British Columbians can now apply for the $1,000 emergency benefit for workers

Applications are now open for the $1,000 B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers.

Finance Minister Carole James spoke Friday about the benefit put in place to help those who have been unable to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The province has said the money will start being distributed next week.

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James said in the first 45 minutes of the application being open on Friday, they received 16,389 applications. By noon, less than four hours after the website went live, there were more than 100,000 applications.

Concerns have been raised over whether people will fall through the cracks based on eligibility.

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“One is the need to be able to get supports to people as quickly as possible. Building a new program, building a system to be able to absorb the kinds of pressures that you’re seeing on the system already in 45 minutes, you need to make sure that if we want to do this as quickly as possible and get the supports to people,” James said.

To be eligible for the emergency benefit, you must:

1. Have been a resident of British Columbia on March 15, 2020
2. Meet the eligibility requirements for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
3. Have been approved for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, even if you haven’t received a federal benefit payment yet
4. Be at least 15 years old on the date you apply
5. Have filed, or agree to file, a 2019 B.C. income tax return
6. Not be receiving provincial income assistance or disability assistance

Students have raised concerns they are not eligible for the CERB and the federal government has created a new benefit for students. James says the B.C. government advocated the federal government to include people working part-time, those self-employed, people who are contractors and people who are making a small amount of money.

“They’ve, in fact, broadened the CERB benefit much more than it was when it was first announced, which means more people then are able to access our benefit,” James said.

“So it really was making sure we could get the money out to people as quickly as possible, because we know they need it now, and keeping the process straightforward so that we could do exactly that.”

James said this is just one measure available to British Columbians during this challenging time.

“Other supports we’re providing include the rent subsidy through B.C. Housing for up to $500 a month for renters, and that’s paid directly to landlords,” she said.

“There’s an automatic boost of $300 a month for the next three months for people on income assistance or disabilities who are ineligible for CERB.”

She said in July about 86 per cent of British Columbians are going to see an increase to their climate action tax credit of up to $174 for each adult and $51 for each child.