Effective Date of Eligibility – Original Decision

Effective: July 20, 2011

When the original decision approves the client’s eligibility, the effective date of eligibility depends on the type of assistance applied for.

• Applicants for income assistance are eligible effective the date of their application.
• Applicants for disability assistance, who were already designated as a Person with Disabilities (PWD) and are re-applying for disability assistance, are eligible effective the date of their application.
• Applicants who qualify for Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) are eligible to receive income assistance at the PPMB rate effective the first day of the month following the date of the original decision.
• Applicants for PWD designation are eligible to receive disability assistance effective the first day of the month following the date of the original decision.
• Applicants for PWD who are found eligible before their 18^th birthday receive disability assistance effective the date of their birthday.
• Applicants who are youth in government care under the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, who are found eligible for disability assistance as of their 19th birthday, are eligible to receive:
  • The shelter allowance for the full month in which they turn 19, as calculated under Schedule A for any rent owing, and
  • The support allowance, prorated from the day they turned 19 to the end of that month.
• Applicants for a supplement are eligible for the supplement effective the date of the original decision. 

For more information on management of individual clients’ cases, review the Individual Case Administration topic. 

For more information, review the Effective Date of Eligibility – Workflow Chart.

Effective: February 27, 2017

The effective date of eligibility is based on the type of assistance and your circumstances. Eligibility may begin on the application date, the first day of a subsequent month, or another specified date.

It is in your best interest to complete and submit your application for assistance as soon as you start it online in My Self Serve (MySS), so the payment amount is not affected.

For example: If you start your application on the 28th day of the month and submit it the same day (28th of the month) and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be eligible for some pro-rated support for that month. However, if you start your application on the 28th day of the month, save it and, then submit it on the 2nd day of the following month, you will not be eligible for any pro-rated support for the previous month in which you started the application.

The effective date of eligibility depends on the type of assistance you applied for:

• Income assistance: the date the application is submitted online (Part 2/HR0080) or when verbal consent is gathered during ministry staff-assisted applications using an Application for Assistance Verbal Consent (HR0080A) form. You may be eligible to receive assistance including pro-rated support and outstanding shelter allowance (up to the full shelter allowance) from the effective date of eligibility.
• Income Assistance at the assistance rates for Persistent Multiple Barriers to employment (PPMB): the first day of the month after the date of the PPMB approval decision.
• Disability assistance if you already have Person with Disabilities (PWD) designation: the date the application is submitted online (Part 2/HR0080) or when verbal consent is gathered during ministry staff-assisted applications using an Application for Assistance - Verbal Consent (HR0080A) form. You may be eligible to receive assistance including pro-rated support and outstanding shelter allowance (up to the full shelter allowance) from the effective date of eligibility.
• Disability assistance for PWD: the first day of the month after the date of the PWD approval decision.
• Disability assistance for approved PWD prior to your 18^th birthday: the date of your 18^th birthday. You may be eligible to receive assistance including pro-rated support and outstanding shelter allowance (up to the full shelter allowance) from your 18^th birthday. For more information, see the policy on Underage PWD Applicants.
• Youth in government care (under the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development) found eligible for disability assistance on 19^th birthday: the date of your 19^th birthday. You may be eligible to receive assistance including pro-rated support and outstanding shelter allowance (up to the full shelter allowance) from from your 19^th birthday. For more information please see the policy on Underage Applicants.

In all cases you may be eligible for a general supplement or health supplement (including crisis supplements, security deposits, etc.) as of the effective date of eligibility. Staff will check the effective date of eligibility depending on your application type when making an eligibility decision.