Several bigĀ agencies have teamed up to make it easier for Saskatchewan parents to apply for benefits for their newborns.
eHealth Saskatchewan, Employment and Social Development Canada, andĀ the Canada Revenue AgencyĀ have partneredĀ to create the Bundled Birth Service. The service allows Saskatchewan parents to apply for a social insurance number, birth certificate, health card,Ā and Canada child benefits for their newborn baby at the same time they register the child’s birth, withĀ an improved, user-friendly Registration of Live Birth form.
Here in Lloydminster, with the hospital on the Saskatchewan side, most Lloydminster babies are born in Saskatchewan, even though theirĀ parentsĀ may be Albertans, and they may be Albertans essentially all their lives growing up.Ā Susan Antosh, CEO of eHealth, says theĀ process will still be somewhat streamlined for Alberta parents in the border city.
“They can actually register the live birth, ask for a birth certificate, and do the two federal things,” explains Antosh. “It does not do the health card for them though because they do need an Alberta health card. So the parent would need to contact Alberta Health. It still is beneficial. There’s still 3 out of the 4, they can get at a single time…and for Saskatchewan parents, all 4 can, of course.”
For more information go toĀ saskatchewan.caĀ or contact eHealth atĀ 1-855-347-5465.