UPDATE First day issues with B.C. Recovery Benefit applications

Dec 18, 2020 | 10:15 AM Pete McIntyre

UPDATE 11 a.m.

British Columbians have started applying for the B.C. Recovery Benefit today — but there’s already been problems with the site crashing.

The province says it appears to be due to a server issue and not related to the applications page, but officials acknowledge they have received more traffic than expected and they ask applicants to be patient.

Nice to know whether NDP or Liberal govts, funding websites always crash. Been trying for over an hour to submit for the recovery benefit but all I get is a Ministry of Finance cover page that redirects me back to the Recovery Benefit Information page. Wonderful.

— Tom Mark (@TomMarknews) December 18, 2020

Twenty-five hundred B.C. residents applied for a COVID-19 benefit within a few minutes as online applications opened this morning.

Original story

An estimated 3.7 million individuals and families, or 90 per cent of all B.C. adults, are eligible for the B.C. Recovery Benefit which opened online applications today (Dec. 18.)

Families can get $1,000, tax free, while individuals can receive $500 in a program promised by Premier John Horgan during the election campaign in October.

People can apply until June 2021, and most can expect to receive the benefit within five businesses days after completing their application.

To apply and be eligible for the one-time, tax-free benefit, people must:

have been a resident of British Columbia on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020;
be at least 19 years old on Dec. 18, 2020, unless they are the primary caregiver of a child or co-habitating with a spouse;
have filed a 2019 income tax return;
have their 2019 income tax notice of assessment, and if applicable, their spouse’s 2019 income tax notice of assessment;
have their Social Insurance Number, and if applicable, their spouse’s;
have their direct deposit information, including branch, institution and account numbers; and
have their B.C. driver’s licence or confirm they do not have one.

Eligibility includes:

* $1,000 for families with annual incomes under $125,000. Families earning up to $175,000 will qualify for a reduced benefit amount. Single-parent families also qualify for these benefit amounts.

* $500 for single people with annual incomes under $62,500. Single people earning up to $87,500 will qualify for a reduced benefit amount.

Applying online is the easiest way to receive the benefit: gov.bc.ca/recoverybenefit

For those without access to a computer or the internet, starting Monday, Dec. 21, call centre agents will be available to assist people who need help applying or those who want to apply over the phone:

* toll-free within North America: 1 833 882-0020

* Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays), from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time)

Up to 350 call centre agents will be available for the first week of applications to help answer questions or complete applications over the phone. Call volumes, web traffic and delays with banking institutions may result in longer wait times during the first few weeks of the benefit:

In the new year, the province will introduce a modified application process for people receiving disability and income assistance who do not have banking services or who have barriers to filing income taxes.