People relying on the NWT’s student financial assistance, or SFA, are being warned to expect “significant delays” before their payments are issued.
In an email to affected students on Thursday, the territorial government said the processing of applications and distribution of payments had been delayed.
The GNWT said its staff were handling “an exceptionally high volume of applications and emails and, while we are doing everything we can, response times are longer than usual.”
“We know this is deeply frustrating, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and uncertainty this may be causing,” the territory stated.
“Our team is working tirelessly to respond to inquiries, review documentation, and approve payments.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The NWT’s Department of Education, Culture and Employment told Cabin Radio a “surge” in applications for student financial assistance was responsible for the backlog.
The delays are “due to an increase in application volume this year – approximately 17 percent higher than the same period last year,” spokesperson Agata Gutkowska said by email.
“This surge, combined with the capacity of our team and a high volume of student inquiries, has created a backlog affecting both application assessments and payment processing.
“While our service standard is to issue payments within 10 business days of receiving complete applications and required documentation … some students may not receive their payments on time this year. Our team is working diligently to reduce the backlog, and we appreciate students’ patience and understanding during this time.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
In its email to students, the GNWT asked people to stop sending follow-up messages “unless your situation has changed significantly” to cut down on the amount of incoming email traffic.
“We understand the urgency, but repeated emails slow down our ability to respond to everyone, including you. Your message is in the queue and will be addressed as soon as possible,” the teritory stated.
“We know how important SFA is to you, and we want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to move things forward. We are committed to processing all eligible payments as quickly and fairly as possible. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this challenging period.”
