FAQs

Financial assistance

What financial assistance is the Canadian Red Cross providing?

Starting Wednesday, July 31, the Canadian Red Cross will be distributing $750 in one-time financial assistance per household for people evacuated from their primary residence in Jasper.

To access this assistance, people must be registered with the Red Cross. Canadian Red Cross will verify eligibility for this assistance based on information submitted during registration.

People who have not yet registered with the Red Cross are encouraged to do so on the phone or by going online at www.redcross.ca/albertawildfires.

Please note: If a person whose primary residence was under evacuation order in Jasper has already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone, or in person, they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for the Alberta Wildfires 2024, 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.

How can people access the one-time financial assistance provided by the Canadian Red Cross?

The first step is to register with the Canadian Red Cross.

People who have not yet registered with the Red Cross are encouraged to do so on the phone or by going online at www.redcross.ca/albertawildfires.

Please note: If a person whose primary residence was under evacuation order in Jasper has already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone, or in person, they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for the Alberta Wildfires 2024, 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.

How will people receive the money?

Canadian Red Cross distributes financial assistance to eligible households through one of the following ways:
- an electronic funds transfer – the quickest, most secure way to receive funds.
- a prepaid card.

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, you will receive your funds within 3-5 business days. We appreciate your patience throughout this process.

Who is eligible for the $750 in financial assistance from the Red Cross?

The Canadian Red Cross is providing $750 in one-time financial assistance for people evacuated from their primary residence in Jasper.

Eligibility requirements ensure assistance is complementary to existing resources and reaching those who need it most.

Are temporary workers eligible to receive the $750 in financial assistance from the Red Cross?

Temporary workers are eligible to receive the $750 in financial assistance if they have proof of residence in Jasper.

How is eligibility criteria for financial assistance determined?

Eligibility requirements are determined by the Canadian Red Cross to ensure assistance is complementary to existing resources and reaching those who need it most.

The Red Cross continues to work collaboratively with governments, Indigenous leadership and local communities to determine how to best assist people directly impacted by the Alberta wildfires in the days, weeks and months ahead.

I was given a prepaid card but it’s not working / How do I use the prepaid card?

Prepaid cards distributed by the Canadian Red Cross are swipe cards only. The magnetic strip on the back of the card needs to be swiped through the card reader in order to process a payment.

If you are experiencing difficulty with your card and need, support please call the number on the back of the card.

Can people who have relocated outside of Jasper due to an evacuation order from their primary residence in Jasper receive financial assistance?

Yes. People who are under evacuation order from Jasper and have relocated outside of Jasper may be eligible to receive the financial assistance, provided they were evacuated from their primary home.

Electronic funds 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.

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 proper 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 https://www.interac.ca/en/contact-us/, or by visiting https://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.

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 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. The 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 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.