Persons Fleeing Abuse

Effective: September 1, 2024

Applicants

When an applicant discloses they are fleeing abuse, the applicant is given critical priority and must be contacted within one business day.  The applicant is exempt from the requirement to perform a work search and must immediately proceed to the intake process. Staff must ensure in the interim that the immediate needs of the applicant are met [see Related Links – Immediate Needs – Policy – Requirements].

The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert must be applied to each contact on the case [see Procedures – Applicants Disclosing as Persons Fleeing Abuse].

If minor dependants are involved, the Ministry of Children and Family Development must be contacted if there is reason to believe the children are at risk [see Procedures – Applicants Disclosing as Persons Fleeing Abuse].

Note: These cases are not assessed for Hardship S (Immediate Needs); they are exempt from a work search.

[For general information regarding domestic violence services in BC, see Additional Resources.]

Recipients

When a recipient discloses they are fleeing abuse they must be given critical priority and must be contacted within one business day.

No contact is to be made with the accused abusive partner/family member with regard to the recipient.

The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert must be applied to each contact on the case [see Procedures – Current Assistance Recipients Disclosing as Persons Fleeing Abuse].

If minor dependants are involved, the Ministry of Children and Family Development must be contacted if there is reason to believe the children are at risk [see Procedures – Current Assistance Recipients Disclosing as Persons Fleeing Abuse].

All applicants or recipients who have disclosed they are fleeing from abuse must be made aware of all the exemptions or supplements to which they may be entitled.

[For general information regarding domestic violence services in BC, see Additional Resources.]

Adding and Removing the Person Fleeing Abuse Alert

The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert is added to each contact on the case when the case is opened.  The abuse does not need to be verified by a third party, only disclosed.

The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert should only be removed when:

• it is explicitly requested by the client; or
• a ministry staff has spoken with the client and determined the client and their dependants are willing to have the Alert removed and are fully independent of the accused abuser
  and
• a Supervisor has approved its removal.

For example when the recipient is ready and able to create an Employability Plan, either before or at the conclusion of the six-month exemption period from employability-related obligations, may be an appropriate time to consider removing the Alert.

Family Composition – Residing Together

If the applicant or recipient has advised that they are “not residing” with the abusive spouse or family member but are living in a separate living space at the same address or property, as described in the Family Composition Policy, policies and policy exemptions for Persons Fleeing Abuse still apply. Any policy or exemptions listed below apply where appropriate [see Related Links – Family Composition  - Policy – Determination of Residing Together].

Policy for persons fleeing abuse is divided into four areas:

• Exemptions for Persons Fleeing Abuse
• Income and Assets / Hardship
• Health and Safety Concerns
• Supplements for Persons Fleeing Abuse

Note:  The following table is a guideline.  Abuse only needs to be disclosed for the specific policies to apply, it does not need to be verified

Criterion

Guidelines

The applicant or recipient states they are fleeing abuse from a spouse or relative

The abuse experienced by the applicant or recipient may be one or more types of family violence defined in the Family Law Act.  Family violence includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and emotional abuse. Psychological or emotional abuse includes: intimidation, harassment, coercion or threats, including threats respecting other person, pets or property unreasonable restrictions on, or preventions of, a family member's financial or personal autonomy stalking or following of the family member, and intentional damage to property Where a child is involved, family violence includes direct or indirect exposure to family violence.

Effective: September 1, 2024

If a client discloses they are fleeing abuse, they are exempt from certain requirements that could be a barrier to them escaping the abuse and remaining independent of the abusive situation.

The abuse does not need to be verified in order for the exemptions to apply.  The exemptions should be applied immediately upon a client’s disclosure of fleeing abuse. 

When a client is fleeing abuse, the food, shelter and medical needs of the client and their dependants should be determined and met as quickly as possible.  Applicants who identify as fleeing abuse are given critical priority and proceed directly to  the intake process within one business day. Staff must ensure the immediate needs of the applicant are met in the interim [see Related Links – Immediate Needs – Policy – Requirements].

The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert must be applied to each contact on the case [see Procedures – Current Assistance Recipients Disclosing as Persons Fleeing Abuse].

Persons fleeing abuse are exempt from:

• Work Search Requirements
• Employability-Related Obligations

They may also be exempt from:

• Certain citizenship requirements

Work Search Requirements

An applicant must be exempt from the work search requirement if the applicant is fleeing an abusive spouse or relative.

Exemption from Citizenship Requirements

Sole applicant or recipient family units may be exempt from citizenship requirements if, in addition to other criteria, the applicant or recipient has separated from an abusive spouse [see Related Links – Citizenship Requirements].

Employability-related Obligations: Employability Plans

Recipients are considered to have no employability related obligations (NEO) if they have separated from an abusive spouse/relative within the previous six months.

After the six-month period, an Employability Plan should be developed that is appropriate to the recipient’s current circumstance, unless the recipient continues to be exempt from employability-related obligations for other reasons (e.g., they have a dependent child under three years of age) or is exempt from entering into an Employability Plan [see Related Links – Employment Program, Planning & Exemptions].

Employability-related Obligations: Specialized Population Identified by WorkBC Employment Services

If the recipient fleeing abuse is employable and wishes to seek employment it should be facilitated as an important step toward independence.  Persons fleeing abuse are identified as a Specialized Population by WorkBC and therefore entitled to alternative service delivery arrangements to access employment services in order to meet their unique needs and increase the likelihood of outcomes being achieved [see Related Links – WorkBC Employment Services].

Effective: June 9, 2021

Family units that have made an Application for a Temporary Resident Permit as a Victim of Family Violence may meet citizenship requirements [see Related Links- Citizenship Requirements- Policy- Applications for a Temporary Resident Permit as a Victim of Family Violence].

Effective: September 1, 2015

When an applicant or recipient fleeing abuse has assets or income tied to the abusive spouse or relative, policies may apply to allow the income or assets not to be considered for purposes of determining eligibility [see Related Links – Income Treatment &Exemptions and Assets & Exemptions].

Eligibility for Assistance

Income
Any income held by the abusive spouse or relative should not be considered in the calculation of eligibility unless it is money the applicant or recipient is receiving directly (e.g.,  spousal support).

Assets
If a person fleeing abuse has assets, and retrieving them and converting them to cash would cause a health or safety risk, those assets should be considered unavailable and should not be used in the determination of eligibility.  The decision as to whether the asset is convertible is the responsibility of the ministry staff to make based on information provided by the applicant or recipient [see Related Links - Assets & Exemptions – Policy – Eligibility].

Jointly Owned Assets
When it is determined that an asset that is jointly owned cannot be disposed of because the other owner will not co-operate or contacting them would cause a safety issue, the Supervisor may deem the asset not available. This decision is valid for a six-month period and may be extended for a maximum of two years.

Example: If the applicant has a joint savings account with the abusive spouse/relative, and accessing it would pose a health or safety risk, it is to be considered not available [see Related Links – Assets & Exemptions – Policy – Types of Assets].

Hardship
If an applicant is not eligible for income assistance or disability assistance, they must be evaluated for hardship assistance as appropriate. 

Example: if an applicant is ineligible because of their assets and they have dependent children, they may be eligible for hardship assistance under Assets in Excess.  If they are not eligible for any assistance, they must be referred to the appropriate community resources [see Related Links – Eligibility for Hardship Assistance].

Note: In certain circumstances Hardship assistance may not be repayable for Persons Fleeing Abuse [see Related Links – Eligibility for Hardship Assistance – Policy – Non-Repayable Hardship Assistance].

Effective: December 14, 2021

When an applicant is fleeing abuse, or is in the process of formally separating from an abusive spouse/family member, contact with the applicant’s spouse/family member for information about the applicant should be suspended by the ministry if it is likely to raise a health and/or safety concern.  The health and safety of clients takes precedence over pursuit of payments, information, or proof of identity and income that the abusive spouse/relative may possess.

• When there are health and safety concerns due to abuse, staff must ensure they are following appropriate procedures and policies pertaining to: Family Maintenance Services and Sponsorship Undertakings

[For more information regarding family maintenance services, see Related Links – Family Maintenance Services]

Sponsorship Undertaking Default

If a sponsored individual has any health and/or safety concerns related to the sponsor, no contact is to be made with the sponsor, including by letter.  Income assistance or disability assistance may be issued to the sponsored individual if all other eligibility criteria are met. If a sponsor has any health and/or safety concerns (abuse) related to the sponsored individual, the debt that is accumulated by the sponsor due to a Sponsorship Undertaking Default may be forgiven [see Related Links – Sponsorship Undertaking Default and Pursuing Income].

Effective: January 1, 2020

Applicants and recipients fleeing abuse may be eligible for a Moving, Transportation and Living Costs supplement to help them gain safety and independence. An applicant or recipient should be proactively assessed for a Moving, Transportation and Living Costs Supplement once fleeing abuse has been disclosed [see Related Links – Moving, Transportation, & Living Costs].

A Moving, Transportation and Living Costs supplement is not the only supplement available to persons fleeing abuse, merely one that has fleeing abuse as specific criteria.  Persons fleeing abuse are eligible for any supplements for which they meet the eligibility criteria.

Effective: January 1, 2020

If an applicant for assistance discloses they are fleeing abuse on the Application for Assistance or to ministry staff, the application service request (SR) is flagged as critical priority and these steps are to be followed:

1. Supervisors must ensure critically flagged application SR’s are actioned within one business day.
2. When the Fleeing Abuse indicator is selected, the applicant's disclosure is taken at face value an no verification or further details are required.
3. The application is flagged for the START team prior to the intake appointment.  The review will be prioritized and occur within one business day.
4. The applicant is assessed for immediate medical attention, safe shelter, and/or food and is made aware of all the exemptions that apply and supplements to they may be eligible for.
5. The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert is applied to each contact on the case, including dependants.
6. Staff must update the caseload field in the system to the corresponding Fleeing Abuse indicator:  FA + first digit of the client’s Service Office ( e.g.: FA1, FA2, etc.)
7. The applicant is exempt from the work search and employability-related obligations for up to six months and proceeds directly to  the intake process.
8. If the applicant has dependent children, the Ministry of Children and Family Development is contacted if there is reason to believe the dependants children are at risk (child protection concerns) [see Related Links – Protection of Children].

Note: These procedures do not replace the current procedures for reporting child abuse. [see Related Links - Protection of Children].

Effective: March 27, 2013

If a current recipient of assistance discloses to a ministry staff member either by phone, in person, by mail as a person fleeing abuse, these steps are to be followed:

1. When fleeing abuse has been disclosed, the recipient's disclosure is taken at face value and no verification or further details are required.
2. The recipient is assessed for immediate medical attention, safe shelter, and/or food and is made aware of all the exemptions and supplements they may be eligible for.
3. The Person Fleeing Abuse Alert is applied to the contact(s) on the case, including dependant children.
4. Staff must update the caseload field in the system to the corresponding Fleeing Abuse indicator:  FA + first digit of the client’s Service Office ( e.g.: FA1, FA2, etc.)
5. No contact is to be made with the accused abuser.  If the recipient is fleeing an abusive spouse who is on their case, the cases must be seperated.
6. If the recipient has dependants, the Ministry of Children and Family Development is contacted if there is reason to believe the dependants are at risk [see Related Links – Protection of Children].

Note: These procedures do not replace the current procedures for reporting child abuse. 

Effective: December 3, 2012

If a new contact is to be added to a case that has a Persons Fleeing Abuse Alert, staff should assess the circumstances of the contact to be added before applying the Alert to the new contact. For example, if the person fleeing abuse has reconciled with their accused abuser the Alert should not be added for this person.

Effective: December 3, 2012

A Person Fleeing Abuse Alert may be removed if it is requested by the client or if ministry staff have consulted the client and determined the client and their dependants are fully independent of the accused abuser, and a Supervisor has approved its removal. Therefore, Person Fleeing Abuse Alerts are only to be removed by a Supervisor or by a ministry staff with a Supervisor’s approval. The client must always be consulted before the alert is removed and they must always agree to have the alert removed.