More Financial Aid for Members
As the pandemic extends for a longer period of time, our members may be entitled to more financial aid to help them cope with these unprecedented times.
B.C. EMERGENCY BENEFIT FOR WORKERS
Members may qualify for the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, a tax-free, one time $1,000 payment for B.C. residents whose ability to work has been affected due to COVID-19.
If you are eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and received a CERB payment, then returned to work, you may still be eligible for the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers if all other requirements are met.
You have until December 2, 2020 to apply. You can expect to receive payment within 10 business days after your application is approved.
You will be notified by email when your payment has been processed.
You can apply online starting May 1, 2020.
WORKING WHILE COLLECTION CERB
To help more Canadians benefit from the CERB, the government is announcing changes to the eligibility rules to:
• Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
• Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their regular seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Extend the CERB to workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.
These changes will be retroactive to March 15, 2020
RENT SUPPLEMENT
To support people and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Province is introducing a new temporary rental supplement, halting evictions and freezing rents, among other actions.
The funds will support renters experiencing a loss of income by helping them pay their rent and will be paid directly to landlords on their behalf, to ensure landlords continue to receive rental income during the pandemic. Benefiting people with low to moderate incomes, this supplement will be available to renters who are facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, but do not qualify for existing rental assistance programs.
A temporary rent supplement is available.
- Eligible households with dependents can receive up to $500 per month
- Eligible households without dependents can receive up to $300 per month
- The supplement is paid directly to landlords
- Applications for the supplement are open on the BC Housing website
Tenant Eligibility
Households need to meet each of the following criteria to qualify for the BC Temporary Rental Supplement:
Have a 2019 gross household income of less than:
- $74,150 for singles and couples without dependents
- $113,040 for households with dependents
As a result of COVID-19:
- Be receiving or eligible for Employment Insurance; or
- Be receiving or eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or
- Have experienced, and be able to provide evidence of, a drop of 25% or more in monthly household employment income
- Be paying more than 30% of current household income towards rent
Tenants must be renting a primary residence in British Columbia and the unit must be covered under the Residential Tenancy Act, the Manufactured Home Act, or the Cooperative Association Act.
Tenants are not eligible if their rent is subsidized by any other government program. Other government programs include: subsidized housing; rent supplements such as Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) or the Rental Assistance Program (RAP); Income Assistance; and Disability Assistance.
Members of housing co-ops can get the benefit if they meet all other eligibility criteria. These criteria include paying the maximum unassisted housing charge, and the co-op cannot be getting any ongoing operating funding from BC Housing.
Its important that we promote these three changes as they may be vital to allowing some of our members and families survive the pandemic. Thank you for your continued support of your Union.
In Solidarity,
Al Bieksa - President Georgi Bates - Vice President
Scott McRitchie - Financial Secretary Mike Duhra - Treasurer