Claim Form Guide

This section asks for:

• your full legal name (this should match your identification)
• your date of birth
• your pronouns
• any other names you may go by

The question about pronouns is there so people communicating with you can do so respectfully. You can answer this if you want to. You can also leave it blank.

You will also be asked if you have used any other names. This is important because records may be under a different name. This could include:

• a previous legal name
• a maiden name
• a nickname used in records
• a name you used at the time of pregnancy or hospital care
• different spelling of your name that may have been used previously

If you are not sure, include anything you remember. Even small details can help.

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This section asks for your current address, phone number and email. This information is used to contact you about your Claim and is where your compensation payment will be sent if your Claim is eligible.

Use the best contact information where you can be reached.

If you move or your contact information changes, it is important to update it as soon as you can. You can update your contact information by emailing Info-BABC@BirthAlertsBC.ca or by calling a Claims Helper at 1-833-632-6557.

Email is helpful but not required. If you do not use email, you can still complete your claim.

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This section asks if there is another person who can be contacted for you. This is optional. You may want to include someone if you may be hard to reach or need support communicating. Your alternate contact could be:

• a trusted family member
• a friend
• a support worker

This person may have access to information about you such as compensation amounts.

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Here the Claim Form asks for your Personal Health Number. Your Personal Health Number can help locate hospital records connected to your pregnancy that may be used to support your Claim.

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This section asks if you identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit. You can make a statutory declaration OR provide a copy of a Certificate of Indian Status such as your status card, Métis Citizenship Card or Inuit Land Claim Beneficiary Card. You do not have to do both.

A statutory declaration is a written statement where a person confirms information about themselves and signs to say the information is true and correct. For the Birth Alerts BC Class Action, the statutory declaration in Appendix A of the Claim Form can be completed if you do not have documents about your Indigenous identity.

If you send a copy of your Certificate of Indian Status, send a copy of both the front and the back.

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This section asks whether you were pregnant between May 31, 1980 and May 8, 2026 (the class period).

This helps decide whether your experience may be part of the class.

Answer yes or no.

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This section asks for the dates when you gave birth or expected to give birth.

If you have more than one pregnancy or birth to include, there is space to include that information.

List each date separately. If you do not remember exact dates, use the closest date or approximate information.

You are not expected to remember everything perfectly.

If you had multiple pregnancies to include, there is room on the Form to add more than one pregnancy.

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This section asks whether you were a child in care at the time of any date you listed.

“Child in care” means someone under the age of 19 who was in the care or custody of the Provincial Director of Child Welfare or the Province of British Columbia under child welfare legislation.

Answer “yes” only if you were both (at the time of pregnancy or birth date listed):

• under 19 years old and
• in the care or custody of the Provincial Director of Child Welfare or the Province of British Columbia.

For example, you may answer “no” if:

• you were under 19 but not a child in care or
• you were in care at another time in your life but not during that pregnancy.

This matters because it may affect whether you are included in the class. If you are unsure, answer as best you can.

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This section asks where you gave birth or received pregnancy-related care. This helps locate hospital records and confirm whether a Birth Alert may have been issued. It is important to understand that this settlement only includes hospitals in British Columbia.

If you did not give birth but received care, including miscarriage-related care, you can still list the hospital.

If you do not remember the hospital name, you can check the hospital list for locations. You can also contact a Claims Helper if you need assistance.

If you have more than one hospital to include there is space for that.

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This section asks you to provide a copy of valid government identification, front and back.

Do not send original identification documents. Send or upload copies only.

If you are unsure what kind of identification to use, or need resources on how to get identification, a Claims Helper can help.

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This is the final part of the Form.

It brings together everything you have shared and asks for your agreement to a few important things.

This section asks you to confirm three main things:

• The information you gave is true, to the best of your knowledge
• You understand how your information will be used
• You give permission for certain people to access and review information needed to process your Claim

You are being asked to confirm that your answers are true and complete, based on what you know. This does not mean you need perfect memory.

It is okay if:

• You do not remember exact dates
• Some details are approximate

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One part of this section asks for your permission to request and review hospital records. By checking the box and signing the Form, you are allowing Class Counsel to request records from the hospital or hospitals you listed, for a specific time period:

• About nine months before a birth or expected birth
• And up to three months after

These records may include information about your pregnancy, hospital visits, or care you received.

Hospital records are important because Birth Alerts were often not shared with the person they were about. Many people do not know if one exists.

Hospital records can help confirm the details of your Claim and identify whether there may have been communication from a child welfare worker to the hospital.

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You are also agreeing that the Claims Administrator or Claims Helpers can contact you, or someone you identify as your representative, if needed. This may be to clarify information, ask for missing details, or confirm parts of your Claim.

Before signing:

• Read each statement slowly
• Ask questions if anything is unclear
• Talk to a Claims Helper if you want support

When you sign, you are confirming that you understand and agree to this section.

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The Claim Form includes a check list to help you make sure all the information you need is completed. You can check that:

• You answered as best you can
• Your contact information is current
• You included copies of identification
• You included a hospital name in BC for each birth/pregnancy
• You reviewed the consent and declaration section
• You kept a copy, if possible

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The easiest and fastest way is to complete the Claim Form online through the Online Claims Portal at www.BirthAlertsBC.ca.

You can also download a paper copy from the website, or a Claims Helper can have a paper copy mailed to you.

Yes, you can submit your Claim online through the Online Claims Portal at www.BirthAlertsBC.ca.

You may find it helpful to gather information and documents before starting the online form. Information on how to complete the Claim Form is available at www.BirthAlertsBC.ca/claim-form-guide. You can also refer to the checklist at the back of the Claim Form.

Yes, you can download a Claim Form from the website or ask a Claims Helper to mail one to you.

You fill out the form and submit it with copies of your identification and send it to the Claims Administrator by mail to BC Birth Alerts (KZQ), P.O. Box 3355, London ON N6A 4K3 or fax it to 1-604-259-2255.

Before you start, you should gather:

• your identification
• your Personal Health Number (PHN)
• date(s) you gave birth or expected to give birth
• the names of hospital(s) where you received prenatal care and/or gave birth

Claims Helpers are available if you want support completing the form. To speak with a Claims Helpers, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

The Claim Form asks for your PHN because it may help with access to records connected to your pregnancy or hospital care. Providing your PHN will help with records searches and Claims review. We are committed to protecting your privacy. To review our privacy statement which outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information, please visit www.BirthAlertsBC.ca/privacy-policy.

The Claim Form asks about hospitals connected to your pregnancy or birth because hospital records may help the Claims Process. Hospital information will help the Claims Administrator and Class Counsel request and review records connected to your Claim. It is important to understand that the settlement only includes hospitals in British Columbia.

The Claim Form asks for a copy of identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial, or territorial government or a First Nations or Indigenous government. You do not need both.

You will be asked to provide copies of the front and back of your identification. To understand what identification is accepted as part of your Claim, please visit our website at www.BirthAlertsBC.ca/identification.

If you are unsure whether your identification can be accepted, contact a Claims Helper before submitting your Claim. To speak with a Claims Helpers, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

The consent section explains how information may be used during the Claims Process.

The Claim Form includes separate consent statements about:

• requesting and reviewing hospital records;
• sharing information with organizations involved in administering the settlement;
• contacting you if more information is needed; and
• using information to assess your Claim.

Each consent statement explains how information may be collected, used, or shared for the purposes of reviewing and administering Claims.

To review our privacy statement, please visit www.BirthAlertsBC.ca/privacy-policy.

The declaration section asks you to confirm that the information and documents you provide are true and complete to the best of your knowledge.

It also confirms that you understand your Claim will be assessed based on the information you submit.

You are not expected to remember every detail perfectly. Please answer the questions as accurately as you can based on the information available to you.

You may find this process emotional or difficult. You can take breaks, complete the form one step at a time, or ask a Claims Helper for support. To speak with a Claims Helpers, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

If you need additional mental health support, you can reach out to:

• BC Mental Health & Crisis Response (no area code needed): 310-6789 or www.crisiscentre.bc.ca
• Hope for Wellness Help Line (Available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada): 1-855-242-3310 or hopeforwellness.ca
• Local support: call 2-1-1

Yes, Claims Helpers can provide free support over the phone. They can explain questions and help you complete the form step by step. To speak with a Claims Helpers, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

An alternate contact person is a person or organization you choose who may help the Claims Administrator, Claims Helpers or Class Counsel contact you if you cannot be reached directly.

Some people may prefer to list another person who can help them receive information about the Claims Process. You can provide alternate contact information in the section provided on the Claim Form. This is optional.

No. Providing an alternate contact person does not automatically allow that person to receive information about your Claim or make decisions for you.

Yes. If your contact information changes or you want to provide a different alternate contact person, contact a Claims Helper as soon as possible.

No. The Claims Process is administered separately through Court-approved processes.

You can submit your Claim online through the Online Claims Portal at www.BirthAlertsBC.ca.

If you do not have easy access to the internet, you can also send a paper copy of the form and copies of your identification to the Claims Administrator by mail to BC Birth Alerts (KZQ), P.O. Box 3355, London ON N6A 4K3 or fax it to 1-604-259-2255.

Claims Helpers can explain the submission options. To speak with a Claims Helper, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

The Claim Form asks for information about each pregnancy between May 31, 1980, and May 8, 2026. If you had more pregnancies than the spaces available on the Claim Form, you can use Appendix B to add additional information.

If you need help completing this section, Claims Helpers can support you step by step. To speak with a Claims Helper, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

Appendix B of the Claim Form provides additional space if you need to include more pregnancies or hospitals than the main form allows. You may include up to two hospitals for every pregnancy.

If you are unsure how to complete Appendix B, Claims Helpers can explain the process and help you complete the form. To speak with a Claims Helper, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

The Claim Form asks whether you were a child in care during a pregnancy listed on the form.

“Child in care” refers to someone under the age of 19 who was in the care or custody of the Provincial Director of Child Welfare or the Province of British Columbia under child welfare legislation.

If you are unsure how to answer this question, a Claims Helper can explain the wording and help you complete the form. To speak with a Claims Helper, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

You may still be able to participate in the settlement.

Being under 19 on its own does not mean someone was a child in care for the purposes of the Claim Form.

The question asks whether at the time of your pregnancy you were both:

• under the age of 19, and
• in the care or custody of the Provincial Director of Child Welfare or the Province of British Columbia at that time.

If you were not a child in care during the pregnancy listed on your Claim Form, you may still be eligible for the settlement if the other requirements are met.

You may still be able to participate in the settlement.

The Claim Form asks whether you were a child in care during the pregnancy listed on the form.

If you were a child in care at another time in your life, but not during that pregnancy, that does not affect whether you may be part of the proposed settlement.

If you are unsure how to answer this question, Claims Helpers can explain the wording and help you complete the form.

The Claim Form includes space for “any other names you may go by” because this information may help with records searches connected to your Claim. This could include names used during pregnancy, birth, marriage, cultural naming changes, or other life changes.

You can provide any names you think may help identify records connected to your Claim.

The settlement is not limited to Indigenous people. Birth Alerts affected people from many communities and backgrounds across British Columbia.

If you are unsure whether the settlement may apply to you, Claims Helpers can explain the process and answer general questions. To speak with a Claims Helper, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

The Indigenous identity section of the Claim Form is optional. It may entitle you to additional compensation. If you choose to complete it, the form explains what information or documentation may be included.

If you have questions about this section, Claims Helpers can explain the process and available options.

If you do not have Indigenous identification or registration information, you can complete the Statutory Declaration. If you are submitting a Claim on the online Claims portal, the Statutory Declaration is built into the online Claims portal. If you are submitting a paper Claims Form, it is included in Appendix A.

Claims Helpers can explain how this section works and help you complete the form.

The consent sections allow information to be shared and reviewed for the purposes of the Claims Process, as described in the Claim Form.

This includes allowing Class Counsel to request and review hospital records connected to the information listed in your Claim and allowing organizations involved in administering the settlement to use information for the purposes described in the form.

The Claim Form includes separate consent statements relating to hospital records, the use and sharing of personal information, and administration of your Claim. Each statement explains how information may be used during the Claims Process.

You can review the privacy information available at www.BirthAlertsBC.ca/privacy-policy.

Please provide complete and accurate information to the best of your knowledge when filling out your Claim Form. Accurate information helps the Claims Administrator review your Claim.

If information is missing or additional information is needed, you may be contacted during the Claims Process.

Claims Helpers can also help review your form before you submit it.

Claims Helpers can help explain what identification documents may be helpful and support you through the process of completing the Claim Form. To speak with a Claims Helper, please call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.

You are not required to gather your own hospital records before submitting a Claim.

You can still ask questions and receive support without internet access or email. Claims Helpers can provide support over the phone and paper Claim Forms may be available by mail.

To speak with a Claims Helper, call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.