Thursday October 16, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
People in BC will continue to receive provincial disability and income assistance cheques during the postal workers strike.
- Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) employees went on strike as of September 26 and have taken a rotating strike approach since October 11.
- Since October 8, all Service BC locations are affected as part of BCGEU strike action, and the BC government says its priority is to maintain essential income-assistance program services.
All Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction offices and 48 Service BC offices throughout the province delivering the disability- and income-assistance program will continue to provide that essential service for people relying on it.
However, due to strike action, service timelines will be longer than usual as government focuses on delivering essential supports to people.
Cheques are received by about 11% of income assistance recipients; the other 89% receive their payment by direct deposit.
Payment will be processed October 22:
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction continues to ensure the ongoing distribution of payments during cheque issue is done in a timely manner. The cheque issue process on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 will continue as usual.
Depending on where the rotating Canada Post strike action happens, there may be some delays in mail cheque delivery.
Approximately 89% of people will receive their payments by direct deposit and will not be affected by any potential Canada Post service disruption. People may sign up for direct deposit by providing bank account information online: https://myselfserve.gov.bc.ca/
Senior’s Supplement:
For seniors, primary financial supports are provided by the federal government through programs, such as Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). With any questions about delivery of these supports or to switch to direct deposit, contact the federal government through Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
Through the provincial Senior’s Supplement, the B.C. government tops up federal assistance amounts for seniors with low incomes. The Senior’s Supplement is as much as $99.30 for singles and as much as $220.50 for couples.
The provincial Senior’s Supplement October payment will continue as usual.
===== GOVERNMENT LINKS:
- Locations and hours of Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction offices and Service BC offices offering ministry services are available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/access-services
- For more information about income assistance, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance
- For more information about disability assistance, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/services-for-people-with-disabilities/disability-assistance
- For more information about the provincial Senior’s Supplement, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/financial-legal-matters/income-security-programs/seniors-supplement
- For more information about the federal assistance for seniors, such as OAS and GIS, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/seniors.html
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA POST | JOBS & EMPLOYMENT | BCGEU