FAQs

Financial assistance

What financial assistance has the Canadian Red Cross provided?

On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Red Cross is distributing $500 for employed and self-employed residents of Labrador City and Wabush whose income has been affected by wildfires in the region. This assistance is available for individuals whose employer’s business was interrupted by the wildfires and who cannot access income through employment or Employment Insurance.

On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Red Cross is distributing $1,000 in one-time financial assistance per household whose primary residence was under evacuation order in Labrador City. This includes homeowners and renters. Residents must have complied with the evacuation order and evacuated outside the order area.

Why has registration closed?

At this stage of the response, most of those who were impacted have now registered with Red Cross.

Registration for the $1,000 one-time financial assistance for households evacuated from Labrador City has closed on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Registration for the financial assistance for workers whose income has been impacted by the wildfires has closed on Monday, August 12, 2024.

If registration for financial assistance closed, does this mean assistance is no longer available?

With registration closed, the Canadian Red Cross is continuing to distribute financial assistance to those who are eligible and have not yet received it.

Those who have not registered with the Red Cross but have unmet needs as a result of the Labrador wildfires can call 1-800-863-6582 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. AT to discuss referrals to other supports that may be available in their area.

For more information on the support available directly from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador please visit their website: Labrador West Wildfire Response - Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

How is eligibility criteria for financial assistance determined?

Eligibility requirements are determined by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Labrador wildfires in the days, weeks and months ahead.

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.

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 the Labrador 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 one-time financial assistance to eligible households through one the following ways:
- an electronic funds transfer – the quickest, most secure way to receive funds.
- a prepaid card.

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 Labrador due to an evacuation order from their primary residence in Labrador City receive financial assistance?

Yes. People who were under evacuation order from Labrador City and have relocated outside of Labrador 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.