Need financial help because of COVID-19?
Check out the resources below.
Run by the Aboriginal Business & Community Development Centre
Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Phone: 250-562-6325
Email: admin@abdc.bc.ca
Website: abdc.bc.ca
Phone: 250-564-4000 ext 221
Online contact form: https://www.sapg.ca/about-us/contact-us
Info for new and renewing intakes and food bank hours: https://www.sapg.ca/services/food-bank
Phone: 250-564-7871
Website: http://ssvdppg.com/drop-in-centre.html
Provides residential and commercial customers the option to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call our customer service team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376) to discuss bill payment options.
Residential customers facing temporary financial hardship and possible disconnection of their service due to job loss, illness, or loss of a family member may also be eligible for our Customer Crisis Fund, which provides access to grants of up to $600 to pay their bills.
Source: https://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2020/covid-19-updates.html
Fortis BC
Billing and payment: Fortis has waived late payment fees and will ensure no customer is disconnected from the energy they need due to financial hardship at this time. Their team is ready to help you with any billing questions you have and can help find flexible payment options that work for you.
Phone 1-866-436-7847 for electricity or 1-888-224-2710 for natural gas, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. Or you can email and access your Account Online.
Source: https://www.fortisbc.com/about-us/supporting-british-columbia-during-the-covid-19-outbreak
Customers on a monthly Autoplan payment plan, who are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19, can defer their payment for up to 90 days with no penalty. Customers can use ICBC’s online resource tool to apply for deferrals or call their customer support team at 604-661-2723 or 1-800-665-6442 to discuss your payment options.
Source: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/covid-19.aspx
Application for the Emergency Care Benefit will be available in April 2020.
Info: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html
B.C. residents who receive federal Employment Insurance, or the new federal Emergency Care Benefit, or the new federal Emergency Support Benefit are eligible for a one-time $1,000 payment to people who lost income because of COVID-19.
Applications will open in April 2020
The one-time payment will be paid in May 2020
Source: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/covid-19-financial-supports#BCEBW
Eligible recipients will receive $300 more per child with their regular May CCB payment.
If you have previously applied for the CCB, you do not need to re-apply.
The Government of Canada has announced its plan to pause the repayment of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans until September 30, 2020, with no accrual of interest.
Info: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html
To help people with B.C. student loans, the Province is freezing B.C. student loan payments for six months, starting March 30, 2020.
We are providing a one-time special payment by early May through the Goods and Services Tax credit for low- and modest-income families.
The average additional benefit will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.
There is no need to apply for this payment. If you are eligible, you will get it automatically.