Monthly Reporting Requirements

Effective: September 1, 2024

Recipients of income assistance (excluding persons with persistent multiple barriers and those residing in a special care facility), and recipients of hardship assistance are required to report all and any employment income or other money received, any changes in their circumstances and verification as required of changes, in addition to requesting further assistance each month.

Effective: September 1, 2024

Recipients of income assistance in the persons with persistent multiple barriers (PPMB) category and those residing in a special care facility have nearly the same reporting requirements as recipients of disability assistance. The exception is they do not have to report a specified income replacement benefit from the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) or ICBC every month. These benefits are unearned income to be reported if it is the first time they have received the money or the amount has changed.  

Effective: September 1, 2024

For recipients receiving disability assistance, the completion of a monthly report form (HR0081) may be a requirement for eligibility. The HR0081 is to be completed to report income and changes in circumstances as outlined in this section.

Recipients of disability assistance are required to submit an HR0081 when one or more of the following occur:

• They receive earned income
• They receive unearned income that is a specified income replacement benefit from the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) or ICBC
• They receive any other income and/or money if it is the first time they have received the money or the amount has changed
• There is any other change in their circumstances that arose in the previous calendar month

If a disability assistance recipient has used up their AEE limit for the exemption year, any earned income is deducted dollar for dollar from assistance.  If earnings exceed the amount of disability assistance, the recipient is eligible for Medical Services Only.

Those in receipt of Medical Services Only coverage as a result of employment income should continue to submit the HR0081 each month in order for the ministry to re-establish eligibility for disability assistance when:

1. The recipient's income falls below the disability assistance rate; or
2. The recipient is eligible for an annual earnings exemption in the new calendar year

 Learn more about medical services only recipients requesting assistance.

Effective September 1, 2024

Recipients of income assistance (excluding persons with persistent multiple barriers and those residing in a special care facility) and hardship assistance must report changes in their circumstances such as address, shelter/utility costs, number of dependents, changes in employability and employment status, whether they are attending school, and any changes in assets.

They are required to report all employment income, and any other kind of money received.  It must be clearly and completely reported on the monthly report and submitted to the office by the 5th of the month following the change.

Recipients of income assistance in the persons with persistent multiple barriers category and those residing in special care facility have nearly the same reporting requirements as recipients of disability assistance. The exception is they do not have to report a specified income replacement benefit from the workers’ compensation board (WCB) or ICBC every month. These benefits are unearned income to be reported if it is the first time they have received the money or the amount has changed.

Recipients of disability assistance must report changes in their circumstances such as address, shelter/utility costs, number of dependents, whether they are attending school, and any changes in assets.

 They are also required to report when one or more of the following occur:
 

• They receive earned income

• They receive unearned income that is a specified income replacement benefit from
  • Workers’ compensation board (WCB) benefits under Section 191temporary total disability or 192 temporary partial disability of the Workers Compensation Act; or
  • ICBC enhanced care coverage income replacement benefits (ICBC ECC IRB) provided under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act that is referred to in any of the following sections of that act:
    • Section 131 [full-time earners], as modified by section 132 if applicable
    • Section 133 temporary earners and part-time earners
    • Section 134 non-earners
    • Section 137 student entitled to income replacement benefit
    • Section 138 benefit for student unable to begin or continue studies
    • Section 139 benefit for student able to begin or continue studies
    • Section 142 minor entitled to income replacement benefit
    • Section 143 benefit for minor unable to begin or continue studies
    • Section 144 benefit for minor able to begin or continue studies

• They receive any other income and/or money if it is the first time they have received the money or the amount has changed  
• There is any other change in their circumstances that arose in the previous calendar month

This means, each month they receive earned income or a specified income replacement benefit from the workers’ compensation board (WCB) or ICBC  they are required to report it even if it is the same amount each month. Any other income and/or money received would only need to be reported if it is the first time it was received or the amount has changed from the previous month.

The monthly report is to be submitted by the 5^th of the following month.

Failure to report changes may result in delays in determining eligibility for assistance, an overpayment and a requirement to repay. If there is a change in circumstances that may affect the eligibility of the family unit, the recipient(s) in the family unit must report the change by the 5^th of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the change occurs. If the change in circumstances is not one of the questions on the monthly report, the recipient(s) must report the change using the open-text box on the monthly report or by submitting a signed statement. Changes that must be reported this way include being absent from BC.

Example: absent from BC

Being absent from BC for more than 30 consecutive days could affect a recipient’s eligibility. Recipients should seek prior authorization from the ministry before leaving BC.

There is no designated space in the monthly report form to report absences from BC. However, recipients who are absent from BC for more than 30 consecutive days must report that absence using the space in the monthly report for explaining changes (located in section 1) or by submitting a signed statement by the 5^th day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the change occurs. Review how to complete your monthly ‘report form’ brochure for further information

Effective: July 25, 2022

Recipients must report all changes that occurred during the calendar month. The Monthly Report Form (HR0081) must be submitted by the 5^th of the following month. For example, changes between January 1^st and January 31^st must be reported and submitted by February 5^th.

Recipients can submit their monthly report online (if registered for My Self Serve), by telephone (through the self-serve telephone system), or the paper version (HR0081) can be submitted by mail, or in person. For more information review My Self-Serve. Changes that occurred during the calendar month must be clearly and completely reported on the HR0081. All receipts, pay slips, and statements or documentation to support the change must be attached. 

If a monthly report is submitted online through My Self Serve all supporting documents must be submitted either as electronic attachments through My Self Serve, mail, fax, or in person.

If a correction is required to a monthly report submitted through My Self Serve, the monthly report may be restarted through My Self Serve within the same benefit month, or a paper monthly report must be submitted by mail or in person.

If a monthly report is submitted by telephone through the self-serve monthly reporting option, all supporting documents must be submitted by mail, fax, or in person.

If a correction is required to a monthly report submitted by telephone through the self-serve monthly reporting option, a paper monthly report must be submitted by mail or in person.

The original, signed, monthly report must be submitted with the date(s) and description of the change clearly indicated.

Both recipient and spouse must sign the monthly report.

Effective: July 16, 2018

Ministry staff will review all reported changes and update case information before payment is generated for the next month. If necessary, ministry staff will assess eligibility for assistance and/or an earnings exemption. This is often referred to as the reporting period and is the time lag between when the change occurred and when it affects the assistance month.

Ministry staff will review all monthly report forms (HR0081) and action any changes prior to the next assistance month payment being generated.

For information on applying earnings exemptions, review income treatment and exemptions.  

For the monthly report (HR0081), see forms and letters

Effective: July 25, 2022

Before cheque issue cut-off (the Friday before cheque issue day), the monthly report forms (HR0081) are received electronically (by My Self-Serve or the self-serve telephone system) or, where received in paper form, are gathered and date stamped.

Staff are to ensure the following when reviewing monthly reports:

1. Recipient (applicant 1) and, if applicable, spouse (applicant 2) signature(s) is/are completed
2. Date is completed
3. All questions are completed
4. Explanations are provided if any changes are indicated
5. Columns pertaining to the declaration of income for the recipient and spouse to be completed
6. Proof of declaration of income is attached if applicable, e.g., pay stubs, receipts and any other supporting documentation

Staff will review the monthly report to assess eligibility for assistance based on current regulation, policy and procedures. For information on how to apply earnings exemptions, review income treatment and exemptions

Staff will update the case with any changes in recipient information reported on the monthly report, such as address or shelter costs.

Staff will record all income reported on the system using the appropriate income types and include applicable notes on the case.  For example, if a recipient attached a pay stub to their monthly report, the notes on the appropriate tab should indicate the name of the employer, amount of income received and applicable dates of pay.

Staff will also note any changes in assets, trusts, or any other kind of money or value received on the appropriate tab.

If an HR0081 is received and cannot be processed due to issues such as:

• Incomplete or incorrect entries on a paper report, e.g., questions not answered or missing signature
• Incorrect entries on a My Self Serve online report, e.g., wrong income amount
• Incorrect entries on a self-serve telephone monthly report, e.g., missed reporting income
• Verification documents are needed, e.g., no pay stubs uploaded or attached to verify declared income
• Recipient declaring a circumstance that may impact eligibility, e.g., declaring an outstanding warrant.

Staff are to contact the recipient to attempt to resolve the outstanding issue as soon as possible. 

If a correction is required to a paper or self-serve telephone monthly report, then a corrected monthly report can be submitted using a paper Monthly Report Form (HR0081). Staff should contact the recipient by their preferred method of communication with further instructions on how to correct their monthly report form.

If a correction is required to a monthly report submitted through MySS, then a corrected monthly report can be restarted through MySS. The recipient can initiate a restart once within a reporting period. Staff can initiate a monthly report restart message multiple times, if needed, within a reporting period.

Staff should consider how much time is available before cut-off when determining what action is appropriate. Signals are to be used only as a last resort if needed to prevent a payment being issued where the amount may be incorrect or the recipient’s eligibility may be in question.  Staff should make two attempts to contact recipients prior to signaling [for more information on signaling, review individual case management. 

Effective: March 1, 2023

Recipients of income assistance (excluding persons with persistent multiple barriers and those residing in a  special care facility) and recipients of hardship assistance are required to report all changes in addition to requesting further assistance each month.

Effective: September 1, 2024

Recipients of disability assistance, and recipients of income assistance who are persons with persistent multiple barriers (PPMB), or in an approved special care facility are required to report when one or more of the following occur:

• They receive earned income
• They receive any other income and/or money if it is the first time they have received the money or the amount has changed
• There is any other change in their circumstances that arose in the previous calendar month

The monthly report is to be submitted by the 5th of each month.

Recipients who meet the above circumstances must submit a monthly report so that ministry staff can continue to monitor and apply conditions of eligibility to ensure there is no inadvertent overpayment or miscalculation due to a misapplication of conditions of eligibility rules.

This means ministry staff will review the information on the monthly report and determine if an earnings exemption should be applied and whether there is a change in the amount of assistance the recipient is eligible to receive. Review the steps for reviewing and processing the monthly report.

Staff should remind recipients of their obligation to report and explain the process for reporting accurately and completely. This reduces delays in determining eligibility for assistance and the number of overpayments recipients incur.

If a recipient is unable to complete a monthly report due to any special needs such as physical, developmental, psychiatric, language and/or literacy barriers, alternate arrangements should be made. For instance, these recipients should be encouraged to seek assistance from advocacy groups, friends and/or family where appropriate. Where these resources are unavailable, the recipient can make an appointment to meet with ministry staff or outreach worker to complete the monthly report.

For disability assistance recipients only:

• PWD recipients in receipt of Medical Services Only (MSO) coverage as a result of employment income should continue to submit the Monthly Report (HR0081) each month in order for the ministry to re-establish eligibility for disability assistance when the recipient becomes financially eligible. For more information review, BCEA application - stage 1 and eligibility review
• Staff will need to assess eligibility for disability assistance based on what the PWD recipient is reporting each month on the monthly report while in receipt of MSO coverage as a result of employment income. Staff will need to manually reinstate PWD recipients onto disability assistance if their income drops below the disability assistance rate before January income/March benefit month.

For further information on how to apply earnings exemptions, review income treatment and exemptions.