Financial Assistance
Application Process
Applications are accepted and processed year round from eligible Coquitlam residents. Recipients are informed by mail of result of application within 3 – 4 weeks of submission. Application processing times vary and are based on the volume of applications received and the time of the year. Every application is important to us and they will be processed in the order we received them to ensure fairness.
Options
Applicants who are eligible, qualify and enroll must choose from:
50 free drop-in admissions per year, PLUS
- 2 free registered programs per year, OR
- 4 half price registered programs per year
On March 17, 2020, we closed our recreation centres due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank you for your patience as we have worked out safety plans and protocols to be able to open up again.
Over the past several months, we have slowly started to re-open our recreations centres. Until now, Get Connected, Get Active (GCGA) pass holders were able to use their passes for discounted programs, but we were unable to offer you free drop-in admissions. All of our ONE Passes remain on hold at this time because our facilities are not yet fully operational due to COVID-19. Once regular operations resume, passes will be reinstated. Until then, in order to provide drop-in access to GCGA pass holders, we are offering the use of the GCGA 50 visit passes.
Effective immediately, all GCGA pass holders will be able to access drop-in activities. All $10 ONE Passes will be converted to 50 free admissions which expire on March 31, 2021. Partial refunds on the $10 ONE Pass will be issued for passes that had more than 2 months remaining on them as of the day our facilities closed on March 17, 2020. Please allow up to 6 weeks for refunds to be processed. Staff have planned a review of the program and will have more information in the coming months.
Please remember that since we are limiting the number of people within our facilities, you will need to pre-register for a spot either online by visiting coquitlam.ca/registration or by calling our registration line at 604-927-4386.
How to Apply
There are two different ways to apply to the Get Connected, Get Active – Financial Assistance for Recreation Program. The application process depends on which group you select below.
If receiving Government/Income Assistance (GIS, SAFER, RAP, EI, MSDPR/MEIA, PWD), complete:
Form 1 only — Financial Assistance for Recreation Application Form
Provide a copy of one of the following:
- Eligibility letter
- Photocopy Notice of Deposit (from Ministry of Social Development Office)
- Confirmation of Assistance Statement
- Validated Release of Personal Information (from Ministry of Social Development Office)
- Income verification
If NOT receiving Government/Income Assistance, complete:
Form 1 — Financial Assistance for Recreation Application Form
AND
Form 2 — Adjudication Information Form
An adjudicator can be one of the following:
A professional in social work or family services, financial case worker, a school principal, counsellor, teacher, daycare provider, church clergy/pastor, accountant, family physician, or dentist.
Required documentation:
- Proof of Coquitlam address
- Government issued photo ID
- Income verification
If you are renewing Get Connected, Get Active, begin your renewal application at least one month before your current expiry date.
Current copy of one of the following:
- If receiving Government/Income Assistance:
- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) eligibility letter or T4AOAS slip
- Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) Benefits Eligibility letter
- Employment Insurance (EI) approval letter
- Income Assistance: Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction (MSDPR) or Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (MEIA), provide one of the following:
- Notice of Deposit (Ministry cheque stub), OR
- Income Summary Statement/Confirmation of Assistance form, OR
- Validated Release of Personal Information.
- If not receiving Government/Income Assistance:
- If you do not receive government assistance and are considered to be low income as defined by the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) table, you must complete Form 1 and Form 2 in the Application Package.
- The adjudicator must be familiar with your financial situation and sign your application to verify financial need using the LICO Table as a guideline.
Approved Adjudicators:
- Professionals in social work or family services
- Financial case workers
- School principals or teachers
- Daycare providers
- Counsellors
- Church clergy/pastors/ministers
- Accountants | Stamp required
- Family doctors or dentists | Stamp required
Please note: Your application form will be returned if other adjudicators are used, other than those listed above.
Who is eligible to apply?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents currently living in the City of Coquitlam who are:
- Low-income individual/family As a guideline, please refer to the Low Income Cut-Off Table
- Receiving Government or Income Assistance (MSDPR)
- Receiving Employment Insurance (EI)
- Receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
- Receiving Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER)
- Participating in the Government of Canada Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
Who is not eligible to apply?
- Temporary residents (visitors), including those on a study or work permit
- Immigrants classified as business class, an investor or entrepreneur
If you receive Government/Income Assistance from any of the agencies below, complete the online application form and include all other required documentation.
- Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR)
- Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (MEIA)
- Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
- Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER)
- Employment Insurance (EI)
If you DO NOT receive government assistance and are considered to be low income as defined by the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) table, you must complete Form 1 and Form 2 in the application form and include all other required documentation from list below.
If you are receiving income assistance or other forms of social assistance through an agency, they can apply to the program on your or your family’s behalf. They will need to complete an Agency Referral Application.
Examples of agencies:
- SHARE Family & Community Services Society
- School District 43
- TriCities Mental Health
- Fraser Health Authority
- Community Living BC
- S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
- Immigration Services Society of BC
Get Connected, Get Active – Financial Assistance for Recreation Guidelines
The following guidelines will assist you in completing the Referral Form for your clients.
1. Low Income Cut Offs (LICO) guidelines (from the Statistics Canada website) listed below are for your reference only. To be eligible for our programs, the applicant’s total income before tax (gross income) must fall within the LICO guidelines listed below. Your signature on the application form confirms the client’s income falls within the guidelines listed below.
Low Income Cut Offs (LICO)—Statistics Canada
- Family Size 1 | Family Income $5,000 – $25,921
- Family Size 2 | Family Income $5,000 – $32,270
- Family Size 3 | Family Income $5,000 – $39,672
- Family Size 4 | Family Income $5,000 – $48,167
- Family Size 5 | Family Income $5,000 – $54,630
- Family Size 6 | Family Income $5,000 – $61,613
- Family Size 7 | Family Income $5,000 – $68,598
What is Gross Income? Gross family income is the combined amount of money earned before taxes of all family members, in Canada and abroad, who contribute to the Coquitlam household. This includes:
- Employment income of all types (full/ part time, reported or not reported)
- Investments
- Pensions
- Child support payments
- Rental revenues
- Funds in trust
- Disability benefits
- Overseas income
- Business income
- And all other sources of income
2. Applicant to choose:
Options
- 50 free drop-in admissions PLUS
- 2 free registered programs within 1 year OR
- 4 half price registered programs within 1 year
3. Processing time can take up to 3 – 4 weeks. A letter detailing the applicants options and next steps will be sent directly to the applicant by mail.
4. Please remind the applicant that all registrations can be done in person or over the phone by calling our registration line at 604-927-4386, but no registrations can be done online.
- Successful applicants will need to go to one of Coquitlam’s recreation facilities to obtain their 50 free drop-in card.
- If the applicant has chosen just the registered program option, a card is not issued. Instead the information will be attached to their computer account.
- Applicant must tell the registration clerks if they are entitled to two free or four half priced programs when registering.
5. Applicants may scan their 50 free drop-in card for friends or family, but they MUST participate as well.
6. Cards are issued for up to 12 months. Applicant may re-apply a month in advance the following year if the eligibility criteria are met.
7. Please fax applications to Get Connected, Get Active – Financial Assistance for Recreation at 604-927-4395.
Get Connected, Get Active—Financial Assistance for Recreation Program is the City of Coquitlam’s response to addressing the barriers to participation to support Sport, Culture and Recreation and to assist residents in learning more about the community and how they can be actively involved. Coquitlam residents and families have the opportunity to reach their highest potential when they feel connected to their community and have access to physical activity, which can positively impact physical health, development of social skills, self-esteem and friendships.
Coquitlam residents who are not eligible to receive government or income assistance and still face significant financial hardship, may apply for assistance to access leisure opportunities by completing a Adjudication Information Form in conjunction with a third-party adjudicator.
Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO)—Statistics Canada
- Size of family unit: 1 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $24,949
- Size of family unit: 2 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $31,061
- Size of family unit: 3 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $38,185
- Size of family unit: 4 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $46,362
- Size of family unit: 5 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $52,583
- Size of family unit: 6 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $59,304
- Size of family unit: 7 person | Total gross income: $5,000 – $66,027
- Size of family unit: 7+ persons, for each additional person, add $6,723
Adjudicator
The adjudicator must be familiar with the applicant’s financial situation (see above) as their signature verifies the financial need of the family or applicant.
An approved adjudicator is a:
- Professional in social work or family services
- Financial case worker
- School principal or teacher
- Day Care provider
- Counsellor
- Church clergy/pastor/minister, etc.
- Accountant (stamp required/business card or letterhead)
- Family doctor or dentist—if aware of financial situation (doctor/dentist stamp is required).
The application form will be returned to the applicant if any adjudicator other than those listed above are used.
Guidelines
- Applicants must be Coquitlam residents.
- It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is complete and to forward it to the Get Connected, Get Active—Financial Assistance for Recreation Program. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant.
- This form needs to be completed along with Form 1.