03/26/2020
Coronavirus Financial Assistance
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB):
Announced this morning, the Canada Response Benefit will replace the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
The Government has merged these two public assistance measures into a single program to make it easier for people to apply and receive money.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will provide $2,000 per month for the next four months for workers who lost their income as a direct result of COVID-19.
The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit
We will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:
-Workers who must stop working due to COVID19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
-workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
-working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
-workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
-wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.
You will still be required to apply through the CRA portal, by answering three questions:
- What is your SIN?
- Have you made more than $5,000 as a contract worker over the last 12 months?
- Have you lost your job as a direct result of COVID19?
The application for the Benefit is scheduled to be available on April 6th, 2020, with an estimated 10-day processing period.
The Government will have an option for people to select direct deposit or cheque by mail. For those that need help before then, the government has recommended looking into getting additional credit or contacting your financial institution for other options to extend your funds. Many financial institutions have already put out statements in regard to their response to COVID-19.
Additional Points:
Canadians already receiving employment insurance (EI) regular benefits and sickness benefits will, as of today, continue to receive those benefits and should not apply to the CERB.
Canadians who already have applied for EI and whose application has not yet been processed don't need to reapply.
Canadians who are eligible for regular EI and sickness benefits can still access those benefits if they're still unemployed after the 16-week period covered by the CERB.
Ways to stay updated:
We encourage you to listen to the daily Provincial press-conferences, as well as bookmark the federal Government's website for further information as it is being released to guarantee you have the most up-to-date information.
Equity has launched an Advocacy and Resource Links Webpage for up-to-date information on the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic and how it's affecting our members and our sector. This will be a ‘living' resource which we will update and amend as we learn more about how Canada in general, and our performing arts world specifically, are responding to this pandemic.
British Columbia’s Emergency Benefit for Workers:
Announced on Monday, this benefit offers a one-time, non-taxed payment of $1,000 to go towards any British Columbia residents that have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Those who currently qualify for EI are eligible for this, in addition to contract workers.
Applications for this funding are not out yet, and Premiere John Horgan has said this money will be available to residents in May 2020.
Other Provinces have like-minded programs. If you are a resident of another province, click below to be directed to their website.
· Alberta
· Saskatchewan
· Manitoba
· Ontario
· Quebec
· Nova Scotia
· New Brunswick
· PEI
· Newfoundland and Labrador
· Yukon
· Northwest Territories
· Nunavut
Other British Columbia-specific Programs:
For Renters
Premier John Horgan just announced that BC Residents who are struggling to pay rent can apply for a $500 bursary through BC Housing. This one-time bursary will go directly to your landlord to help subsidize your rent. The Bursary will not be available by April 1, 2020, but applications are intended to be open within the next few days.
BC Housing has temporarily suspended evictions of tenants in subsidized and affordable housing due to non-payment of rent. BC also suspended any new eviction notices from going out during this state of emergency.
There will be no rent increases in the province of BC while the state of emergency is declared.
Landlords are permitted to limit use of common areas in apartment buildings. Landlords are prohibited from entering tenant’s suites during this time, except in exceptional cases.
B.C. Student Loans
Starting March 30, 2020, B.C. student loan payments are automatically frozen for six months.
BC Hydro
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.
