olaide yusuf said:
a refugee claimant here in canada and have been given date for hearing. stay @ shelter and went to alberta works for welfare assistance and was told they can only assist after my hearing. is it true? how to survive till then.
Refugee claimants are eligible to apply for income support in Alberta.
read this link: http://humanservices.alberta.ca/AWonline/IS/4831.html
go again... this time you may most probably meet someone else (who knows the policies better than the previous guy you met..

)
Do tell them that you are in the process of applying for a work permit. (this will demonstrate your wiliness to work and make you eligible for the income support).
2ndly A Work Permit is available (free of charge) for people awaiting a decision by the Immigration and Refugee Board and you can apply easily online using alberta works computers (ask them to help you send your work permit application online if you do not have a computer).
hope it helps