Updated December 14th, 2020
On December 8, 2020, the Provincial Government of British Columbia announced a one-time tax-free payment of up to $1,000 for eligible families and single parents and up to $500 for eligible individuals. They also announced an extension to the PWD (persons with disabilities) payment for January to March 2021, but at a lower rate than the previous supplement.
For more information on the announcement please visit:
archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2020-2024/2020FIN0064-002019
What is the one-time payment and am I eligible?
The BC Recovery Benefit (the benefit) is a one-time direct deposit payment for eligible families, single parents or individuals. You must apply to receive the benefit.
Benefit eligibility is based solely on net income from your 2019 income tax return. If you have not yet filed your 2019 tax return, it is recommended that you do so immediately in order to apply for the benefit as soon as possible. If you need assistance in filing your taxes in BC, Disability Alliance BC’s Tax Aid program can support individuals with disabilities to file their income taxes. More info is available here.
If you have not filed your 2019 tax return or don’t have a bank account, a modified application will be available in the new year to help you apply for and receive the benefit.
There is a maximum of $1,000 available for families and $500 for individuals. The amount you receive will depend on your income levels:
- For individuals – $500 if your net income is up to or below $62,500. If your net income is above $62,500, you will receive a reduced benefit amount. If your net income is over $87,500, you are not eligible for this benefit.
- For couples or single parents – $1,000 for eligible families and single parents with a net income of up to $125,000. Reduced benefit amount for eligible families and single parents with a net income of up to $175,000.
For more on eligibility requirements including definitions of ‘couples’ and ‘single parents’ please visit: gov.bc.ca/gov/content/economic-recovery/recovery-benefit
BC Recovery Benefit & PWD Supports
People receiving PWD benefits are eligible to apply and the amount will not be clawed back based on your existing benefits.
This benefit is not taxable.
How and when do I apply?
Online applications open on December 18th and you have until June 30, 2021 to apply. If you would like to apply by phone, support will be available starting December 21, 2020. We expect more details on how to apply to be made available soon.
There is currently no confirmation as to when this payment will be sent to individuals.
To be notified of changes to the provincial government’s website, you can subscribe to updates on the government website or via this link.
What is the PWD supplement and what has changed?
From April to December 2020, individuals receiving PWD payments were automatically provided with an additional $300 per month, in order to help support increased costs during the pandemic. From January to March 2021, individuals will now receive a $150 per month addition to their usual PWD payments. This will replace the $300 per month supplement. If you are on PWD, you do not need to apply for this supplement, as it will be automatically added to your monthly amount. There is no guarantee of an extension of this supplement past March 2021.
Who can I contact for support?
Support is available by phone starting December 21, 2020. You can call the provincial government toll-free: 1-833-882-0020 (within North America). They are available to support Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, excluding statutory holidays.
Plan Institute can also support you if you have any questions about these payments or anything disability related, including on the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and more. To get in touch with us, please call our toll-free helpline at 1-844-311-7526 or email [email protected].