More Albertans to receive $1,200 Critical Worker Benefit 76,500 more workers to receive a one-time payment to recognize the risks they have taken to support Albertans and the economy. Some parts of this page will not display. JavaScript is not available in this browser or may be turned off. The Critical Worker Benefit is a joint federal-provincial program with $465 million available to recognize the hard work of critical workers during the pandemic. During the first round of the Critical Worker Benefit Alberta’s government provided $1,200 payments to over 277,800 workers in the healthcare, social services, education and private sectors who deliver critical services to Albertans or support food and medical supply chains.