Establishing Employability-Related Obligations

Effective: July 1, 2026

Recipients of income assistance and hardship assistance under the Employment and Assistance Act may have employability-related obligations. Those with employability-related obligations may be required to complete a Ministry Client Needs Assessment (MCNA) and/or participate in an Employability Plan (EP) and comply with its conditions.

Employability-related obligations are based on the recipient’s circumstances, abilities and barriers as identified through an assessment and planning process.

Monitoring of employability-related obligations focuses on helping the recipient participate and succeed. Supportive interventions, reassessment, and consideration of the recipient’s ability to meet obligations will occur before financial consequences are considered for non-compliance. For more information, review the Sanctions topic.

Effective: July 1, 2025

The following recipients receiving assistance under the Employment and Assistance Act do not have employability-related obligations and/or are not subject to consequences of failing to meet those obligations. This also applies to all recipients receiving assistance under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. These recipients may still participate in a Ministry Client Needs Assessment (MCNA) and enter into an Employability Plan (EP) on a voluntary basis. 

The following recipients are considered to have no-employability-related obligations:  

• Person has reached 65 years of age 
• Sole recipient with dependent child under three years old 
• Sole recipient with dependent child with physical or mental condition 
• Sole recipient with Child in Home of a Relative (CIHR) under three years old 
• Sole recipient with CIHR with physical or mental condition 
• Sole recipient with foster child under three years old 
• Sole recipient with foster child with a physical or mental condition 
• Sole recipient providing care for a child under three years in an out-of-care living arrangement under the Child, Family and Community Service Act 
• Sole recipient providing care for a child with a physical or mental condition that precludes the caregiver from leaving home for employment. This exemption does not apply to two-parent families where only one parent is precluded from leaving home for employment. 
• Person residing in special care facility or hospital 
• Person admitted to hospital because they require extended care 
• Person residing with and caring for spouse with a physical or mental condition 
• Person participating in treatment or rehabilitation program 
• Person separated from abusive spouse / relative within previous six months 
  • Note: Person(s) separated from abusive spouse / relative within previous six months do not need to provide verification of abuse. 
• Person qualified as Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) 
• Persons not described in section 7 (2), citizenship requirements 
• Sole applicant or recipient who qualifies for an exemption from citizenship requirements 
• Recipients who are homeless or are at imminent risk of homelessness for guidelines on determining an imminent risk of homelessness, see the policy for reasons for sanctions for more information.

It is the recipient’s responsibility to provide information about any circumstances that affect their ability to meet employability-related obligations.  

Where recipients disagree with the decision of the ministry, they should be advised of their right to request reconsideration of the decision. For more information, review the Reconsideration topic.

If, at any time, the recipient no longer meets the criteria for an exemption from employability-related obligations the recipient must be notified and assessed to determine if an MCNA and/or EP is required or if sanctions for non-compliance can now be imposed.

Effective: September 1, 2024

Circumstances for temporarily exempting employability-related obligations

In some circumstances, a recipient may be temporarily exempt from employability-related obligations. Circumstances where a temporary exemption may be considered include: 

• A recipient who meets the Expected to Work – Medical Condition (ETW-MC) criteria 
• A recipient who intends to apply for Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) or Persons with Disabilities (PWD) within six months
• A recipient who is unable to attend programs, even with accommodations, due to a health condition
• A recipient who has barriers that, based on the ministry’s assessment, limit their ability to search for work or participate in employment programs

A temporary exemption may be considered based on a recipient’s ability to understand, commit to and reasonably carry out the terms and conditions of their employability-related obligations as well as their ability to conduct a job search and participate in programs.

Exemptions are determined on a case-by-case basis using information from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to: 

• The recipient;
• A service provider;
• A medical report; or,
• Observed behaviour

The ministry determines whether a recipient is temporarily exempt and the timing of any review, which is not to exceed two years. Recipients who are temporarily exempt are not subject to employability-related sanctions. Based on their circumstances, it may not be reasonable for them to participate in activities to meet employability-related obligations. As a result, consequences for not meeting employability-related obligations do not apply. These recipients may still participate in a Ministry Client Needs Assessment (MCNA) and enter into an Employability Plan (EP) on a voluntary basis. However, recipients who are temporarily exempt may be encouraged to access WorkBC in their local community. 

Effective: September 1, 2024

Persons with temporary medical conditions are considered Expected to Work – Medical Condition (ETW-MC) if their condition interferes to the extent of obstructing, impeding or preventing their ability to participate in employment, including part-time work (i.e., minimum 10 hours per week).

Note: Some ETW-MC recipients may be assessed as temporarily exempt from employability-related obligations.

Effective: September 1, 2024

If you are not able to take part in a Ministry Client Needs Assessment (MCNA), employability planning, or your Employability Plan (EP), ministry staff will consider your situation and may temporarily exempt your employability-related obligations.

If you have a temporary medical, mental health, or substance use concern that affects your ability to work or participate, staff will review available information, including what you share and any past records.

If you are temporarily exempt from employability-related obligations, ministry staff will explain how long the temporary exemption will last and review it with you before it ends or if your situation changes. You may still be encouraged to access employment services if you feel ready.

If you already have an EP, and are temporarily exempt from employability-related obligations, you are not required to meet the conditions of your EP and you will not have financial sanctions applied.

Learn more about the MCNA and EP by reviewing the Employability Plan topic.

Effective: September 1, 2024

If you identify as having a temporary medical, drug or alcohol, or mental health condition that interferes with your employability-related obligations, ministry staff will assess for temporarily exempting employability-related obligations. 

Ministry staff can use the following for assessment:

• Client statements through conversation or previous notes on the case,
• New or previously submitted documentation, examples can include but not limited to, job search forms, employment documents, medical documents,
• Contact a medical practitioner, other health professional, service provider, or advocate familiar, with the client’s situation/condition, and/or
• Client behaviour.
• The Medical Report – Employability (HR3069) Form