Meaghan lived with mental illness and a chronic back injury and her only other income was social assistance. Without her Child Benefit, she was forced to rely on neighbours, food banks, and Facebook contacts for food and other essential needs. She was grateful for the help she received but still struggled with the decrease in income. Meaghan’s neighbour had heard that SEED might be able to help so she recommended contacting them. “I called SEED. They helped me so much. Jennifer was kind and polite and helped me tremendously.”
Working with SEED, Meaghan discovered that CRA had done a random review of her file. She hadn’t received the notifications about it, as they were sent to her old address. Her program coordinator at SEED helped her write a cover letter, locate the required documents, and make necessary phone calls. “Jennifer was like an angel to me. Without her in my time of need, I would not have been able to complete it on my own. SEED is a great organization.” Everything was submitted on time and her Canada Child Benefit, including backpay for the missed payments, was reinstated on January 20, 2023.
Meaghan doesn’t want to be dependent on assistance. “I want to get my life in order for me and my daughter.” She wants to further her schooling, have a career, and reduce her debt. She anticipates applying to SEED again in the future because of their commitment “to help and guide people like me.” In the meantime, she is spreading the word about her positive experience to neighbours, family, and friends. “To anyone who is struggling like I was, I am happy to share about how SEED has helped me.”
