BETTER LIVING POLICY
CHANGES TO THE POLICY FOR 2026-2027
Michipicoten First Nation Finance Department is preparing for the 2026-2027 Better Living Program payment to Members. The anticipated date of release is between July 15th, 2026 and July 21st, 2026.
As stated last year, we have now issued a form, included below, for Release and Discharge of the Better Living payment for 2026-2027.
The form confirms contact and banking details prior to the release date for funds and will confirm custody or guardianship for minors and those in your care eligible for this benefit (on the Band List at the time of claim). Banking details, custody and Power of Attorney documents need to be provided every year for each annual benefit period.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:
Make sure your banking information is up to date with the administration office. All payments, as was the case with the RST payment, will be by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT, direct deposit to your account).
** Release and Discharge forms as well as banking information for the upcoming BLP payment must be submitted no later than July 7th, 2026. You can access the form here: BLP Release and Discharge Form – Fillable
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- The current benefit year is June 25th, 2026 through June 24th, 2027.
- Benefit value remains at $1,500.00, no receipts required
- New members must reach out to membership via blp@michipicoten.com to provide contact details and get a copy of the Release and Discharge Form.
- There are no retroactive claims for past benefit periods.
- Members must be alive to claim the BLP benefit.
- THERE IS NO $1.00 DEPOSIT FOR THIS PAYMENT SO PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL TO SUBMIT ACCURATE BANKING DETAILS
If you are a new member or your personal information changes, contact reception@michipicoten.com. If your banking information changes, send to blp@michipicoten.com or payables@michipicoten.com.
CHANGES TO THE POLICY FOR 2025-2026
The 2025-2026 Better Living Program (BLP) benefit, effective June 25th, 2025, has seen significant changes:
- The benefit amount has increased
- Members no longer need to submit receipts to receive this benefit
- Payment for the 2025-2026 benefit year will automatically be made to all eligibility-confirmed members by July 15th, 2025
- All payments will now be issued by direct deposit
Other than this year, 2025-2026**, a form will be issued annually approximately one month prior to new benefit period, and similar to the Release and Discharge form recently used for RST payments.
The form will confirm contact and banking details prior to the release date for funds and will confirm custody or guardianship for minors and those in your care eligible for this benefit (on the Band List at the time of claim). Banking details, custody and Power of Attorney documents need to be provided for each annual benefit period.
** Because a full review of contact and banking information for the RST per capita distribution has just been completed, separate confirmation for the BLP program this year will not be required, other than for minors who did not receive the RST payment with the initial release of funds.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
New members and members for whom we do not have valid contact information:
When initial payments are released, these members can apply for the active benefit year by contacting membership via blp@michipicoten.com.
The current benefit year is June 25th, 2025 through June 24th, 2026. There are no retroactive claims for past benefit periods. More information on this program will follow at a later date.
If you are a new member, or your contact or banking information has changed, contact blp@michipicoten.com and ask what is needed for this benefit program, or for general membership information contact communityrelations@michipicoten.com.