Funding:
Casual Recognition Incentive
What is this funding?
The Casual Recognition Incentive acknowledges the vital role that casual nurses play in rural health care. If you are a casual employee who does not hold any regular, part-time, or full-time position with one of the participating signatory employers and you work at an eligible rural site, you may be entitled to a lump-sum recognition payment based on the hours you work between April 1, 2026 and April 1, 2027.
Important: The eligibility period begins April 1, 2026, start tracking your hours now!
Recognition Payment Tiers
A minimum of 100 hours is required to be eligible. Only hours worked as a UNA-represented employee at eligible rural and remote worksites count toward your total.
All funding payments are subject to applicable taxes and other required deductions as mandated by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Recipients are encouraged to consult a tax professional regarding the implications for their personal tax situation.
Years of Rural Service | Payment Amount |
|---|---|
100 - 249 Hours | $1,000 |
250 - 499 Hours | $2,000 |
500 - 749 Hours | $4,000 |
750+ Hours | $5,000 |
Eligibility
Applicants must complete the eligibility screening before proceeding to the application, only those who meet the eligibility requirements will be directed to the full application.
Who Is Eligible?
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Casual employees who do not hold any regular, part-time, or full-time position in with participating signatory employers in Alberta
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Only hours are worked as a UNA-represented employee at an eligible rural or remote worksite can be included (urban sites are not eligible)
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Must have worked a minimum of 100 hours between April 1, 2026, and April 1, 2027
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The applicant has not received any other RCIF incentive (recruitment, relocation, or retention recognition in the 2024-2028 round)
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If an applicant takes a temporary position during the eligibility period, those hours can count toward your total (up to the 750-hour maximum)
Who Is Not Eligible?
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Employees who hold a regular, part-time, or full-time position with participating employers, even if they pick up casual shifts are not eligible
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BECE employees are not eligible
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Hours worked in a locum capacity are not eligible
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Hours worked in a non-UNA capacity are not eligible
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Hours worked at ineligible urban sites are not eligible
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Employees who have already received another RCIF incentive under this program are not eligible, except for the Education and Tuition Incentive
Key Dates
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April 1, 2026 — Eligibility period begins. Start tracking your hours from this date
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April 1, 2027 — Eligibility period ends. Application portal opens
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May 15, 2027 — Application deadline
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June 2027 — Committee reviews applications and issues payments
How to Track Your Hours
Your casual hours are recorded on your pay stub each pay period as relief hours. You can track these as you go, or access your pay stubs at any point to add up your hours. A downloadable tracking tool is available below. Feel free to use this template or any other means that you so choose to track your hours.
When you apply, you will be asked to attest to your total hours. Please note that the hours submitted in your application are subject to verification.
How to apply?
Applications are submitted through the Good Grants portal. You will be asked to register with the email address you want to use for your application. A verification code will be sent to that email to complete your registration. Visit the website to learn more.
The list of eligible rural and remote RCIF worksites is available on the website at and on Good Grants application portal.