Sask. Temporary Wage Supplement criteria widened

More healthcare workers can access financial help under some changes to the Saskatchewan Temporary Wage Supplement Program.

All workers at integrated health care facilities, which offer both short-term and long-term care, are now eligible for aid under the provincial pandemic program.

That means they can get $400 every four weeks for up to four months.

When the program first started, workers were only eligible if they had a gross salary of less than $2,500 per month and made less than $24.00 an hour. That restriction has been lifted.

“Our government wants to ensure that through this program we are helping workers who are caring for some of our most vulnerable,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said.

“Often family members help support their loved ones in long-term care in these facilities, but visitation restrictions due to public health orders have made that more difficult, putting more pressure on the workers in these integrated healthcare facilities.”

Those eligible for the supplement include those who work at:

Personal care homes licensed pursuant to The Personal Care Home Act
Special care homes designated pursuant to The Provincial Health Authority Act
Approved private service homes defined in The Residential Services Act
Licensed or unlicensed family child care homes as defined in The Child Care Act
Unlicensed private assisted living facilities, where residents are provided with direct assistance or supervision of daily living activities
Community-based group homes
Licensed childcare facilities
Emergency shelters
Transition shelters – short stay/emergency, transition housing
Integrated healthcare facilities; and
Home care workers providing care to seniors in their own homes.