British Columbians can now book an appointment online before visiting Service BC, the provincial government announced on Tuesday.
The province said the new online booking tool will help reduce lineups and maintain physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through Service BC, people can access programs and services offered by the B.C. government, including income assistance, residential tenancy applications and the Affordable Childcare Benefit.
Appointments can now be booked online through the mobile BC Services Card. British Columbians can also call their nearest Service BC location.
People using the mobile BC Services Card to book an appointment will have to download the app and set up their mobile card first.
To help keep staff and the public safe during the pandemic, Service BC centres are regularly sanitized and reception areas have been modified to accommodate physical distancing.
Masks are also mandatory at all 65 Service BC locations and will be provided to those who don’t have one.
Other services that can be accessed through the mobile BC Services card include:
- Health Gateway, including COVID-19 test results as soon as they are available
- StudentAidBC
- Business registration
- B.C. billing and payment services
- Personal freedom of information requests
- Employment and Social Development Canada’s My Service Canada Account (including Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, Canada Pension Plan Disability, Employment Insurance
- Canada Revenue Agency’s MyAccount
However, people are asked to call a Service BC centre instead of coming into an office if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19 (including coughing, shortness of breath and fever), if they have a sick family member or have been around someone who is sick, and/or if they have not yet completed the mandatory 14-day isolation period after travelling abroad.
To reach Service BC by phone, call 1-800-663-7867, text 604-660-6421 or 711 for telephone device for the deaf.
