NBA Hardship Assistance

Financial assistance for members experiencing unexpected hardship is now available through the new NBA Hardship Assistance initiative. This money is being funded by one-time financial supports negotiated by the Nurses’ Bargaining Association with the Ministry of Health. A total of $6 million dollars in one-time assistance has been allocated to the new NBA Hardship Assistance initiative. Members will be approved and paid subject to the available fund balance. Payments will stop once the funds have been depleted.

The NBA Hardship Assistance and the NBA Supplemental Mental Health Benefit announced in December 2023 are both financed by the Nurse Support Fund.

Members can access their regional NBA Hardship Assistance Application in the BCNU Member Portal under Members > Documents and Forms > Forms > Bursaries and Funding.

With the establishment of the NBA Hardship Assistance initiative, BCNU continues to deliver on its mission to protect and advance the health, safety, social and economic well-being of our members by providing a lifetime maximum of $1,500 in financial assistance to those experiencing hardship.

Eligibility

Hardship assistance may be provided in the following circumstances:

• Immediate need for food, shelter or medical support not covered by health-care benefits.
• Family circumstance/crisis resulting in the loss of wages or demonstrated financial hardship.
• Disaster or climate emergency resulting in sudden and/or unexpected circumstances, causing an evacuation from a member’s primary residence, loss of wages or financial hardship (Note: NBA Hardship Assistance temporarily replaces the BCNU Disaster Relief fund).

Approval and Disbursement

• All applications will be reviewed to ensure the eligibility criteria is met. 
• Please allow two to four weeks to receive funds from the date an application is approved, not the date it is submitted.

If you have questions about the status of your application, please contact your Regional Council Member.