The $500 dollar provincial government cost-of-living benefit cheques are soon going in the mail, but the province is reminding residents that they must have their 2021 income tax returns completed in order to qualify.

The province is asking late filers to ensure their 2021 income tax return is filed by December 31 in order to be issued a cheque.

For residents with a modest income and a simple tax situation, the Canada Revenue Agency’s free tax clinics are available to help people file their taxes before the deadline.

Cheques will start to be issued beginning in mid-November to addresses on file with the CRA as of June of 2022 and will be processed over a period of at least six weeks.

The processing order will be based on individual incomes from lowest to highest.