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BC Employment & Assistance Policy & Procedure Manual

Last updated on April 22, 2024

The BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) Policy and Procedure Manual is a one-stop source for ministry service delivery, of all BCEA policy, procedure and program information.

Welcome to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) Policy and Procedure Manual.

The BCEA Policy and Procedure Manual is a one-stop source for all BCEA policy, procedure and program information.

BCEA policy and procedure information is organized by Category. Each Category has a set of Policy Topics. To view an expanded list of available Policy Topics, click on the appropriate Category.

Topics provide related content such as an overview, policies, procedures, and links to relevant acts, regulations, contacts, rate tables and resources.

For more information on how to use the BCEA Policy and Procedure Manual, please visit our Navigation & Search Tips page.

What's New

Effective January 1, 2024

Income Treatment and Exemptions

The Earnings Exemption and the Annual Earnings Exemption limits have increased.  This topic is being updated to reflect these changes.

New Policy

  • Earnings Exemptions: January 1, 2024

Previous Policy

  • Earnings Exemptions:  July 1, 2022

New Related Links

Effective January 1, 2024

Policy has been updated to reflect the increase in the Monthly Earnings Exemption limits, Annual Earnings Exemption limits, Special Care Facility rates, and Senior Supplement rates.

Earnings Exemptions

Support & Shelter

Supports for Seniors

Effective August 1, 2023

Policy has been updated to reflect the Affordability Initiative updates that will implement increases to shelter and select supplement rates.  Christmas Supplement has been renamed to the Winter Supplement.

General Supplements

Health Supplements

Support and Shelter

Effective: April 5, 2023

Policy has been updated to include the Indigenous Financial Settlements exemption. Payments captured by this exemption are exempt as income and assets for income, disability, and hardship assistance.  This exemption applies to past and future payments that meet the criteria. It encompasses and replaces all existing exemptions for specific settlement agreements with Indigenous Peoples.

Effective: March 1, 2023

General Supplements & Programs

The Housing Stability Supplement has been introduced to temporarily maintain support and shelter costs when there are specific changes in a family unit’s circumstances. The Housing Stability Supplement replaces the Temporary Reduced Family Unit (TRFU) policy.

Health Supplements & Programs

Policy has been updated to reflect that clients in alcohol and drug treatment centres may be eligible to receive the Housing Stability Supplement.

General Supplements & Programs

Policy has been updated to reflect that the Housing Stability Supplement can be included in determining the amount of the Crisis Supplement for shelter.

Support & Shelter

Policy has been updated to reflect the Temporarily Reduced Family Unit policy has been replaced with the Housing Stability Supplement.

Eligibility

Policy and procedures have been updated to reflect that family units in receipt of income assistance that include Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMBS) or have a member residing in a special care facility now have the same monthly reporting requirements as family units in receipt of disability assistance.

Case Administration

Policy has been updated to reflect the Temporarily Reduced Family Unit policy has been replaced with the Housing Stability Supplement.

Decisions, Reconsideration & Appeal

Procedures updated to remove CIC (Temporary Absence Assistance) and the Deceased Adjustment Supplement from the list of decisions that cannot be reconsidered. These are now encompassed within the Housing Stability Supplement which is provided under the EA Act and the EAPWD Act.

Compliance & Debt Management

Policy has been updated to remove CIC (Temporary Absence Assistance) and the Deceased Adjustment Supplement from the types of assistance that cannot be included in debt calculation. These are now encompassed within the Housing Stability Supplement which can be considered in debt calculation.

Eligibility

Policy has been updated to reflect that persons residing in Halfway Houses may be eligible for the Housing Stability Supplement.

Support & Shelter

Policy has been updated to reflect that clients in special care facilities may be eligible to receive the Housing Stability Supplement.

Eligibility

Policy has been updated to reflect that the repayable warrant supplement can be provided if the warrant holder leaves the province to resolve a warrant and the remainder of the family unit chooses to stay in BC.

Effective: January 1, 2023

Support & Shelter

The Ministry of Health introduced updated client rates for Community Care Residential Facilities in BC effective January 1, 2023. The monthly rate has been increased to $1,337.80 (was previously $1,237.20). There has been no increase to other per diems.

Effective: December 19, 2022

Eligibility

Hardship Assistance

Payments received under the Canada Dental Benefit and the Canada Rental Housing Benefit are now exempt as income and assets for income assistance, hardship assistance and disability assistance applicants and recipients.

Policy has also been updated to reflect the renaming of the BC Child Opportunity Benefit to the BC Family Benefit as of January 2023.  These payments remain exempt.

General Supplements & Programs

The topic has been updated to reflect the renaming of the BC Child Opportunity Benefit to the BC Family Benefit as of January 2023.

Effective: November 28, 2022

Eligibility

Hardship Assistance

Policy has been updated to clarify that all payments administered by the ministry are exempt as income and assets for income, disability and hardship assistance.

Decisions, Reconsideration & Appeal

Policy has been updated to clarify assistance paid and administered by the ministry but not provided under either the authority of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act or the Employment and Assistance Act cannot be reconsidered.

Compliance & Debt Management

Policy has been updated to clarify assistance paid and administered by the ministry but not provided under either the authority of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act or the Employment and Assistance Act is not to be included in debt calculations.

Employment Programs, Planning & Exemptions

Policy has been updated to exempt personal Canada Pension Plan contributions as owed for participants of the Self Employment Program.