Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, section 33

INTENT

Income support for Registered Indians under the Indian Act who are living on reserve or are ordinarily resident on reserve is the responsibility of the federal government. Other learners who are living on reserve or are ordinarily resident on reserve are the responsibility of the provincial government.

POLICY

The Federal Government is responsible for providing living allowance for Non-EI learners who are Registered Indians under the Indian Act and are living on reserve or ordinarily resident on reserve. The Government of Alberta pays for tuition, mandatory fees, student association fees, books and supplies only.

First Nations individuals, who are not living on reserve or ordinarily resident on reserve, may be eligible for funding if they meet the program eligibility criteria. This includes band members who are receiving Income Support as ‘Expected to Work’ (ETW)/‘Barriers to Full Employment’ (BFE) directly from the Government of Alberta or under “off reserve service arrangements” between the Government of Alberta and a band.

Individuals will be assessed for tuition, prescribed fees, books and supplies only when:

• They have a Certificate of Indian Status (CIS) card (commonly referred to as “status card”) with their registration number, and are;
• living on reserve and attending school on reserve,
• living on reserve and attending school off reserve, or
• leaving a reserve for the primary purpose of accessing education or training.

Learners who have Registered Status under the Indian Act and return to live on reserve during training will be reassessed for tuition, prescribed fees, books, and supplies from the date they move back to the reserve.

This includes band members who are receiving Income Support as ETW or BFE directly from the Government of Alberta or under “off reserve service arrangements” between the Government of Alberta and a band.

For Learner purposes, ordinarily resident on reserve includes individuals with Registered Status under the Indian Act:

• living on reserve and attending school on reserve,
• living on reserve and attending school off reserve, or
• leaving a reserve for the primary purpose of accessing education or training.

Further information regarding First Nations training can be found at First Nations Training to Employment Program.

PROCEDURE

An individual completes the EMP 5569 Learner Income Support Application (Full Time Study). Upon receipt of the Funding Assessment Decision letter, the learner takes this letter to the Income Support Office on the reserve to be assessed for a learner living allowance.

APPROVAL

Learner Benefits Coordinator, Learner Income Support Office (LISO)