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Difference between revisions of "Welfare Rates and Payment Issues (21:VIII)"
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Welfare Rates and Payment Issues (21:VIII) (view source)
Revision as of 04:58, 25 August 2023
, 04:58, 25 August 2023no edit summary
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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= | {{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= August 1st, 2023}} | ||
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = welfare}} | {{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = welfare}} | ||
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All rates are monthly and set out in [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#schedulea Schedule A of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#schedulea EAPWDR]. The Ministry divides the rates into a portion for shelter, and a separate portion for support (which the Ministry intends to cover all living expenses other than shelter, including food, clothing, etc.). The shelter portion listed is a maximum. The Ministry will only pay the lesser of a person’s actual shelter costs or the maximum listed shelter allowance. Below are examples of monthly rates for different family configurations: | All rates are monthly and set out in [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#schedulea Schedule A of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#schedulea EAPWDR]. The Ministry divides the rates into a portion for shelter, and a separate portion for support (which the Ministry intends to cover all living expenses other than shelter, including food, clothing, etc.). The shelter portion listed is a maximum. The Ministry will only pay the lesser of a person’s actual shelter costs or the maximum listed shelter allowance. Below are examples of monthly rates for different family configurations: | ||
*For a single person under age 65 on income assistance: $560.00 for support plus up to $ | *For a single person under age 65 on income assistance: $560.00 for support plus up to $500.00 for shelter, for a total of '''$1060.00 per month'''. | ||
*For a single person under 65 on PPMB assistance: $ | *For a single person under 65 on PPMB assistance: $610.00 for support plus up to $500.00 for shelter, for a total of '''1110.00 per month'''. | ||
*For a four-person family (two parents, both under age 65, and two children) on income assistance: $1055.00 for support plus $ | *For a four-person family (two parents, both under age 65, and two children) on income assistance: $1055.00 for support plus $840.00 for shelter, for a total of '''$1895.00 per month'''. | ||
*For a single person under 65 on disability assistance: $983.50 for support and $ | *For a single person under 65 on disability assistance: $983.50 for support and $500 for shelter, for a total of '''$1458.50 per month'''. | ||
Helpful rate tables are online at the following link: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-employment-and-assistance-rate-tables. These show the shelter support and shelter rates for all forms of assistance under the [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-laws/bc-employment-and-assistance-act-263-2002 EAA] and [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-laws/employment-and-assistance-for-persons-with-disabilities-act EAPWDA] | Helpful rate tables are online at the following link: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-employment-and-assistance-rate-tables. These show the shelter support and shelter rates for all forms of assistance under the [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-laws/bc-employment-and-assistance-act-263-2002 EAA] and [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-laws/employment-and-assistance-for-persons-with-disabilities-act EAPWDA] | ||
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In addition to the support allowance, families may also receive the Canada Child Benefit for children under 18, which includes the old Universal Child Care Benefit for children under 6, the former Canada Child Tax Benefit, and what the government called (until 2016) the national child benefit supplement. If a family’s Canada Child Benefit for a given month is less than what [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#section1 sections 1 of the EAR] and EAPDR define as the “BC child adjustment amount” (see table below) for each child aged two months to 18 years, (e.g. because a child is ineligible, or a check is delayed), then the Ministry may issue a top up to that amount, as per the chart below. See also [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleA EAR Schedule A], section 2(2). | In addition to the support allowance, families may also receive the Canada Child Benefit for children under 18, which includes the old Universal Child Care Benefit for children under 6, the former Canada Child Tax Benefit, and what the government called (until 2016) the national child benefit supplement. If a family’s Canada Child Benefit for a given month is less than what [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#section1 sections 1 of the EAR] and EAPDR define as the “BC child adjustment amount” (see table below) for each child aged two months to 18 years, (e.g. because a child is ineligible, or a check is delayed), then the Ministry may issue a top up to that amount, as per the chart below. See also [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleA EAR Schedule A], section 2(2). | ||
Note that the amount of the maximum BC child adjustment amount is adjusted every year on July 1, by the percentage increase, if any, of the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending September 30 of the previous year. The amounts shown below are for July 1, | Note that the amount of the maximum BC child adjustment amount is adjusted every year on July 1, by the percentage increase, if any, of the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending September 30 of the previous year. The amounts shown below are for July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. See https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-employment-and-assistance-rate-tables/general-supplements-and-programs-rate-table. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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! Family Unit Size || Minimum Shelter Allowance || Maximum Shelter Allowance | ! Family Unit Size || Minimum Shelter Allowance || Maximum Shelter Allowance | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1 person || $75 || $ | | 1 person || $75 || $500 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2 person || $150 || $ | | 2 person || $150 || $695 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3 person || $200 || $ | | 3 person || $200 || $790 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 4 person || $225 || $ | | 4 person || $225 || $840 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 5 person || $250 || $ | | 5 person || $250 || $890 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 6 person || $275 || $ | | 6 person || $275 || $940 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 7 person || $300 || $ | | 7 person || $300 || $990 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 8 person || $325 || $ | | 8 person || $325 || $1040 | ||
|} | |} | ||
Recipients are eligible for the full monthly shelter amount only if they are paying at least that much in shelter costs. [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#schedulea Schedule A, s 5 of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#schedulea EAPWDR] set out what expenses and items can be included when calculating shelter costs. They are: rent, mortgage payments, house insurance premiums, property taxes for the recipient’s own home, utility costs, and the actual cost of maintenance and repairs for the recipient’s own home '''if''' these costs have been approved. Note that the definition of “utility costs” in [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#schedulea Schedule A, s 5(1) of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#schedulea EAPWDR] is quite broad. | Recipients are eligible for the full monthly shelter amount only if they are paying at least that much in shelter costs. [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#schedulea Schedule A, s 5 of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#schedulea EAPWDR] set out what expenses and items can be included when calculating shelter costs. They are: rent, mortgage payments, house insurance premiums, property taxes for the recipient’s own home, utility costs, and the actual cost of maintenance and repairs for the recipient’s own home '''if''' these costs have been approved. | ||
Note that the definition of “utility costs” in [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#schedulea Schedule A, s 5(1) of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#schedulea EAPWDR] is quite broad. The ministry’s policy on determining someone’s “actual shelter costs” was broadened as of May 1, 2022. The policy formally recognizes that a “place of residence” for which MSDPR can pay “actual shelter costs” can include, for example, living in a tent, boat, car or recreational vehicle. Examples of actual shelter costs listed in the policy include camp site or dock fees; hook up fees such as water or septic; wood and/or fuel (gas, disel, propane) for cooking and heating. | |||
Where someone does not have any shelter expenses that are recognized as such in the welfare legislation, they are still entitled to receive the minimum amount for shelter allowance set out in the table above. | Where someone does not have any shelter expenses that are recognized as such in the welfare legislation, they are still entitled to receive the minimum amount for shelter allowance set out in the table above. | ||
