BC Employment & Assistance Policy & Procedure Manual
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: October 20, 2017
Support & Shelter
The 2018 Cheque Issue Schedule and Cut-off Dates has been updated in Additional Resources.
Effective: October 1, 2017
Eligibility
The Earnings Exemption and the Annual Earnings Exemption limits have increased.
OIC #338 (B.C. Reg. 169/2017) amended both the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Effective: September 30, 2017
Eligibility
Hardship Assistance
Regulation and policy have been amended to fully exempt money from a settlement agreement with the Government of Canada in respect of Treaty No. 8 agricultural benefits.
OIC #378 (B.C. Reg. 179/2017) amended both the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Effective: September 28, 2017
Application & Intake
An Applicant Override process is being implemented to allow individual who do not have access to email to use the computer kiosks in our offices and CAT terminals in Service BC offices. This topic is being updated to reflect these changes.
Effective: September 1, 2017
Health Supplements and Programs
Updated to clarify that the alternative hearing assistance supplement is available to clients who are eligible for general health supplements and children who are eligible for the Healthy Kids Program.
Clarified that nutritional supplements may be provided to an adult or child in receipt of income assistance or disability assistance.
Clarified that routine eye examinations for persons under 19 years of age and seniors are covered by Medical Services Plan (MSP).
Health Supplements and Programs
Replaced “dependent child” with “child” to clarify that dental and orthodontic services are available to children under 19 years of age who are receiving assistance.
Updated the biennial limit for basic dental services for children receiving income assistance, disability assistance and hardship assistance, children in home of a relative (CIHR), and children enrolled in the Healthy Kids
Hearing instruments and alternative hearing assistance supplement added as eligible items covered under the Healthy Kids program.
Updated procedures to clarify that parents should provide their child’s Personal Health Number to the service provider as part of the process to confirm that their child is covered under the Healthy Kids Program.
Updated responsibilities to clarify that the Provincial Contact Centre is responsible for providing general information on the Healthy Kids program.
Clarified that a person under 19 years of age receiving income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance may be eligible to receive hearing instruments.
Updated eligibility criteria to include dependent children of families receiving premium assistance through Medical Services Plan.
Removed “dependent” to clarify that Medical Services Only is available to children under 19 years of age who are receiving assistance, and is not restricted to dependent children.
Policy updated to replace “dependent child” with “child” to clarify that the supplement is available to children under 19 years of age, including children who are independent on the file.
Procedures clarified to allow for a child who is independent on the file to confirm the name of the school they are attending, by phone or by completing the HR3216.
OIC #301 (B.C. Reg. 161/2017) amended both the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Effective: July 1, 2017
Eligibility
General Supplements and Programs
Hardship Assistance
Family Bonus Supplement has been changed to Child Benefits Top-up Supplement.
Topics have been updated to reflect changes to federal child benefits, and to reflect changes in the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
OIC #065 (B.C. Reg. 34/2017) amended both the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
General Supplements and Programs
The information on replacement of lost or stolen child benefits cheque has been has been consolidated into the Child Benefits Top-up Supplement topic.
Effective: April 1, 2017
Health Supplements and Programs
- Alternative Hearing Assistance Supplement
- Medical Equipment - Hearing Instruments
- Medical Services Only
- Transitional Health Services
The ministry may provide a monthly alternative hearing assistance supplement to assist eligible clients to meet costs associated with overcoming barriers related to having permanent profound bilateral hearing loss, if a client cannot benefit from a hearing instrument.
OIC #168 (B.C. Reg. 118/2017) amended both the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Eligibility
Hardship Assistance
An exemption has been added to regulation and policy to fully exempt as income and asset:
- Foster Care payments,
- CPP benefits for a Child of a CPP Disabled Contributor, and
- money that is payable to or for a child from property held by the Public Guardian and Trustee.
OIC #129 (BC Reg. 96/2017) amended both the Employment and Assistance Regulations and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Disability Assistance and Hardship Assistance for Persons with Disabilities support, comforts and room and board rates have been increased.
OIC #128 (BC Reg. 95/2017) amended the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Effective: January 1, 2017
Support and Shelter
Effective January 1, the Ministry of Health introduced new client rates for residential care services and assisted living services in BC. Policy, procedures, and the rate table have been updated to reflect this change.
Effective: February 27, 2017
Information Privacy & Security (FOIPPA)
Application & Intake
Eligibility
The Self Serve Assessment and Application will be replaced by an application that is accessible through My Self Serve. The new application will include an electronic signature.
Case Administration
The Self Serve Assessment and Application will be replaced by an application that is accessible through My Self Serve. The new application will include an electronic signature. Consent to Disclosure of Information is available in the Information Privacy & Security (FOIPPA) topic. This topic has been added to Related Links. Procedures for Direct Deposit have been updated as the system does not automatically enter codes for when direct deposit is not available.
Decisions, Reconsideration & Appeal
The Self Serve Assessment and Application will be replaced by an application that is accessible through My Self Serve. Other enhancements include being able to submit and communicate decisions regarding reconsiderations via My Self Serve.
