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Emergency Financial Assistance for Members due to COVID-19

April 15, 2020 Joyce Lusunike

We understand that many SEIU Healthcare members are experiencing a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasons for this include a loss in hours, being placed in quarantine or isolation, or having to take time off to care for a child or elder.

To help during this unprecedented time, we are offering eligible members a $75 Presidents Choice gift card to use towards essential needs.

Where can these gift cards be used?

A full list can be found by using the Store Locator at http://www.loblawstores.ca/LCLOnline/. Members can input their city or postal code to find a location near them. Some of the stores include:

  • Loblaws
  • Superstores
  • No Frills
  • Real Canadian Superstore
  • Fortinos
  • Zehrs
  • Valu-Mart
  • Independent
  • Joe Fresh

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. A member of SEIU Healthcare
  2. Be in “good standing” for a 3 month period
  3. You are experiencing a reduction in wages due to any of the following situations:
      1. Self-isolation due to exposure to an individual who is positive for COVID-19;
      2. Government or employer mandated quarantine due to being positive for COVID-19;
      3. Inability to work due to child or elder care needs due to COVID-19 (or they are a primary care giver to a high-risk individual);
      4. Reduction of wages due to client cancellations or clients on hold, closure of workplace or unit, temporary lay off or being forced to select one workplace. To clarify:
    1. For homecare workers a loss of 10 hours or more per pay period;
    2. For members working at more than one workplace, that have been forced to choose one workplace due to COVID-19 (the workplace they have selected to work at must be a SEIU workplace).
  4. You will not qualify if you are experiencing a reduction of hours for the following reasons:
    1. Self-isolation due to travel outside of Canada after March 11th, 2020
    2. If your employer is paying your regular wages during isolation, quarantine, childcare or eldercare.
    3. If your reduction of wages is not due to the COVID-19
    4. If you are receiving administrative pay, vacation pay, sick pay, LTD benefits, WSIB benefits or any other employer-based benefit

Process

Members must apply online using the form below or through the Member Resource Centre, 1-877-672-7348.

Members must provide any 2 of the following documents:

    1. ROE (record of employment) showing a temporary layoff after March 10th, 2020
    2. Copies of a schedule(s) showing a reduction in hours or shifts (ensure client information is not visible)
    3. Correspondence from your employer regarding reduction in hours (i.e. lay off notice, notice of temporary reductions, notice of department closure, a copy of the document indicating which workplace the member has selected to work at during the Pandemic, etc.);
    4. A confirmation from Service Canada that you have applied for any of the following:
      1. Canada Emergency Response Benefit
      2. Employment Insurance Benefits (EI)

You can apply by filling out the online application or calling the Member Resource Centre.


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