
- As of February 15, 2021, band members aged 60+ are eligible for a monthly subsidy valued at $50 (per household) to support travel for the purchase of groceries and other essential items during the pandemic. This benefit will run until the available fund has been fully allocated.
- Seniors who require a taxi to travel may request a pre-paid shuttle/taxi in lieu of the $50.00 subsidy.
- If a shuttle/taxi is required, you may contact our COVID-19 Support Team at 709-634-5163.
- Shuttle/Taxi Trips must be pre-approved and submitted as soon as possible, as this program is a first come first serve basis. Allocated funds will be disbursed until total funds are exhausted.
- Limit of one trip per month, per household.
- Member’s must apply each month to receive the vulnerable population essential travel reimbursement.
- Remember to include your Band registration (or identification)
- Ensure you have completed all sections of your reimbursement form and signed where applicable to avoid your claim being returned to you for further revision and subsequent delay.
For a printable copy of this form, please click here: Vulnerable Population Essential Transportation Form (Updated: 23-02-2021)

Qalipu First Nation Band members, who were essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and incurred childcare costs, are eligible to apply for up to $200 in monthly benefits per child (ages 0-13). This benefit can be paid retroactively starting in April 2020 and will require a letter from the members’ employer verifying their status as an essential worker (Essential Worker Verification Form included in application), and childcare receipts. This benefit will be paid until the available support fund has been fully allocated.
For a printable copy of this form, please click here: Essential Worker Childcare Reimbursement Form
For a printable copy of the required Essential Worker Verification form click here: Essential Worker Verification Form

If we do not have EFT information on file for you and you did not include it in your application, we will send a cheque in the mail.
We have received thousands of applications and do not have enough staff resources to search for individual applications. This means we are not able to provide verification of received applications. When you apply online, you will know your application was received by the confirmation message that reads Thank you, your message has been sent.
Since our office locations are closed, we encourage you to ask someone in your family or a friend to help fill out the form online on your behalf. Many seniors have applied for the travel benefit this way.
If you are unable to do this, you can request a form be mailed to you by calling 634-5163 and leaving a message. We will respond as quickly as resources permit.
Yes. Applications for February do not carry forward beyond this month and so on. You must apply each month.
No. The travel benefit for seniors is like a reimbursement; it goes through Accounts Payable, does not require a SIN and does not lead to the generation of a T4.
We are unsure at this time whether members will be taxed on the childcare benefit. Once we receive a response from the Canada Revenue Agency, we will post an update.
We have a limited amount of money for these benefits currently, however we are seeking additional funds. We know that the demand for these benefits is there, and now that the program has been established, we will be working with our partners in seeking additional funds to carry this program for a longer period of time.
We are working to keep things moving and aim to process payment within 6-8 weeks of receipt of your application.
No. Please submit your complete application. Partially complete applications will be rejected.
Yes, you can submit a receipt for the whole year. Please ensure that the name on the receipt matches the name of the applicant, that it shows the date(s) for which the service was provided, the name of the provider, the date of the receipt, and has an invoice number.
No, due to the high volume of applications and limited staff resources we cannot accept incomplete or incorrect applications and go looking for the other information. Incomplete applications will be rejected. You will still be able to apply again.
We require all invoices, receipts to have a unique identification number (Receipt Number/Invoice Number). These unique numbers allow us to identify invoices/receipts that have already been reimbursed or outstanding. This is a requirement of all departments within QFN. It ensures accountability.
The program is modeled after a NL program: Essential Worker Child Care Service. At the time of proposal this program was ending, and we noted a need to continue the support. We adapted the programs to meet our community needs.
If your employer deems you an essential worker. Have your employer identify the weeks that you are required to report to the worksite. The program is designed to support members that are required to report to work and can not work from home.
No, as you are on leave from your employment. The program eligibility is for members who are required to report to work and have been deemed essential to the employers operations.
Unfortunately, no. As the pandemic level changes and we move into the next wave(s) of Covid-19, we need to ensure that QFN seniors are supported by having financial barriers reduced relating to accessing essential supplies. Therefore, there is an option for $50 travel subsidy and prearranged shuttle/taxi service. To ensure accessibility, the program is designed to support seniors monthly.
If we can not validate your Band Membership, we can not provide support under these programs. Both the Essential Worker Childcare and Vulnerable Population Essential Transportation Reimbursement Program are for members only, in Canada. This is part of the funding requirement.
We ask that members do not do this as it will increase the volume of applications, and the application will be flagged as a duplicate. We encourage members to submit online.
By submitting online, you are declaring and authorizing QFN to process your application. This includes auditing. Your authorization allows us to collect information from you (including receipts) for services provided to you. The release of any records that are relevant to the processing and payment of this claim to Qalipu First Nation, it is agents or contractors, or Regulatory Body. You’re declaring the information that you submit online to be true and accurate and verifying that it does not contain a claim for any benefit or service previously paid for by Qalipu First Nation or by any other plan(s)/program(s) that is noted in the statement or explanations of benefits.