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 May 15, 2018
Health Supplements & Programs
Aircasts/walking boots have been added as an eligible item under Medical Equipment – Orthoses.
OIC #245 (B.C. Reg. 94/2018) amended the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.
Effective: May 1, 2018
General Supplements & Programs
Beginning May 1, 2018, BC Hydro is introducing a new Customer Crisis Fund (CCF). The CCF grant will be available to all BC Hydro residential account holders between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2021. The CCF grant can be provided once every 12 months, to a maximum of $500 for non-electrically heated homes or $600 for electrically heated homes.
Crisis supplement policy and procedures have been updated to reflect changes to BC Hydro’s Credit and Collection Policy & Procedures. For a BC Hydro disconnection notice, the ministry’s crisis supplement continues to be available for half of the amount of arrears accrued on assistance while the CCF is now available for the other half.
Effective: April 24, 2018
Eligibility
This topic is being updated to clarify Room Rental income from Collection of Rent that is forwarded by a client to a landlord or owner on behalf of other individuals sharing that residence, with no financial gain to the client.
Support & Shelter
This topic is being updated to clarify the role of landlords in confirming shelter costs so that shelter allowance is not to be denied because the landlords is not the registered owner of the property or because certain forms of documentation are not provided.
Effective: April 3, 2018
Employment Programs, Planning & Exemptions
Policy and procedures have been updated to change adjudicator to supervisor and clarify that the suspension of an Employment Plan (EP) refers to suspending the conditions within an existing EP.
Effective: April 1, 2018
General Supplements & Programs
The rate table has been updated to reflect increase in federal OAS/GIS rates, effective April 1, 2018.
Effective: March 27, 2018
Eligibility
Clarification that clients who use a Part 2 form to apply for income assistance are required to serve a one-month waiting period before being eligible for the earnings exemption, and clients who do not use a Part 2 form to apply for income assistance are not required to serve a one-month waiting period.
Effective: February 22, 2018
Health Supplements & Programs
Ministry of Health has implemented a Two Step Enrolment process for residents of BC to confirm permanent health care coverage.
Procedures have been updated to reflect changes to the enrolment process for new and returning BC residents.
Effective: January 1, 2018
Support & Shelter
General Supplements & Programs
Compliance & Debt Management
The Transportation Support Allowance is being rolled into the rate for disability assistance, and will no longer be referenced as a distinct part of the client’s support amount. A new Transportation Supplement has been created that functions as other general supplements. The Transportation Supplement is separate from the actual disability and hardship rate, and is available to all PWD clients.
OIC #414 (B.C. Reg. 193/2017) amended the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
General Supplements & Programs
The Transitional Transportation Support (TTS) is provided in specific scenarios when a person leaves disability assistance in order to continue their transportation supplement. This is necessary to ensure that the bus pass continues to function as an “annual” pass.
The bulk of the policy for the TTS will move under the new Transportation Supplement topic, under General Supplements. The TTS will remain as a short description for the next year or so, and will be retired after that.
General Supplements & Programs
- Special Transportation Subsidy
The Special Transportation Subsidy topic is being retired. The subsidy was replaced by a rate increase in September 2016.
