The provincial government says one-time $500 dollar cost of living benefit cheques have begun to be distributed across the province.

The cheques are going out in the mail to those 18 and older who filed income tax returns for last year and earned less than $100,000 dollars a year.

Lesser amounts are available to those in the $100,000 to $125,000 dollar income bracket.

The province is distributing the cheques by mail with the lowest-income earners receiving theirs first.

Cheques will be processed over a six-week period.