Overview
The Social Assistance Department of the Moose Cree First Nation provides assistance to eligible
applicants of the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Acts. To be eligible for social
assistance from the Moose Cree First Nation Social Assistance Department, an applicant must be
residing on the First Nation reserve and must be deemed to be financially in need according to
social assistance rates. For those applicants who are not First Nation members they must apply
for "temporary residency" which is granted by the Moose Cree First Nation Chief and Council,
before they are considered eligible for social assistance. "Temporary residency" is permission
from the Chief and Council to live on reserve.
Social Assistance is issued to those in financial need, may it be single people, families with
one or two parents and/or children in temporary (foster) care. Social assistance is further
divided into two categories; regular and discretionary benefits. Regular benefits include basic
needs (food & clothing), shelter (hydro & rent), and northern allowance (to accommodate the
higher cost of living in the north). Discretionary benefits include coverage for items that are
considered health related such as travel for medical appointments, wheelchairs, diabetic
supplies, funeral coverage, etc. The discretionary benefit is issued in addition to regular
benefits when deemed necessary.
The Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program Acts and regulations, in
conjunction with Moose Cree First Nation Policies, govern the issuance of social assistance.
The funding agencies of our Social Assistance Department are Indian and Northern Affairs Canda
(INAC) and the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS).
