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Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Assistance

Last updated: June 8, 2025

How is eligibility criteria for financial assistance determined? 
  • On behalf of the Government of Manitoba, the Canadian Red Cross is distributing financial assistance to households that have been evacuated from their primary residence in municipalities and non-First Nations communities due to the wildfires in Manitoba.
  • Eligibility requirements for financial assistance were determined by the Government of Manitoba. 
How can I access the financial assistance distributed by the Canadian Red Cross on behalf of the Government of Manitoba to people whose primary residence is located in a municipality or non-First Nation community?
  • If your primary residence is located in a municipality or non-First Nation community and you have been evacuated, the first step is to register with the Canadian Red Cross.
  • People who have not yet registered with the Red Cross are encouraged to do so. 
  • Once registered, the Canadian Red Cross must verify your identity and your eligibility for assistance, which can take some time.
  • Please note: If a person impacted has already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone, or in person they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for 2025 Manitoba Wildfires that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed.
If I have already registered with the Canadian Red Cross, do I need to register again to determine my eligibility to the financial assistance distributed by the Canadian Red Cross?   
  • If you or someone from your household has already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone or in person for their household, they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires, that household is considered registered. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed.
How long will it take once people register to get the financial assistance? 
  • Once someone registers with the Canadian Red Cross, we must verify their identity and their eligibility for assistance, which can take some time. Typically, once financial assistance is approved, people will receive funds within 3-5 business days if they provided an email address when registering. The Canadian Red Cross will contact households who do not have an email address on file for next steps on how to access this assistance. 
  • The first payment issued will cover two weeks of support, with subsequent payments issued based on the duration of evacuation orders.
  • Please note: If a household has already registered with the Red Cross online, over the phone, or in person, they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires, that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed.
How will people receive the money? 
  • Funds distributed by the Canadian Red Cross will be issued to the head of household indicated in the registration form via electronic funds transfer (if a valid email address was provided in registration) or a prepaid card. 

How much will people receive?

  • Eligible households will receive $238 per person aged 13 and above per week that they are evacuated. Children under 12 will receive $189 per week that they are evacuated.
What do I need to bring to register or verify my registration, if I am visiting an in-person registration site?
  • If you are registering with the Canadian Red Cross or verifying your registration information, please ensure you bring:
    • Option A: A valid Canadian Driver’s license or provincially issued photo ID card reflecting the address of your primary residence at the time you were evacuated.
    • Option B: An original copy of a valid passport (Canadian or other) OR a valid and original Canadian Citizenship card with photo OR a valid and original Canadian Permanent Resident card with photo OR a valid Indian Status card with photo;
      AND
    • An original copy or email print-out of a utility bill, mortgage or bank statement issued within the last three months OR insurance statement issued within the last three months OR a property tax assessment, provincial or federal government mail (e.g., tax or benefits document) issued within the last year reflecting the address of your primary residence before you were evacuated.
  • If you do not have the ID required for Option A or B, the Red Cross asks that you replace your ID to ensure your identification can be validated.
  • The Red Cross will not ask for your SIN number or banking information.
Why do I need to visit a Canadian Red Cross centre in-person to verify my identification before I can receive financial assistance?
  • The Canadian Red Cross has put appropriate measures in place to adequately verify the addresses and identity of people impacted.  
  • In some cases, the Red Cross is unable to verify the identity of people with the information that was provided during the registration process, so some people may be asked to see a Canadian Red Cross representative in person to complete this process. 
  • If you are not able to visit a reception centre in person, please call us at 1 (800) 863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time and we can discuss the options available to you.
My neighbour doesn’t have to go to an in-person location to verify their registration. Why do I?
  • The Canadian Red Cross has put appropriate measures in place to adequately verify the addresses and identity of people impacted.
  • In some cases, the Red Cross is unable to verify the identity of people with the information that was provided during the registration process, so some people may be asked to see a Canadian Red Cross representative in person to complete this process.
  • If you are not able to visit a reception centre in person, please call us at 1 (800) 863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time and we can discuss the options available to you.
I was given a prepaid card but it’s not working / How do I use the prepaid card?
  • Payment cards distributed by the Canadian Red Cross are swipe cards only. The magnetic strip on the back of the card needs to be swiped through the card reader in order to process a payment.
  • If you are experiencing difficulty with your card and need, support please call the number on the back of the card.
What should I do if I am unable to access one of your in-person locations to complete my registration?
  • We understand this is a stressful time and that waiting for guidance on how to move forward can be frustrating.
  • If you are not able to visit a reception centre in person, please call us at 1 (800) 863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time and we can discuss the options available to you.
Have you heard of any scams targeting people who have been impacted?
  • Unfortunately, there are some who may try to take advantage of those impacted through fraudulent tactics. To protect yourself from fraud, it's important to understand the steps involved in receiving funds from the Canadian Red Cross.
  • Individuals eligible for financial assistance will NOT need to provide their social insurance number, bank account information or credit card number during their registration or to receive assistance. In addition, the Red Cross will not ask for any form of payment in order for you to receive assistance.
  • The Canadian Red Cross communicates only via email, phone, or in person and would never send a link through a text message. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of any form of communication from us, please call us at 1 (800) 863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time. 
  • Always be cautious of unsolicited requests for payment and confirm any details through official channels to protect yourself and your organization. The Red Cross encourages people to stay informed from credible sources, such as the Government of Canada’s website for fraud prevention tips.
  • If you suspect you have been a victim of fraudulent activity, please contact your local police authority.

Electronic funds transfers

What happens if I received the electronic transfer of funds, but I don’t have access to online banking right now? Is there an expiry?
  • Standard electronic banking transfers expire after 30 days. If you do not accept this transfer of funds within this period, it does not mean you won’t receive Red Cross financial assistance. Your registration profile will be updated accordingly, and you will be able to receive an alternative form of this financial assistance.  
If I have auto-deposit enabled for e-transfers sent to my email, will my e-transfer from the Canadian Red Cross be deposited automatically? 
  • Yes, if you have auto-deposit enabled for e-transfers, the funds will be automatically deposited into your account.
  • If you do not have auto-deposit enabled, a PIN is required, and will be emailed to you. You will still receive a PIN email if you have auto-deposit enabled. If you have auto-deposit enabled and your funds are deposited without issue, you can ignore the PIN email.      
Do I have to accept the electronic funds transfer? Can I receive my financial assistance in another way?
  • If you’ve been provided an electronic funds transfer, and you have access to accept, we encourage you to do so, as this method will help to effectively and efficiently meet your needs. However, if you believe this is not the best option for you, we can discuss alternative options.
Why did some people receive the electronic funds transfer before others?  
  •  As you can imagine, the needs of individuals and families are great. Red Cross staff and volunteers are working around the clock to effectively and efficiently reach everyone. To do an electronic funds transfer, we take proper precautions to confirm everyone’s registration details. We appreciate your patience.    
I'm having trouble depositing this into my bank account.   
  • Please contact your financial institution with any technical questions. You can also contact Interac directly for any questions regarding the deposit process with electronic fund transfers by visiting https://www.interac.ca/en/contact-us/, or by visiting https://www.interac.ca and navigating to Consumers – Support – Contact Us at the top of the page. 
What banks will accept electronic deposits?   
  • All Canadian banks and credit unions.  
What if I improperly enter my PIN?   
  • To re-enter your PIN, you must click the link you received in your initial email from the Canadian Red Cross.
  • If you have entered your PIN and it has locked, please call us at 1 (800) 863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time.
What if I can’t see my PIN?  
  • The PIN is in an email sent by the Canadian Red Cross which is separate to the email with the electronic funds transfer. 
  • If the email from the Red Cross is not in your inbox, please check your email bulk, junk, or spam mail folders. Once you find the email, please add the Canadian Red Cross email address to your "approved sender" list or in your address book to avoid future emails being labelled as junk or spam.
  • If the email from the Red Cross is not in your email bulk, junk or spam folders, you can call us back for additional support. 
Why am I receiving a PIN and no link?   
  • The first email only gives you a PIN, so please wait for a second email that will give you the link to the deposit.  Please use the PIN from the first email to access the deposit. The second e-mail will arrive within the next 24 hours. 
  • If the email from the Red Cross is not in your inbox, please check your email bulk, junk, or spam mail folders. Once you find the email, please add the Canadian Red Cross email address to your "approved sender" list or in your address book to avoid future emails being labelled as junk or spam.
  • If the email from the Red Cross is not in your email bulk, junk or spam folders, you can call us back for additional support. 
Will the Canadian Red Cross ever send me a text message to deposit my funds?
  • No. Financial assistance to eligible households through an e-transfer will always be sent to your email on file.