| Support | Description | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| BC Hydro: Relief Fund | COVID-19 Relief Fund applies a 3-month credit to your BC Hydro account for eligible customers (avg credit will be $477). | Applications will be accepted between April 6 – June 30 (no rush to apply). Apply online. |
| Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) | Provides $2000/month to workers who lose income due to COVID-19, including contractors and self-employed people. *Important: CERB eligibility has been expanded to include seasonal workers, those whose EI benefits have recently expired, and workers making less than $1000/month. | Apply online. Get ready to apply by ensuring you are registered for My Account with the CRA and have set up direct deposit. More info here. |
| BC Emergency Benefit | One-time additional tax-free payment of $1000 to those on EI or CERB. | Applications are now open. Apply online. |
| GST-credit | One-time boost of up to $600 per eligible couple, $400 for eligible individuals in May. | Benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here. |
| Climate Action Tax Credit | One-time boost of up to $564 for eligible families of 4 and $218 for eligible individuals in an enhanced payment in July. | Children under 18 years old must be registered for the CCB to qualify. No other action is needed; benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here. |
| Canada Child Benefit (CCB) | One-time boost of $300 per child in May. | No action if you are already registered for CCB. Otherwise, apply online. |
| Emergency financial assistance for students | Students at public post-secondary institutions can apply for non-repayable emergency assistance that can be used to help with a broad range of costs, including living expenses, food, travel, portable computers and other supports for students who are not already able to study remotely. | Contact your school’s financial aid office to apply. |
| Income Assistance & Disability Assistance |
—–Full exemption of CERB or EI for three months (no clawback). —–COVID-19 crisis supplement of additional $300/month for three months for those who do not qualify for federal emergency supports like CERB or EI. —–Those on BC Bus Pass Program will receive their $52 transportation supplement back in cash. —–“Work search” requirement for those on Income Assistance is suspended for now. |
No application needed, support boosts will be applied to next payments automatically. More info here. |
| ICBC | ICBC auto insurance: – Monthly payment deferral for ICBC auto insurance is available for up to 90 days with no penalty. – Contact your broker to change your coverage and lower premiums to reflect changes in how much you drive and the related risk. – Cancellation fees are waived for those who wish to cancel their insurance during this time. – Customers may use their vehicles for the delivery of food or medical products and services, without changing their insurance (vehicle use) or paying a higher premium. This includes people volunteering to help deliver groceries or other essential supplies to seniors and other people in need. |
Call 1-800-665-6442 or view more info.apply online. |
| Emergency Child Care Funding | Child care providers receiving emergency government funding cannot charge parent fees for any periods of closure or for vacant spaces and must reserve spaces for families, starting April. | Check with your provider to see if they are in this program. |
| BC Student Loans & Canada Student Loans | Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April. | Repayment will be paused automatically. |
| BC Transit & TransLink | Fare-free boarding on all buses. Enter through rear of the bus, unless accessible loading is required. | N/A |
*Information here was provided by Bowinn Ma, MLA at http://bowinnmamla.ca/covid19/supports/