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Online Resources - BC Employment & Assistance

Online Resources

Welcome to the Ministry of Housing and Social Development Online Resource.

The Online Resource (OLR) is a one-stop source for all BCEA policy, procedures and program information for eligibility for ministry employment and assistance programs.

Information in the Online Resource is organized into Topic Categories.

  • To view an expanded list of available Topics, click on the appropriate category and then on the desired topic to have its home page displayed.
  • Topic home pages provide an overview and links to relevant acts and regulations, policy, procedures, contacts, rate tables and resources for the public, such as fact sheets and brochures.
  • Topics are updated regularly to provide the most current information available.

For more information on how to use the Online Resource, please visit our Navigation Tips page.

A Table of Contents listing all the Topics of the OLR is also available to assist you. You can open this Table of Contents and go directly to any Topic home page.

What's New

January 5, 2009

Employment Programs and Community Services

Bridging Employment Program (BEP) has been revised to provide integration of an overarching "healing" component to services for clients who are victims of violence and/ or abuse.  This will include delivery of more individualized and flexible services, and extending eligibility for Bridging Program services to non-clients.

Participant groups for the revised BEP focus on clients and non-clients who are:

  • Females who have been victims of Violence and/or Abuse (for Community Bridging, Specialized Aboriginal Bridging and Immigrant and/or Multicultural Contract categories).
  • Males and females who are former sex trade workers and sexually exploited youth Former Sex Trade Worker Bridging Contract category).

New policy, procedures, frequently asked questions and a new form.

December 23, 2008

Health Supplements and Programs

Procedures have been updated as the MSP Client Release Form (HSD2718) is obsolete, and contents have been added to the Application for Income/Disability Assistance (HSD0080).

January 1, 2009

Verification and Eligibility

To introduce new Ministry of Health-funded residential care facilities rates.  Updated examples in procedures and updated Rate table link.

December 18, 2008

Verification and Eligibility

Holders of immigration documents IMM 1000 and IMM 5292 must present another piece of primary ID that contains a recent photo.

Hardship

Verification and Eligibility

Clarification of procedures required to notify sponsored relatives applying for assistance and their sponsors about sponsor's obligations.

Employment Programs and Community Services

Topic archived as Training for Jobs program was replaced by the BC Employment Program November 30, 2008.

Verification and Eligibility

Employment Planning and Exemptions

Removal of reference to Training for Jobs

December 2, 2008

Health Supplements and Programs

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system. The table in Resources for Staff has been updated to reflect all eligible clients.

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  Clients who receive a diet supplement are not eligible for a tube feed supplement.

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  Clients who receive a diet supplement are not eligible for a tube feed supplement.

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  Clients who are receiving any portion of the monthly nutritional supplement (nutritional items, bottled water, vitamins, and/or minerals) are not eligible for a tube feed supplement.

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  Clients who receive a nutritional supplement are not eligible for a tube feed supplement.

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  This supplement is available to a person in receipt of the tube feed supplement at the time their family transition to MSO. 

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  Clients receiving health supplements through a Life-Threatening Health Need are not eligible for the tube feed supplement.

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  This supplement is not available for clients in receipt of a nutritional or diet supplement, or a health supplement through a Life-Threatening Need. 

A tube feed supplement is available to provide liquid nutritional products, medical equipment and supplies to those clients who are unable to take food orally or process it through the gastrointestinal system.  More information is available in the Tube Feed Supplement topic under Health Supplements and Programs.

Verification and Eligibility

Effective December 2, 2008, successful applicants of a Tribunal decision will receive assistance retroactive to the date of the reconsideration decision, rather than the date of the Tribunal decision.

Reconsideration and Appeal

Effective December 2, 2008, successful applicants of a Tribunal decision will receive assistance retroactive to the date of the reconsideration decision, rather than the date of the Tribunal decision.

December 1, 2008

Application

Stage 1 is now also known as the Information Gathering stage, and includes third party checks.  Policy and procedures have been simplified, including changes to the Income Assistance Application, Parts 1 and 2, and obtaining verbal consent.

Stage 2 is now also known as the Eligibility Interview.  Policy and procedures have been simplified.  Client consent and third party checks will take place during Stage 1, now also known as the Information Gathering  stage. 

The term "application interview" is now changed to "eligibility Interview."

Policy and procedures have been simplified, including the use of verbal consent and the completion of third party checks in Stage 1, now also known as the Information Gathering stage.

Verification and Eligibility

The new Client Identification Process (CIP) allows client photographs, electronic signatures and personal profiles to be retained.  Clients can access regular assistance rather than hardship if they choose the CIP option and meet the criteria.

Policy and procedures have been simplified, including the use of verbal consent for third party checks.

Policy and procedures have been amended to support the simplified application process. A new Two-Year Independence Assessment form HSD3267 has been introduced. 

November 25, 2008

General Supplements

Clients who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessnes, and who have two or more outstanding security deposits may be eligible to receive another security deposit to help them find and maintain housing.

Verification and Eligibility

Clients in emergency shelters or transition houses are eligible to receive a support rather than a comforts allowance.  This will encourage clients to use shelters and transition houses and gain access to more resources.

Health Supplements and Programs

MHSD now recognizes written confirmation from a nurse practitioner of a client's need for medical service under all the above topics.

November 21, 2008

Hardship

Lifetime sanctions have been amended to allow hardship assistance to be provided in prescribed circumstances related to a family unit experiencing undue hardship or physical health in imminent danger.

November 20, 2008

Verification and Eligibility

Eviction compensation is exempt, up to the asset level for the family unit.  A refundable medical expense supplement received through an income tax refund is also exempt.

Policy amendments include new exemptions, including eviction compensation, refundable medical expense supplements received through income tax refund, one time awards, and confirms treatment of criminal injury compensation and definition of an adult child. 

Hardship

Eviction compensation is exempt, up to the asset level for the family unit.  A refundable medical expense supplement received through an income tax refund is also exempt.

November 5, 2008

Verification and Eligibility

Effective August 22, 2008 responsibility for the Child in Home of Relative program was tranferred to Ministry of Children and Family Development. Ministry of Housing and Social Development will continue to deliver the program. The Overview has been updated to reflect this, and Q&A's have been added to Resources for Staff.

October 17, 2008

Verification and Eligibility

The 2009 Cheque Issue Schedule and full Cheque Date schedule have been updated in Resources for Staff and Resources for Clients.

October 15, 2008

Other Programs

A new form, The Notice of End of the Assignment of Maintenance Rights (HSD3265), has been added to inform respondents when the assignment has ended. Policy and Procedures are in place to inform the FMW of the steps to take when the Assignment of Maintenance Rights is no longer in effect. Some changes have been made to the Notice of Assignment of Maintenance Rights (HSD2752).

October 1, 2008

General Supplements

Effective October 1, 2008, Senior Supplement Rate Table has been updated to reflect changes in the OAS/GIS Allowances.