In response to the ongoing Canada Post labour situation, the Province is implementing an alternate distribution plan for June income-assistance payments.

Cheques for clients who normally receive their income-assistance payments through the mail will be available for pick-up at ministry field offices and Service BC offices as of June 22, 2011. Clients must bring valid B.C. identification with them in order to claim their cheque.

About 80 per cent of British Columbians on income assistance receive their payments via direct deposit and will not be affected. However, about 18,000 income-assistance clients still receive cheques in the mail for a variety of reasons.

Many offices will be open late on and after cheque-issue day to handle the extra volume. Clients needing assistance on other matters - unless urgent - are encouraged to wait until Monday, June 27 to contact ministry offices, as client volume is expected to be very high through this time.

The approximately 80,000 vendor cheques for client rent and utilities, along with Electronic Funds Transfer notifications and stubs and other mail, will be put into the mail system as soon as postal service resumes.

More information and a full listing of affected cheques is available at: www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/popular_topics.htm

The Province will continue to monitor the Canada Post labour situation to ensure that we are continuing to deliver the best service possible to clients.

Media Contact:

David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670