The B.C. government is extending its monthly $300 supplement for people on income or disability assistance who don’t get federal help during the COVID-19 pandemic to the end of December.

Poverty Reduction Minister Shane Simpson says the province’s restart plan is beginning to help some sectors affected by the pandemic, but he says low or no-income people remain disproportionately affected.

“Further extending the crisis supplement will help alleviate some of the continuing pressures people are facing while trying to keep themselves and their families healthy and safe,” he said, in a statement.

The payments, which were announced in April, will continue to be automatically added to cheques that go out on September 23, October 21, November 18, and December 16.

Low-income seniors who get the B.C. Senior’s Supplement and income assistance and disability recipients residing in special care facilities, will continue to get this $300 payment.

People who get the income or disability assistance and either EI or CERB are not eligible for the crisis supplement. For those people, Ottawa recently announced a one-time $600 payment that is also exempt for people receiving provincial assistance.