means obligated to accept support in the form of financial assistance if you do not wish to. Once you log in to your online bank account, you will have the option to decline the electronic transfer. 

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, we can discuss alternative options. 

Why did some people receive the electronic funds transfer before others? 

• As you can imagine, the needs of individuals and families are great. Red Cross staff and volunteers are working around the clock to effectively and efficiently reach everyone. To do an electronic funds transfer, we take precautions to confirm everyone’s registration details. We appreciate your patience. 

I'm having trouble depositing this into my bank account. 

• Please contact your financial institution with any technical questions. You can also contact Interac directly for any questions regarding the deposit process with electronic fund transfers by visiting www.interac.ca/en/contact-us/, or by visiting www.interac.ca and navigating to Consumers – Support – Contact Us at the top of the page. 

What banks will accept electronic deposits? 

• All Canadian banks and credit unions. 

What if I improperly enter my PIN? 

• To re-enter your PIN, you must click the link you received in your initial email from the Canadian Red Cross. 

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. 

What if I can’t see my PIN? 

• The PIN is in an email sent by the Canadian Red Cross which is separate to the email with the electronic funds transfer.
• If the email from the Red Cross is not in your inbox, please check your email bulk, junk, or spam mail folders. Once you find the email, please can add the Canadian Red Cross email address to your "approved sender" list or in your address book to avoid future emails being labelled as junk or spam. 
• If the email from the Red Cross is not in your email bulk, junk or spam folders, you can call us back for additional support. 

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. 
• If the email from the Red Cross is not in your inbox, please check your email bulk, junk, or spam mail folders. Once you find the email, please can add the Canadian Red Cross email address to your "approved sender" list or in your address book to avoid future emails being labelled as junk or spam. 
• If the email from the Red Cross is not in your email bulk, junk or spam folders, you can call us back for additional support. 

Will the Canadian Red Cross ever send me a text message to deposit my funds? 

• No. Financial assistance to eligible households through an e-transfer will always be sent to your email on file.