Strike or Lockout

Last updated on June 22, 2023

Overview

Hardship assistance is provided to meet the essential needs of family units who meet all conditions of eligibility for assistance except they are on strike or locked out if the union is unable to meet their needs. This category of hardship assistance is called Strike or Lockout.

Hardship assistance is provided on a temporary basis, for only one month.  If further hardship assistance is required, eligibility must be re-established each month.

Strike or Lockout is available to applicants under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.

Policy

 

Eligibility

Effective:   January 1, 2020

Hardship assistance is provided on a temporary basis, for only one month.  Eligibility for hardship must be re-established each month.

Hardship assistance may be issued under Strike or Lockout to eligible applicants who are on strike or locked out if the union is unable to meet their needs. Before hardship assistance is issued, confirmation is required from the union that it is unable to meet its members’ needs for food, shelter, and other essentials.

[For an overview of eligibility for hardship or the hierarchy of hardship codes, see Related Links – Eligibility for Hardship Assistance.]

Hardship assistance issued under this category is repayable except when provided for special care facility user charges and comforts [see Related Links – Recoveries].

Note: An applicant or adult dependant who is a member of a union not on strike or locked out, but who is honouring a picket line or otherwise unable to go to work because of a labour dispute, may be eligible for income assistance or disability assistance provided that all other eligibility criteria are met.

Once the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be re-assessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.

Procedures

 

Issuing Hardship Assistance

Effective: December 1, 2003

For information on how to determine hardship assistance rates, see Related Links – Eligibility for Hardship Assistance – Policy – Amount of Hardship Assistance.

 

Promise to Pay

Effective: December 1, 2003

A Promise to Pay (HR2664) is to be completed each time hardship assistance is issued.

 

Repayment Agreement

Effective: December 1, 2003

A Repayment Agreement (HR2663A) [see Forms and Letters] is to be completed when clients start receiving income assistance or disability assistance instead of hardship assistance, or when they stop receiving assistance [For more information, see Related Links – Recoveries.]

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Question    Can an applicant who is receiving a very small amount for strike pay be eligible for hardship assistance under Strike or Lockout?

Answer   Yes, hardship assistance may be considered if the strike pay:

  • is not enough to meet the basic needs of the family unit
  • is below the maximum hardship support and shelter rate for the family unit once all other income and eligibility criteria have been considered (strike pay is to be treated as income)
 

Question    What is the procedure when the hardship reason no longer exists?

Answer   Once the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be re-assessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.