Parental Leave Fund

The purpose of the Parental Leave Fund is to provide financial support to members of Component 1 who are unable to work due to the recent or upcoming birth or adoption of a child (including surrogacy), or miscarriage, and who are ineligible for Employment Insurance benefits under the maternity and parental leave provisions. The intent is to offset the loss of pay associated with unpaid leave.

To be eligible for support from the Parental Leave Fund, a member must meet the three eligibility conditions below:

1. the member is a Component 1 member of CUPE 2278;

2. the member is, or will be at the time of receiving financial support, on leave without pay, due to the recent or upcoming birth or adoption of a child (including surrogacy), or miscarriage;

3. the member requires financial support due to the recent or upcoming addition of a child to their family, or due to their recent miscarriage. (This includes birth by the applicant or their partner, or via surrogacy or adoption.)

4. the member is not eligible to receive maternity/parental benefits under Employment Insurance (EI).

Members are only eligible for financial support from the Parental Leave Fund for as long as they continue to meet all of these eligibility requirements. If a member ceases to meet any of these requirements, for whatever reason, then their eligibility for the Fund ceases immediately.

Members who will be returning to work after 8 weeks, as per UBC’s Graduate Student Parental Accommodation Policy, will be eligible for 8 weeks of full-time GTA I pay. Members who are taking a full term away from work will be eligible for 16 weeks of full-time GTA I pay. 

Parental leave is inclusive of official and unofficial leaves, including parental leave from your graduate program, and simply being unable to accept TA jobs for a term due to your new child.

Since we cannot predict how many applications the Fund will receive, there is no guarantee that an eligible member will receive support from the Fund. In cases of limited funds, applicants who have not previously received money from this Fund will be prioritized.

Application Form

Health, Wellbeing, and Hardship Fund

The purpose of the Health, Wellbeing, and Hardship Fund is to provide financial support to members of Component 1 who experience an emergent and significant financial hardship due to circumstances outside of their control. 

To be eligible for support from the Health, Wellbeing, and Hardship Fund a member must meet the eligibility conditions below:

1.  The applicant is a Component 1 member of CUPE 2278.

2. The member considers themselves to be in emergent and significant financial hardship due to circumstances outside of their control

   Members are only eligible for financial support from the Fund for as long as they continue to meet all of these eligibility requirements. If a member ceases to meet any of these requirements, for whatever reason, then their eligibility for the Fund ceases immediately.

There is a maximum that any individual is entitled to receive in each academic year. This maximum is equivalent to 0.25 of a full Teaching Assistantship at the  GTA I rate. Members may request any amount less than the maximum per application, and multiple applications may be submitted in the same academic year. Applications must specify the requested amount of support.

Since the Union cannot predict how many applications the Fund will receive, there is no guarantee that an eligible member will receive support from the Fund. In cases of limited funds, applicants who have not previously received money from this Fund will be prioritized.

Please include an explanation of the total requested amount, and any documentation that is relevant to the financial hardship. Feel free to attach a separate document for your description/explanation if necessary. If the Committee finds that there is not enough information to determine the eligibility of your application, there may be delays in processing the application as they may request further information.

Application Form

Childcare Fund

The purpose of the Childcare Fund is to provide financial support to members of Component 1 who have childcare expenses.

To be eligible for support from the Childcare Fund a member must meet the eligibility conditions below:

1. The applicant is a Component 1 member of CUPE 2278;

2. The member has childcare costs for their dependent(s).

Members are only eligible for financial support from the Childcare Fund for as long as they continue to meet all of these eligibility requirements. If a member ceases to meet any of these requirements, for whatever reason, then their eligibility for the Fund ceases immediately.

Childcare expenses are amounts that you have paid for someone else to look after your child so that you can go to work/school/etc. This includes the cost of daycares and babysitters/childminders. Claims will not be paid for a spouse, partner, or a family member who normally provides care without charges.

Childcare receipts must be provided with the application for reimbursement, and members may apply once per academic term.

Please send in your application and receipts at the end of the term for which you are applying (i.e. in April, August, or December) so that all receipts for the term may be processed at once.

Members may apply for $2000 per academic term for a maximum of 3 times per year ($6000). Applications for a given term should include all childcare receipts from that term. For example, if you are applying for reimbursement for the Winter Term 1 (September-December), you should include receipts for all 4 months in your application. Academic terms are defined as Winter Term 1 (September-December), Winter Term 2 (January-April), and Summer Term (May-August).

Since the Union cannot predict how many applications the Fund will receive, there is no guarantee that an eligible member will receive support from the Fund. In cases of limited funds, applicants who have not previously received money from this Fund will be prioritized.

Application Form