Does this count as receiving govt assistance?

[mikeymyke]

I'm an electrical apprentice, and the past 3 years I've applied for EI while attending school (this is normal for all apprentices). I know the EI is not govt assistance, but one thing I was not aware of, is that I also applied for Alberta Income Support while attending school, this helps apprentices pay for housing expenses while they are in school. At the time I applied, I was not in financial distress, I had lots of money in the bank and RRSPs, and a home, but everyone applies for this, because the govt will give you some money regardless of how well off you are. As I mentioned before, the money helped me a bit, but I didn't really need it so badly. I got a $700 cheque for the past 2 years, and will get another one this year.

I plan to marry my wife and sponsor her here on Feb 2014. I make $32/hr, work full time as an electrician, and I own a home and RRSPs, and I can repay any of the money I received, if that helps at all, but I'm still not sure if this counts as govt assistance.

Does this count as govt assistance? I've always been under the impression you had to be CURRENTLY receiving govt assistance, or be on welfare, I don't know if past govt assistance claims will hurt your sponsor application.

 

[missboon]

I have a similar question of sorts....Does it matter if I was on some assistance in the states? Or does it only matter that my hubby never was? Thanks!

 

[mikeymyke]

Also, the application form asks "Are you receiving social assistance?", which seems to imply if I'm currently getting it, but doesn't ask if I have received it in the past.

 

[gongdi]

It is unclear to me whether you are a citizen or a PR, but as a Canadian citizen sponsoring my wife, I can tell you that I have already passed sponsorship elgibility even though I drew EI for 7 months in 2004. EI is not welfare and VO authorities will only consider a Canadian citizen's financial history if you've ever drawn welfare or have amassed debt. Canadian spouses are otherwise exempt from the financial requirement (aside from agreeing to pay for your spouse's living expenses for three years, of course).

 

[mikeymyke]

I'm a Canadian citizen, and as I mentioned before, I believe CIC is only concerned if you are still receiving income assistance while sponsoring your spouse. It doesn't say, "have you ever receieved income assistance in the past?" It only asks "Are you receivING income assistance.", and I think using that logic, it would seem I should reply "no."

And I"ve also never been in debt, bankrupt, and I already own a house.

And gongdi, that was 9 years ago, I'm sure they don't care about it because EI is not considered social assistnace, even if it was, it wouldn't matter cuz you are still not currently receiving it while sponsoring your spouse right?

 

[scylla]

I have a similar question of sorts....Does it matter if I was on some assistance in the states? Or does it only matter that my hubby never was? Thanks!

It doesn't matter if you were on some assistance in the States. This will have no impact on your application.

 

[mikeymyke]

and what about my case?

@missboon: thread hijacker

 

[scylla]

and what about my case?

@ missboon: thread hijacker

Unfortunately I don't know. I'm not familiar withe the Alberta program you're referring to and don't know how it's classified.

 

[mikeymyke]

Even if it was considered fianncial assistance, would that even matter, because I believe CIC doesn't care about your past, they only care about what you are currently doing (working or getting assistance), while you are sponsnoring right?

 

[Mrembo]

Even if it was considered fianncial assistance, would that even matter, because I believe CIC doesn't care about your past, they only care about what you are currently doing (working or getting assistance), while you are sponsnoring right?

That's right,they don't care about the past (whether you recieved welfare or not)but the present!...EI is not classified as welfare,so yes,you can sponsor your partner!!!...Just explain the situation on a separate piece of paper!

 

[scylla]

Even if it was considered fianncial assistance, would that even matter, because I believe CIC doesn't care about your past, they only care about what you are currently doing (working or getting assistance), while you are sponsnoring right?

Yes - but your original post says you will get the money again this year. So that makes it sound like you're still still on the program.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Even if it was considered fianncial assistance, would that even matter, because I believe CIC doesn't care about your past, they only care about what you are currently doing (working or getting assistance), while you are sponsnoring right?

Reading a little about it, the website says "Income Support provides financial assistance to Albertans who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter". This sounds like social assistance.

As scylla said above, the fact that you are still to receive money indicates you are still on the program.

If you wanted to be sure, you could contact them to remove yourself from the program and decline this money they are to send you.

 

[mikeymyke]

I called CIC today, and they say they will look at a sponsor's history for the past 12 months, from the time the application is received. Also, we already know this, but EI does not count as financial support. They also mentioned that my Alberta Income Support cheque does count as financial assistance, and told me I should cancel my application for it, which I did promptly. They said the income support cheques I got in years past will not matter because it would be past the 12 months from the time I file my application, which will be Feb 2014.

So yeah for anyone out there with a similar situation, they will look at your financial situation from 12 months past.