kw/usw/leu2009/RFHD/19.20/20.Apr.8 RFHD Issue 20 1

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Rep Assembly April 14 Zoom Meeting

Report From Henning Drive

April 8th, 2020 Volume 2, Issue 20

Report From Henning Drive, April 8th, 2020 www.burnabyteachers.com

BTA COVID-19 HARDSHIP FUND In response to the current state of emergency and COVID-19, the BTA has created an Emergency Hardship Fund. A loan or non-repayable grant, up to $1,000.00 may be accessed through an application to this fund. Please understand that the intention of the financial aid is not to replace lost income, but to provide emergency relief for those in need. While this emergency relief is available to all BTA members, please make all attempts to access other financial assistance before applying as we have limited funds to be distributed. 

To access this fund, please fill out an application form and scan to bta3@bctf.ca. Applications can be found on the BTA Website here. All applications will remain anonymous and will only be seen and assessed by the BTA Benevolent Fund Committee.

REP ASSEMBLY On April 14th, we will be conducting a Rep Assembly on Zoom. If you have some concerns that you would like to be addressed, please contact your staff rep. They will then present them to us as Staff Concerns. For schools that still do not have a staff rep, it is never too late to volunteer to be one even if it is just temporarily. If you are interested in being a staff rep, let us know by emailing bta3@bctf.ca. 

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EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFITS Members’ Extended Health Benefits (EHB) services through Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been updated. Below are alternate services that are available (certain digital, virtual, and tele-health claims) and are now covered by PBC.

Members are also encouraged to log into their Member Profile  on the PBC website for specific details. To ensure safe and effective treatments, Pacific Blue Cross will require the following for Tele-Health and Virtual Care services for Physiotherapy and Chiropractic services:

• Services must be subsequent treatments, not initial treatments. That means that the health care provider must have seen the member in person before being able to submit for services through Tele-Health.

•Services must meet all regulations as outlined y the respective college, whether services are provided in-person or via tele-re habilitation. This includes, but it not limited to, services provided by practitioners who are licensed to practice in the jurisdiction of member residence.

•All receipts issued to members must include “Tele-health” for these services.

Pacific Blue Cross will re-evaluate if coverage for services provided by Physiotherapists are Chiropractors will be covered after the three month exception period and will issue an updated statement closer to the date. Should you have any questions, please contact the BTA Office.

BTA Contacts

Leanne Sjodin

President lp41@bctf.ca

Daniel Tétrault

First Vice-President lx41vp@bctf.ca

Heather Skuse

First Vice-President lx41vp2@bctf.ca

Christina Fernandes

Pro-D Chair bta3@bctf.ca

BTA Office

604-294-8141 bta3@bctf.ca

www.burnabyteachers.com

Benefits covered by our Provincial EHB Plan

Digital, Virtual & Tele-Health Care

Registered Psychologist services Yes

Naturopathic services Yes

Prescription medication home delivery

Yes Preferred Pharmacy

Partners

Some Virtual Care services (billed to MSP)

Yes Babylon by TELUS

Health & Medi-Map

PhysiotherapyYes

(until June 24, 2020)

Chiropractic servicesYes

(until June 24, 2020)

Report From Henning Drive, April 8th, 2020 www.burnabyteachers.com

REVISIONS TO WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT Revisions to the Workers Compensation Act, which include renumbering of sections and some minor language changes, are in effect as of April 6, 2020.

The revisions do not change B.C.’s laws concerning workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, or employers’ assessment premiums. However, materials that cite the Act need to be updated to reflect the new numbering and language of the Act, which includes WorkSafeBC’s policy manuals, practice directives, and website.

You can access the latest Act by using WorkSafeBC’s searchable Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

WORK SAFE BC WorkSafeBC are actively monitoring and adjusting to the COVID-19 situation to determine how they can best support workers, providers, and employers around the province.

As part of these efforts, they have created a COVID-19 information and resources section on their website, where you can find the following information to help you stay safe at work and access WorkSafeBC services. https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates

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WORKING FROM HOME In our current context we are all experiencing an enormous shift in what our day-to-day life looks like. I am sure for many the early thoughts of working from home were in some ways appealing… no commute, more time with family, less time with a co worker who grates on your nerves, less meetings and also no need to dress up. As I am sure we are all realizing some of this is true but there are many more complications to working from home than we may have realized.

As we continue along this new path, there are some important aspects of self-care that are critical. As teachers we have a tendency to look after all else before our selves and it is important to make self-care a part of your day. Make sure you are taking a break from your screens. Look up from them and try to focus on something in the distance. Make sure you are stopping to eat lunch, drink water, and a take a break. All of these are things that many of us know and do regularly in our classrooms and with our students. In the work from home setting these routines continues to be important and without our school schedule some of us may be forgetting those important aspects of being healthy at work. You may even wish to set a timer so that you remember to stand up, move around stretch. Remember to reach out to others.

Some other brief suggestions:

Tips for working from home:

• Set a firm start and end time for your day. The ritual will keep you on track, and not feeling like you “can’t leave the office”.

• Set regular video-conference check-ins with your team. This will help you feel connected to your colleagues and what’s going on at work.

• Have a separate physical workspace. Whether it’s a spare bedroom or a table in the corner, having a separate space will help you separate work and home, and let you “leave the office” at closing time

HEALTH AND WELLNESS Some of you may be experiencing some new feelings now that our workday has changed. In some cases you might find it’s harder to leave work behind, you may be worrying about your family or your students. Increased stress and anxiety in the current situation is completely understandable. Remember there are resources available to support our mental well-being. EFAP through our school district and extended benefits but also on the BCTF health and Wellness page is access to Starling Minds. This is an excellent online resource for working through some of our day-to-day stress, worry and anxiety and is available for all BCTF members.

Additional support and resources can be found here: https://bctf.ca/wellness/

Report From Henning Drive, April 8th, 2020 www.burnabyteachers.com

kw/usw/leu2009/RFHD/19.20/20.Apr.8 RFHD Issue 20 4

PERSONAL INCOME – WORKFORCE

Support Description How to Access

💵 Employment Insurance (EI)

Existing EI benefit continues to be available. Provides up to $573/week to people who have lost income. However, those who qualify for the CERB may wish to apply for the CERB instead.

🍁 Apply online.

💵 EI Sickness Benefit One-week waiting period has been waived. 🍁 Call 1-833-381-2725 or apply online.

💵 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Provides $2000/month to workers who lose income due to COVID-19, including contractors and self-employed people. 🍁 Apply online.

💵 BC Emergency Benefit One-time additional tax-free payment of $1000 to those on EI or CERB.

Check back for application instructions.

⚠ See more re: Labour & Industry.

HOUSING

Support Description How to Access

⚡ BC Hydro: rate changes BC Hydro is halting all service disconnections for non-payment of bills and reducing electricity rates by 1%.

⚡ BC Hydro: Relief FundCOVID-19 Relief Fund applies a 3-month credit to your BC Hydro account for eligible customers (avg credit will be $477).

Applications will be accepted between April 6 – June 30 (no rush to apply). Check back for link when available.

⚡ BC Hydro: Customer Assistance Program

COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program offers bill deferral and payment plans for customers struggling due to impacts of COVID-19.

Customer Assistance: Call 1-800-BC-HYDRO

⚡ BC Hydro: Customer Crisis Fund

Customer Crisis Fund is an existing program that grants of up to $600 off your energy bill. Apply online.

🏦 Freeze on rental rates No rent increases are allowed in BC, effective April 1. No action needed. Contact RTB with questions.

🏦 BC Temporary Rental Supplement (BC-TRS)

Provides up to $500/month towards rent, paid directly to landlords.

Applications open mid-April. More info here.

🏘 Mortgages (CMHC-insured)

Mortgage payment deferrals available for CMHC-insured loans. 🍁 Check with your lender.

🏘 Mortgages (non-CMHC) Check with your lender about payment deferral options. 🍁 Check with your lender.

🛏 Emergency Housing Existing shelters still active and additional emergency options may be available. Call 2-1-1 or search online.

⚠ See more re: Housing.

Report From Henning Drive, April 8th, 2020 www.burnabyteachers.com

FINANCIAL SUPPORTS The information provided in the tables below are taken from: http://bowinnmamla.ca/covid19/supports/ . Highlighted items indicate new/updated this week (Last Update: April 6, 2020). Questions? For items marked “🍁 ”, contact your local MP. Otherwise, contact your local MLA.

kw/usw/leu2009/RFHD/19.20/20.Apr.8 RFHD Issue 20 5

INCOME SUPPLEMENTS FOR PEOPLE

Support Description How to Access

💵 GST-credit One-time boost of up to $600 per eligible couple, $400 for eligible individuals in May.

🍁 Benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here.

💵 Climate Action Tax Credit

One-time boost of up to $564 for eligible families of 4 and $218 for eligible individuals in an enhanced payment in July.

Children under 18 years old must be registered for the CCB to qualify. No other action is needed; benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here.

👪 Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

One-time boost of $300 per child in May.🍁 No action if you are already registered for CCB. Otherwise, apply online.

🤸 Youth in Care

Youth in care will not age out of services during the pandemic. Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program payments will continue despite school closures and training interruptions.

🧘 Young Adults Program (AYA)

Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program payments will continue to former youth-in-care despite school closures and training interruptions.

📚 Student emergency assistance

Students at public post-secondary institutions can apply for non-repayable emergency assistance that can be used to help with a broad range of costs, including living expenses, food, travel, portable computers and other supports for students who are not already able to study remotely.

Contact your school’s financial aid office to apply. See backgrounder for contact list.

📚 Indigenous Emergency Assistance Fund for students

Indigenous students at public post-secondary institutions can apply for non-repayable emergency assistance that can be used to help with a broad range of costs, including living expenses, groceries, cell phone bills, childcare, medical, dental, optical, and travel costs for family crisis or community obligations.

Contact the Indigenous Student Service Centre on campus. See backgrounder for contact list.

💵 Income Assistance & ♿ Disability Assistance

—–Full exemption of CERB or EI for three months (no clawback). —–COVID-19 crisis supplement of additional $300/month for three months for those who do not qualify for federal emergency supports like CERB or EI. —–Those on BC Bus Pass Program will receive their $52 transportation supplement back in cash. —–“Work search” requirement for those on Income Assistance is suspended for now.

No application needed, support boosts will be applied to next payments automatically. More info here.

👵 BC Senior’s Supplement Additional $300/month boost for three months for low-income seniors who receive the B.C. Senior’s Supplement.

No application needed, support boosts will be applied to payments automatically. More info here.

👵 Seniors (General)

Existing programs continue to be available, including: —–Old Age Security (OAS): $614/mo (max) —–Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): $916/mo (max) —–Allowance / Allowance for Survivor: $1389/mo (max)

🍁 Eligible seniors are automatically enrolled, but applications can also be submitted online.

Report From Henning Drive, April 8th, 2020 www.burnabyteachers.com

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COST REDUCTIONS/DEFERRALS FOR PEOPLE

Support Description How to Access

🚘 Hospital parking Parking is free of charge at all health authority owned/operated health care sites.

For staff, patients, and visitors only.

🚗 ICBC Monthly payment deferral for up to 90 days with no penalty. Call 1-800-665-6442 or apply online.

🚌 TransLink

Fare-free boarding on all buses: enter through rear of the bus, unless accessible loading is required. July 1 fare increase is deferred indefinitely. Service reductions in effect: check online before you go.

🚌 BC Transit  Fare-free boarding on all buses. Enter through rear of the bus, unless accessible loading is required.

👪 Emergency Child Care Funding

Child care providers receiving emergency government funding cannot charge parent fees for any periods of closure or for vacant spaces and must reserve spaces for families, starting April.

Check with your provider to see if they are in this program.

🏫 BC Student Loans Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April.

Repayment will be paused automatically.

🏫 Canada Student Loans Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April.

🍁 Repayment will be paused automatically.

👵 Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs)

Minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) has been reduced by 25% for 2020. 🍁 Learn more here.

✈ Emergency Travel Loan Emergency loan of $5000 available to Canadians travelling abroad.

🍁 Dial +1 613-996-8885 or send an email.

🧾 Income tax return Filing due date is deferred to June 1. Payments owed are deferred until after August 31. 🍁

Report From Henning Drive, April 8th, 2020 www.burnabyteachers.com