BC Gov News

The BC Family Benefit provides a tax-free monthly payment to eligible families with children under 18. Announced as part of Budget 2024, the BC Family Benefit bonus provides families with a boost on average of $445 over a 12-month period.

Eligibility is based on income and number of children. People can expect to see their family benefit and the bonus cost-of-living payment as a deposit or cheque through the Canada Revenue Agency, alongside the federal Canada Child Benefit program.

Eligibility is automatically determined when registering for the Canada Child Benefit.

Amounts received: 

• On average, families will receive approximately $2,000 over a year. A two-parent family with two kids will on average receive $1,760. Single-parent families typically qualify for higher payments and will receive on average $2,790.

The new payment amounts for 2024-25 are as follows:

• Families with net income below (as determined on your 2023 tax return) $35,902:
  • $2,188 for a family’s first child (up from $1,750);
  • $1,375 for a family’s second child (up from $1,100); and
  • $1,125 for each additional child (up from $900).
• Families with net income below $114,887 will be guaranteed the following minimum amounts:
  • $969 for a family’s first child (up from $775);
  • $937 for a family’s second child (up from $750); and
  • $906 for each additional child (up from $725).
• Families who make less than $139,000 with one child and families who make less than $162,000 with two children will receive a partial benefit.

The Province is taking action to connect people and families with supports to help with everyday costs and ease some of the pressure people are facing.

Supports for families with children:

• Eligible families with children under 18 automatically get an extra $445 on average in 2024-25 through BC Family Benefit. 
• Families are automatically saving as much as $900/month on licensed child care, or more if they qualify for subsidy or attend a $10/day centre.
• Through the Student and Family Affordability Fund, families can get help with school fees, supplies, field trips and nutritious meals before, during and after school.
• Families with kids aged six to nine can apply for a $1,200 grant to help save for post-secondary.
• Children of families with low incomes can get help with the costs of basic dental, glasses and hearing care through the Healthy Kids program.
• Children aged 18 and under can get as much as $400/year to help pay for an eligible sports program.

Supports for people in need:

• B.C.’s lowest-paid workers got a pay raise on June 1, 2024, when the minimum wage went up to $17.40/hour.
• Eligible people with disabilities or in need can apply for financial and health assistance.
• People leaving family violence may be eligible for an extra 25 hours of free legal aid.
• People in need can apply for $27/week in coupons to buy fresh, local food at B.C. farmers’ markets.
• People of any age can get free nicotine replacement therapy to help quit tobacco.
• People struggling with opioid addiction can get free coverage for medication-assisted treatment.

Support for seniors:

• Many seniors are eligible for a wide range of programs to maintain a good quality of life.
• Seniors can apply for a grant or low-interest loan to reduce or defer the property taxes paid each year.
• Seniors 60 and above with low incomes renting in the private market can apply for a supplement to help pay rent.
• People who need extra support to remain independent at home may be eligible for publicly subsidized care.
• Seniors can access a variety of services for help getting around or travelling to medical appointments.
• Eligible seniors with low incomes can apply to get a free portable AC unit to stay cool during extreme heat.

Support for renters and homeowners:

• Renters are protected from high increases. Rent increases are capped below inflation in 2024 and can only be increased once every 12 months.
• Eligible renters with low and moderate incomes can get a tax credit of as much as $400 when filing their taxes.
• People with lower incomes or facing an unexpected financial crisis can get help paying rent.
• More first-time homebuyers can apply to save as much as $8,000 in property transfer tax.
• Most homeowners can apply to save at least $570 in property taxes each year. Seniors, veterans and people with disabilities may get more.
• Eligible seniors, widowed people, people with disabilities and families with children can apply for a low-interest loan to defer property taxes.

Help with energy costs:

• Households are getting a $100 break on their electricity bills from April 2024.
• Income-qualified applicants can get a rebate of as much as $24,000 to cover the up-front costs of heat-pumps when switching from fossil-fuel heating.
• Eligible households can apply to get one free portable air-conditioner unit to help stay cool during extreme-heat events. 
• Households can get as much as $10,000 in rebates to recover the cost of eligible renovations to make homes more energy efficient.

Transportation savings:

• Eligible drivers will automatically get a $110 rebate in 2024 and basic rates will remain frozen until March 2026, marking six years without an increase.
• Drivers no longer pay tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges, saving commuters as much as $1,500/year and commercial drivers $4,500/year.
• People who rely on BC Ferries to get to work, do errands or visit loved ones have been protected from high increases by keeping fares down.
• Income-qualified people can get as much as $4,000 in rebates to buy an electric vehicle.
• Through an electric vehicle (EV) charger rebate, people can save money on installing EV chargers at home and at workplaces. 
• Children aged 12 and under ride transit free. Eligible students, seniors above 60 and people with disabilities can get a bus pass at a reduced cost.

Health-care savings:

• People in B.C. are no longer charged Medical Service Program (MSP) fees, saving families $1,800 per year.
• Birth control is free in B.C., saving people as much as $400 per year.
• Starting April 2025, people undergoing IVF will get one treatment for free.
• All B.C. residents can register for PharmaCare to help pay for medications and medical supplies.
• To access free and affordable counselling for family, mental-health or substance-use support, call 811.
• Eligible patients who need to travel for cancer care can have their hotel and transportation costs covered.

Education and training savings:

• Students no longer pay interest on the B.C. portion of Canada-B.C. integrated student loans.
• Through the StrongerBC Future Skills grant, most B.C. residents can get $3,500 to cover short-term skills training in high-demand, well-paid careers.
• Students with low and middle incomes can automatically get as much as $4,000 a year for full-time studies when applying for student aid through the BC Access grant.
• Single parents receiving income or disability assistance can get job training and support. For more information, visit: https://www.workbc.ca/
• All former youth in care, no matter their age, can get free post-secondary education tuition.
• Adults can take high school courses for free to get a diploma or upgrade skills for post-secondary.

Support for businesses:

• The Employer Health Tax exemption threshold doubled to $1 million. Ninety per cent of small businesses are exempt from paying the tax.
• Growing businesses remain eligible for the 2% tax rate longer now that the taxable capital ceiling raised to $50 million.
• BC Hydro commercial energy customers will get a 4.6% rebate in 2024, saving approximately $400.
• Small businesses can apply for help to cover the costs of repairing vandalism and preventing crime.
• Restaurants, pubs and hotels can buy beer, wine and spirits at wholesale instead of retail prices.
• Restaurants and drivers are protected from unfair fees charged by food-delivery companies.