Annual earnings exemption

If you have a disability and get disability assistance, you can still work and earn money. Money you earn, up to a certain amount, does not change the amount on your monthly payment, as long as you don’t exceed the annual limit. You can earn money anytime during the year, with no monthly limit.

On this page

• Annual earnings exemption limits
• Track your earnings
• When your exemption amount changes
• Report income and changes each month
• Earning more than the annual limit

Annual earnings exemption limits

The annual earnings exemption applies to money you earn from January 1 to December 31. Any remaining exemption doesn’t carry over from year to year. You will receive a new exemption limit each year.

Current exemption limits for 2026

Effective January 1, 2026, the current exemption limits are:

• $16,200 a year for a single person with the Persons with Disabilities designation
• $23,400 a year for a family with two adults where only one person has the Persons with Disabilities designation
• $32,400 a year for a family where both adults have the Persons with Disabilities designation

How the exemption works

You can use your annual earnings exemption anytime during the year. For example, you may work a lot in some months and less in others. It won’t affect your monthly assistance amount until you earn more than your annual limit for that calendar year.

You can earn more than your annual earnings exemption. If you do, your assistance payment will be reduced by the amount you go over. This reduction only applies to your assistance, not to your earnings. You always keep 100% of the money you earn.

Track your earnings

You may want to keep track of your income, especially if you expect to earn more than the annual limit before the end of the calendar year. You’ll receive a letter after you’ve reached 75 per cent of your exemption limit.

• Check your remaining exemption amount on My Self Serve
• Track your income (PDF, 214KB)

When your exemption amount changes

If you start assistance part way through the year

If you start disability assistance part way through the year, we’ll calculate your annual earnings exemption amount based on the number of months remaining in the year.

If your family situation changes

If there is a change in your family, your annual earnings exemption limit will change depending on your new circumstance.

Report income and changes each month

You must complete a monthly report HR0081 by the fifth of every month if you:

• Earn income
• Have changes to report to the ministry

When you complete your report, tell us about any changes in your family circumstances. Changes may affect your annual earnings exemption limit. Report income even if it stays the same from month to month.

Ways to submit your monthly report

Complete your monthly report in one of these ways:

• Online: through My Self Serve
• Telephone: toll-free at 1-866-866-0800 with the self-serve telephone system
• By mail: to any of the ministry or Service BC offices
• In person: by attending a ministry or Service BC office during office hours or dropping off using the outside drop box

What counts as income

Income is money you receive from:

• Working
• Someone who is renting a room in the home you live in, and is using the same space that you also use in the home
• Someone who pays you room and board
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) temporary wage loss replacement payments
• Pension plan contributions that you got back because your contributions were not enough to make a pension

Changes you must report

Examples of changes you must also report include but are not limited to:

• Joining with or separating from a spouse
• Moving
• Adding or removing a dependent

Earning more than the annual limit

When you may not get an assistance payment

You won’t get an assistance payment if:

• You reach your annual limit and
• Your monthly earnings continue to be over assistance rates

Benefits you may still get

You may be able to continue to get medical and transportation benefits. You won’t lose your Persons with Disabilities designation.

Find out if you're eligible for supports if you are no longer receiving disability assistance.

Keep sending your monthly report

You should continue to submit your monthly report form each month if you reach your annual limit. This will make it easier for you to get disability assistance when you’re eligible. If you continue to submit your monthly report forms, you may be able to receive disability assistance without having to reapply:

• If your earnings fall below disability assistance rates
• When you are eligible for a new earnings exemption limit in the new calendar year

If you stop sending your monthly report

If you do not continue to submit your monthly report form each month after reaching your annual limit, you will need to reapply for assistance.