Information on Financial Resources

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan provides a list of programs that the Government of Canada is taking to provide immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will provide a one-time $1,000 payment to people whose ability to work has been affected due to COVID-19.

Renters, Homeowners and People Experiencing Homelessness

Funding for housing supports are increased to ensure people can maintain their housing in the event of job or income loss.

• B.C. has halted all new and active evictions, except under exceptional circumstances
• Annual rent increases are frozen
• 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

Monthly Bills

BC Hydro

• BC Hydro rates have been reduced by 1%, effective April 1, 2020
• BC Hydro residential customers who have lost their job or are unable to work as a result of COVID-19 will receive a bill credit of three times their average monthly bill
  • This credit does not have to be paid back
  • Eligible customers can apply for bill relief until June 30, 2020
• Small businesses in BC Hydro’s small general service rate category forced to close due to COVID-19 can have their power bills forgiven for electricity used between April and June 2020, with no repayment required
  • Small businesses can apply starting the week of April 14, 2020 and have until June 30, 2020 to complete the application
• Residential and commercial customers can defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty through the COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program
• Customers experiencing job loss, illness or lost wages due to COVID-19 can access grants up to $600 to pay their hydro bills through the Customer Crisis Fund

ICBC

• Customers on a monthly payment plan who are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19 may defer their payment for up to 90 days with no penalty.
• ICBC has announced a one-time rebate for most customers who has an active policy from April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. The rebate will be based on a portion of what customers paid for coverage during that period.

FortisBC

• Residential FortisBC customers can sign up for the COVID-19 Customer Recovery Fundto automatically have their bills deferred from April 1 to June 30, 2020
  • A repayment schedule, free of interest or additional fees, will be set up and payments can be spread over a full year
• For small businesses that have been forced to close, FortisBC will issue bill credits to offset any charges to their account while they have been unable to continue operating their business as usual
• Businesses that are still open, but facing a slowdown in revenue, will not receive bill credits but can also receive bill deferral for the same 90-day period