There’s few people happier than Richmond teenager Tony Tan to see the federal government finally roll out financial aid for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday $9 billion as part of a Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) to help students deal with loss of the likes of current and future part-time income due to businesses closing because of the virus.
For Tan – who’s in Grade 12 at MacNeill secondary and has already been admitted to the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus in the fall – the aid package couldn’t come soon enough.
He’s been laid off from his job at Pepper Lunch on No. 3 Road, his mom has also been laid off due to the pandemic and his dad is isolated and quarantined in Laos, working much reduced hours.
“We are taking advantage of the CERB (Canadian Emergency Response Benefit) for my mom, and the BC Housing Rental Supplement of $500 per month to pay for our rent, as we are tight financially,” Tan told the Richmond News.
“(The benefit) has been a huge relief for me and my family and will definitely help my situation.”
Earlier this year, Tan received the Horatio Alger Scholarship (given to students with challenging home lives), worth $5,000 ($1,000 per year) and has a university scholarship worth $7,500, which will cover his first year at post-secondary.
“But after that, I will need to pay myself. I have applied for a few more scholarships, so I am waiting to hear from them,” added Tan.
The $1,250 for four months from the CESB, said Tan, is “a lot of financial assistance and will allow me to pay most of the tuition for first-year university, along with my scholarship and savings.”
The more immediate concern for Tan and thousands like him is the summer jobs and volunteering they likely had lined up before the pandemic took them away.
The CESB has provision for that, however, with a promise of $1,000 to $5,000 for eligible students doing volunteering during the summer, depending on the hours they work.
“I planned to work in the summer, however, summer student jobs have been cancelled…the part where students who volunteer will be paid is incredible,” said Tan.
“My plan this summer is to now volunteer to fight COVID-19.”
Students will be eligible for $1,250 a month through the CESB, from May through August. That sum can go up to $1,750 if the student is caring for a dependent or has a disability.
The benefit is available also to students who have jobs but are making less than $1,000 a month.
Payments will be made through the Canada Revenue Agency.
The Prime Minister's Office also confirmed that a student can collect multiple benefits if, for example, they apply for the $1,250 benefit, volunteer and hold a job that pays less than $1,000 a month.
Trudeau also announced the federal government is doubling student grants for eligible students — up to $6,000 for full-time students and up to $3,600 for part-time students.
The CERB is available to students and anyone else who made at least $5,000 in the last year, but only if they had been working and lost their source of income when COVID-19 struck.
Seasonal workers and those who have recently run out of employment insurance will now also be eligible for CERB. As will people who make less than $1,000 a month due to reduced work hours will also qualify.
As examples, Trudeau pointed to volunteer firefighters, contractors who can pick up some shifts, or people working part-time in grocery stores.
The government hopes the student aid will help create summer jobs for students in areas such as agriculture, food services and even the health sector.
It must first, however, pass legislation to allow the new student benefits to flow.
Meanwhile, the B.C. government announced Thursday the BCEBW - a one-time, tax-free $1,000 payment for British Columbians whose ability to work has been affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most people who are eligible for the CERB are also eligible for the BCEBW, including those who have run out of employment insurance (EI) benefits and subsequently qualify for the CERB.
To be eligible for the BCEBW, people must:
* have been a resident of British Columbia on March 15, 2020;
* meet the eligibility requirements for the CERB;
* have been approved for the CERB, even if they have not received a benefit yet;
* be at least 15 years old on the date of application;
* have filed, or agree to file, a 2019 B.C. income tax return; and
* not be receiving provincial income assistance or disability assistance.
Starting May 1, applications can be made online, at any time, and a link to the application portal will be available at: www.gov.bc.ca/workerbenefit
