{"settlement":{"id":"manitoba-childrens-special-allowance-2024","slug":"manitoba-childrens-special-allowance-2024","title":"Manitoba Children's Special Allowance Class Action","category":"Government and Public Services","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Government services"],"geographic":["Manitoba"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Identity verification required"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Other"]},"classDefinition":"People who were provincially funded children in the care of a Child and Family Services Agency in Manitoba at any time between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019, except children in the care of the Metis Child, Family and Community Services Agency Inc. and Michif Child and Family Services Inc., which are covered by a separate class action (the Lafontaine Class Action).","plainLanguageSummary":"If you were a provincially funded child in the care of a Manitoba Child and Family Services Agency (other than the Metis or Michif agencies) at any time between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019, you may be eligible for a cash payment based on how long and when you were in care. You do not need to live in Manitoba to file a claim. Eligibility is based on meeting the class definition, not on where you live today.","eligibilityCriteria":["You were a provincially funded child in the care of a Manitoba Child and Family Services Agency at any time between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019.","If your agency was an Indigenous CFS Agency, only time in care from April 1, 2006 onward counts, because Manitoba did not start withholding benefits from those agencies until then.","Children in the care of the Metis Child, Family and Community Services Agency or Michif Child and Family Services are covered by the separate Lafontaine class action, not this one.","You do not need to live in Manitoba to file a claim.","You do not need to remember which agency you were with or when. The Claims Administrator can look this up from CFS records.","A parent, legal guardian, CFS Agency, power of attorney or estate representative can file on behalf of a child, an adult who cannot file themselves, or a class member who has died.","Only one claim can be filed per person."],"recoveryRange":"Monthly amounts of roughly $227 to $541 for each month you were in care, depending on the year. 85% is paid once your claim is assessed, with a possible further payment after the January 2027 deadline if funds remain. A one-time payment of $150 if all your placements were under 30 days.","filingInstructions":"Get a Claim Registration Form from the Claims Administrator's website at https://www.CSASettlement.com or by contacting Exchange Solutions Inc.\nFill out the form with information about yourself and your time in care, completing one form for each current or former Child-in-Care.\nIf you know which CFS Agency you were in the care of, list the agency and the approximate months and years in Appendix B of the form.\nAttach a copy of one piece of current government-issued photo identification (or a completed Declaration of Guarantor for Proof of Identity Form if you have no ID).\nIf you are filing as a representative, attach your own photo identification and court-issued documents proving your authority to act for the claimant.\nChoose how you want to receive any payment (cheque, direct deposit, or held in trust).\nSubmit the form and attachments by January 5, 2027 online at https://www.CSASettlement.com, by email to Claims@CSASettlement.com, by fax to 204-957-5195, or by mail or in person to 1 - 554 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 3L5.\nKeep a copy of your completed form and attachments; send photocopies, not original documents.","caseBackground":"This class action is about the Government of Manitoba's handling of Children's Special Allowance benefits, a federal payment meant to support children in the care of child welfare agencies. The lawsuits, known as the Flette and Lavallee class actions, concern Manitoba's actions and policies relating to the administration of these benefits paid for children in the care of Manitoba Child and Family Services agencies between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019.\n\nOn September 5, 2024, the Manitoba Court of King's Bench approved a settlement in which Manitoba will pay $445,200,000 to the class. Payments to each person are calculated based on how long, and when, they were in care. Because the total paid out depends on how many people file claims, exact individual amounts cannot be estimated in advance. A separate class action (the Lafontaine Class Action) covers children who were in the care of the Metis and Michif agencies over the same period.","administratorName":"Exchange Solutions Inc.","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"Phone (local)","value":"1-204-947-7101"},{"type":"phone","label":"Phone (toll-free)","value":"1-844-947-7101"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"Questions@CSASettlement.com"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.CSASettlement.com"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"Cochrane Sinclair, DD West LLP","classCounselContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-204-594-6688"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"csa@cochranesinclair.com"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://cochranesinclair.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-204-421-8655"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"csa@ddwestllp.com"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://ddwestllp.com"}],"classCounselFirms":[{"name":"Cochrane Sinclair","region":"","contacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-204-594-6688"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"csa@cochranesinclair.com"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://cochranesinclair.ca"}]},{"name":"DD West LLP","region":"","contacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-204-421-8655"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"csa@ddwestllp.com"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://ddwestllp.com"}]}],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.csasettlement.com/submit-a-claim"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"Claims@CSASettlement.com"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"1 - 554 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 3L5"},{"type":"in-person","label":"","value":"1 - 554 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 3L5"},{"type":"fax","label":"","value":"204-957-5195"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/cdbf56ce5ee7befe58ab7e96-CSA---Claim-Registration-Form.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/40ca751f92388029f55e2d2c-s_20Administration_20Procedure_20Court_20Approved_20-_20September_206_202024.pdf.pdf","title":"Additional Settlement Document"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/e03c25061eaa2074cc13173e-CSA---Notice-of-Settlement-Approved.pdf","longFormNoticeUrl":"","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/cdbf56ce5ee7befe58ab7e96-CSA---Claim-Registration-Form.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"99263ea54ea8","url":"/uploads/cdbf56ce5ee7befe58ab7e96-CSA---Claim-Registration-Form.pdf","name":"Claim Registration Form","language":"en","description":""}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[{"id":"bd907d45dd05","url":"/uploads/f43c14dd6877e81f643f57cf-CSA---CRF-Detailed-Instructions.pdf","name":"Claim Registration Form - Detailed Instructions","language":"en"}],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"The Claims Administrator made an Opt-Out Form available on its website with information about its purpose. The opt-out list was provided to Class Counsel by August 26, 2024, before the settlement was approved on September 5, 2024, so the opt-out window has closed.","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"The Claims Administrator made an Objection Form available on its website with information about its purpose. The list of objections was provided to Class Counsel by August 26, 2024, and the Court approved the settlement on September 5, 2024, so the objection process has ended.","faqs":[{"answer":"Payments are based on the number of months you were in the care of a CFS Agency between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019, using a monthly rate set for each year (roughly $227 to $541 per month). You receive 85% of your calculated amount once your claim is assessed. A further payment, up to the remaining 15% plus interest and an extra 25%, may follow after the claims period closes if money remains in the fund. If all of your placements were less than 30 days each, you receive a one-time payment of $150.","question":"How much money can I receive?"},{"answer":"Claim Registration Forms must be submitted by January 5, 2027. If you miss the deadline, your claim may be barred, although the Claims Administrator has limited discretion to accept late claims.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"You need a copy of one piece of current, unexpired government-issued photo identification. If you do not have one, you can submit a Declaration of Guarantor for Proof of Identity Form instead. If your legal name has changed since you were in care, include a marriage certificate or name-change certificate. You do not need to prove your time in care. By signing the claim form, you authorize the CFS agencies and governments to share your records with the Claims Administrator, which will verify your placements for you.","question":"What documents do I need to file?"},{"answer":"The Claims Administrator assesses each claim and issues eligibility notices every Friday. Electronic payments are made about one week after the Notice of Eligibility, and cheques are mailed with the notice. Cheques must be cashed within six months or the money is returned to the fund. Eligible claimants may also receive an additional payment within nine months after the claims period ends on January 5, 2027, if money remains in the settlement fund.","question":"When will I be paid?"},{"answer":"If the claimant is under 18, any compensation is held in trust until they turn 18, when they will be given payment options. A legal guardian, the executor or administrator of an estate, a power of attorney, or a CFS Agency with care of the child can file on a class member's behalf, attaching proof of their authority. For a deceased class member, include the death certificate along with proof of probate or letters of administration.","question":"What happens if the claimant is under 18 or has died?"},{"answer":"You can still file. List the agencies and approximate dates if you know them, or check the box on Appendix B saying you are uncertain. The Claims Administrator will obtain your records from the CFS agencies, Manitoba and the Government of Canada. If your placement dates cannot be confirmed from any records, the procedure allows a deemed six-month placement so you are not left with nothing.","question":"What if I don't remember which agency I was with, or when?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"in-care-manitoba-cfs","text":"Were you (or the person you represent) a child in the care of a Child and Family Services Agency in Manitoba?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"A child in care is also referred to as a Ward.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"care-period","text":"Were you in care at any time between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"metis-michif-agency","text":"Was your time in care ONLY with the Metis Child, Family and Community Services Agency Inc. or Michif Child and Family Services Inc.?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Children in the care of the Metis or Michif agencies are covered by a separate class action; visit www.metiscsaclassaction.ca or call 1-877-835-4546.","qualifyingAnswer":"no","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"If you were a child in the care of a Manitoba Child and Family Services agency between 2005 and 2019, you may be able to claim a payment from a $445.2 million settlement.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"2005-01-01","coverageEndDate":"2019-03-31","deadline":"2027-01-05","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-09-07","lastUpdated":"2026-09-08","firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-08 03:02:51","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-09-08 03:02:51","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-09-07","languages":["en","fr"]}}