Education and Training

Effective: November 4, 2021

A funded program of study includes any education or training that is eligible for Student Financial Assistance (e.g., student loans from StudentAid BC).

For information on how loans, grants, or allowances issued through StudentAid BC affect eligibility, review the Student Funding policy in the Income Treatment and Exemptions topic.

Full-time students:

A family unit may be eligible for income assistance when an adult in the family unit is enrolled as a full-time student under the following circumstances:

• A funded program of studies:
  • Participation is through WorkBC, ISET, and is a requirement of the individual’s Employability Plan. An Employability Plan is a requirement even for those without employability-related obligations in this specific case,
  • The family unit has been in receipt of income assistance, hardship assistance or disability assistance for at least the 3 preceding calendar months, and
  • The length of time an individual is enrolled in the program is no longer than 24 months
• An unfunded program of studies with prior approval of the ministry

A family unit that does not meet these requirements is not eligible for income assistance. The family unit becomes ineligible on the first day of the month following the month in which classes begin. Ineligibility continues until the last day of the month in which exams in the relevant program of studies are held. This also applies if a student exhausts their student loan before the term is completed. These students can be directed to the Student Financial Aid Office at their school. 

If a student has a semester break in the summer where they cannot find work, they may be eligible for income assistance beginning the month after exams are completed if they meet all eligibility criteria, including employability-related obligations.

This eligibility requirement does not apply to:

• Dependent children
• Recipients of disability assistance and their dependants
• Applicants of disability assistance who already have the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation and their dependants

Part-time students:

Part-time students ­enrolled in a funded program of studies may remain eligible for income assistance if all other eligibility requirements, including any employability-related obligations, are met. Recipients should notify the ministry of their educational goals, including participation as a part-time student in training programs.  

WorkBC  or the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) – full-time funded training:

Recipients of income assistance or disability assistance may be eligible to participate in full-time funded training programs through WorkBC or ISET, while maintaining their eligibility for assistance. Eligibility for training programs is assessed by a WorkBC or ISET case manager. Eligible participants must have been in receipt of income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance for at least the 3 preceding calendar months. Participation in training must be documented in a recipient’s employability plan.

Eligibility to Participate: Funded Programs of Study (e.g., any course where Student Financial Assistance is available to fund the program)

	Adult Recipients of Income Assistance		Adult Recipients of Disability Assistance	Dependent Children in any Family Unit on Income or Disability Assistance
Part-time Student	Yes		Yes	Yes
Full-time Student	No Yes – if participating in training through WorkBC or ISET, including SPEI Employability Plan is required		Yes	Yes

Effective: January 23, 2024

An unfunded program of study means any program of studies for which Student Financial Assistance cannot be provided.

Unfunded programs of study include (not exhaustive):

• High school completion
• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• Adult Special Education (ASE)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• All Adult Education programs through the Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG) (e.g. ABE, ASE and ESL)
• Those whose unfunded training is under a federal or provincial government training program (such as WorkBC, Career Paths of Skilled Immigrants, the Canada Job Fund, or ISET)
• Developmental Programs (e.g., Life-skills, Training and Cultural Connections programming through the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s SAJE program)

For Indigenous students attending approved unfunded programs, review the Employability Supports topic for more information.

Full-time students:

Full-time students enrolled in an unfunded program of studies may remain eligible for income assistance.

Part-time students:

Part-time students in an unfunded program of studies may remain eligible for income assistance provided they meet other eligibility requirements, including meeting their employability-related obligations.

Eligibility to Participate: Unfunded Programs of Study (e.g., ESL, Adult Basic Education)

	Adult Recipients of Income Assistance		Adult Recipients of Disability Assistance	Dependent Children in any Family Unit on Income or Disability Assistance
Part-time Student	Yes		Yes	Yes
Full-time Student	Yes - must have prior approval from the ministry		Yes	Yes