Increased family benefit cheques arriving in July: B.C. gov't

Thousands of families inBritishColumbiacan expect to see increased financial support in their bank accounts starting mid-July.

B.C. Premier David Eby says about 340,000 families with children 66,000 more than last year will have access to theB.C. Family Benefit program after the province increased the income threshold for a family's eligibility.

Low- and middle-income families on theB.C. Family Benefit program will receive an additional 25 per cent over last year's funding, for an average increase of $445.

Eby says a family of four on the very lowest income level could get up to $3,500 this year through the program.

The government announced the funding boost in its budget in February and says the bonus will last for a year.

The province has also launched theB.C. Benefits Connector, a one-stop online website to provide support for people who need to access government benefits and programs.

"We know that even families that earn a decent income right now are keeping track of expenses and having to forego things for their kids, like summer camp fees or registration fees for sports," said Eby from a news conference inChilliwack,B.C., Monday.

"This increase in accessibility of this grant means more families are going to benefit," he said.