Nunavut’s Family Services Department gets back on track after ransomware attack

If you are a student or a foster parent awaiting your twice-monthly payment from the Government of Nunavut, there is good news: you will receive your money today.

Payments for Financial Assistance to Nunavut Students, Adult Learning Training Supports and foster parents will be issued to clients today, and future payments for those programs will be issued as scheduled, the Government of Nunavut said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Income assistance payments in Iqaluit are now being delivered as scheduled, following the regular process, the GN said.

Since the ransomware attack knocked out the GN’s computer systems on Nov. 2, income-support recipients have been obliged .

But Nunavummiut on income assistance in communities outside Iqaluit will continue to receive vouchers.

Income assistance clients can contact their income assistance worker in their community if they have questions or concerns, the GN said.

Iqaluit is the first community in the territory to be reconnected to the new operations network, the GN said in an update yesterday.

Earlier this week the GN had confirmed that it would be able to issue pay cheques to GN employees on direct banking services today.

Pay cheques issued for employees without direct deposit in communities outside Iqaluit may arrive on Monday, Nov. 18, the GN said on Wednesday.

Some vendors are also now receiving payments, the GN told Nunatsiaq News this week.