Medical Services Only Recipients Requesting Financial Assistance

Effective: January 1, 2020

Recipients of Medical Services Only (MSO) who are requesting income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance may apply for assistance as follows:

• If they have not received income assistance in the preceding six months, they must complete an application by using the Eligibility Review process and signing an HR0080R
• If they have received income assistance in the preceding six months and their case is open, the ministry may use either the Streamlined Application process, or where needed, require completion of the Eligibility Review process and signing an HR0080R. For more information, review the Streamlined Application topic.

Recipients who leave disability assistance due to employment income and become eligible for MSO must continue to submit monthly reports in order for the ministry to re-establish eligibility for disability assistance when:

1. Their income falls below the disability assistance rate; or

2. They are eligible for an annual earnings exemption in the new calendar year

If a recipient does not continue to submit monthly reports while they are receiving MSO, they will be required to complete a reapplication.

Examples:

1) A disability assistance recipient reaches their family unit’s Annual Earnings Exemption limit in August and becomes eligible for MSO for the remainder of the calendar year. They continue to submit monthly reports to the ministry. In November, they stop working and their income falls below the disability assistance rate. The ministry re-establishes financial eligibility and they return to disability assistance.

2) A disability assistance recipient reaches their family unit’s Annual Earnings Exemption limit in June and becomes eligible for MSO for the remainder of the calendar year. They continue to submit monthly reports to the ministry. In March of the following year, they are eligible for an annual earnings exemption and returns to disability assistance.

Effective: July 20, 2026

Review the policy topic on Medical Services Only (MSO) and Monthly Reporting Requirements for more information on reporting requirements for MSO recipients.

Ministry staff may be able to use an eligibility review or streamlined application process and signed HR0080R if you received assistance in at least one of the last six calendar months.