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Difference between revisions of "Financial Help for People with Disabilities"

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====[http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca/p.6dl.3st@.jsp?lang=eng&geo=2&cat=5 Persons with Disabilities Online, tax and financial benefits]====
====[http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca/p.6dl.3st@.jsp?lang=eng&geo=2&cat=5 Persons with Disabilities Online, tax and financial benefits]====
Click any of 3 headings on this website: “[http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca/p.6dl.3st@.jsp?lang=eng&geo=2&cat=5_29 Benefits]”, “[http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca/p.6dl.3st@.jsp?lang=eng&geo=2&cat=5_64 Taxes]” and “[http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca/p.6dl.3st@.jsp?lang=eng&geo=2&cat=5_65 Loans, Scholarships and Grants]”. In each one, choose BC as the province for the relevant information.
Various benefits are explained on this website.


====[http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/subjects/benefits/index.shtml Income assistance]====
====[http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/subjects/benefits/index.shtml Income assistance]====
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*International benefits
*International benefits


====[http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/audiences/disabilities/benefits.shtml Income assistance for people with disabilities]====
====[https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/living-disability/disability-benefits.html Income assistance for people with disabilities]====
This site lists income assistance and other programs and services for people with disabilities.
This site lists income assistance and other programs and services for people with disabilities.


====[http://www.canadabenefits.gc.ca/f.1.2ch.4m.2@.jsp?lang=eng CanadaBenefits]====
====[http://www.canadabenefits.gc.ca/f.1.2ch.4m.2@.jsp?lang=eng Benefits Finder]====
The [http://www.canadabenefits.gc.ca/f.1.2cl.3st@.jsp?lang=eng&geo=1&catid=13 section for people with a disability] has a long list of programs and related links. They deal with financial help, employment, education and training, housing, health and safety.
This site asks several questions about your situation and then generates a list of possible BC and federal benefits, with links to the programs.


You can also call Service Canada at 1.800.622.6232 to ask about any of this information.


==BC government help and programs==
==BC government help and programs==
====[http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/BCEA.htm BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) Program]====
====[http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/BCEA.htm BC Income Assistance]====
The BCEA program helps adults 18 or over who are designated as a person with disabilities resulting from a physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts their ability to perform daily living activities. Some examples of assistance are:
The BCEA program helps adults 18 or over who are designated as a person with disabilities resulting from a physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts their ability to perform daily living activities. Some examples of assistance are:
*monthly support and shelter allowance
*monthly support and shelter allowance
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*procedural help for 17½-year-olds to apply for the person with disabilities designation so they can receive disability assistance when they turn 18.
*procedural help for 17½-year-olds to apply for the person with disabilities designation so they can receive disability assistance when they turn 18.
*increased assets limit of $100,000 based on family unit size.
*increased assets limit of $100,000 based on family unit size.
*Annualized Earnings Exemption ([http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/policies-for-government/bc-employment-assistance-policy-procedure-manual/additional-resources/aee-policy-reg.pdf AEE]) starting at $800 per full calendar month ($9,600 per full calendar year) for a single-person family unit and more for family units of more than 1 person. People on disability assistance can use their earnings exemption on a yearly (instead of monthly) basis, without a monthly maximum.  
*Annualized Earnings Exemption ([http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/policies-for-government/bc-employment-assistance-policy-procedure-manual/additional-resources/aee-policy-reg.pdf AEE]) starting at $1,000 per full calendar month ($12,000 per full calendar year) for a single-person family unit and more for family units of more than 1 person. People on disability assistance can use their earnings exemption on a yearly (instead of monthly) basis, without a monthly maximum.  


You can [http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/bcea.htm apply for BCEA online].
You can [http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/bcea.htm apply for assistance online].


The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has detailed information on [http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/pwd.htm income and disability assistance for persons with disabilities]. Or you can call the ministry at 1.866.866.0800.
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has detailed information on [http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/pwd.htm income assistance for persons with disabilities]. Or you can call the ministry at 1.866.866.0800.


If you have an outstanding arrest warrant for an indictable or hybrid offence anywhere in Canada, you cannot get income or disability assistance in BC unless you first do something about the warrant. Check script [[Outstanding Warrants and Welfare (Script 204)|204]], on "Outstanding Warrants and Welfare", for details.
If you have an outstanding arrest warrant for an indictable or hybrid offence anywhere in Canada, you cannot get income or disability assistance in BC unless you first do something about the warrant. Check script [[Outstanding Warrants and Welfare (Script 204)|204]], on "Outstanding Warrants and Welfare", for details.
The '''[http://www.personalsupports.bc.ca/ Personal Supports website]''' has information about, and links to, programs that provide equipment, assistive devices, and other personal supports for people with disabilities in BC.


The '''[http://www.sd.gov.bc.ca/programs/bus-pass.html Bus Pass Program]''' offers lower cost, annual bus passes for low income seniors and people receiving disability assistance from BC.
The '''[http://www.sd.gov.bc.ca/programs/bus-pass.html Bus Pass Program]''' offers lower cost, annual bus passes for low income seniors and people receiving disability assistance from BC.
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*'''[http://www.lslap.bc.ca/ Law Students’ Legal Advice Program]''': this is like The Law Centre in Victoria, but University of BC law students operate it. Clinics are throughout Greater Vancouver. Call 604.822.5791.
*'''[http://www.lslap.bc.ca/ Law Students’ Legal Advice Program]''': this is like The Law Centre in Victoria, but University of BC law students operate it. Clinics are throughout Greater Vancouver. Call 604.822.5791.


*'''[http://www.disabilityalliancebc.org/ Disability Alliance BC]''': the Alliance has information on [http://www.disabilityalliancebc.org/money.htm BC disability benefits and Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits]. These publications have checklists, help sheets, application guides, and appeal guides. Call 604.875.0188 in Vancouver and 1.800.663.1278 elsewhere in BC.
*'''[http://www.disabilityalliancebc.org/ Disability Alliance BC]''': the Alliance has information on [http://disabilityalliancebc.org/category/publications/help-sheets/ BC disability benefits] and [http://disabilityalliancebc.org/category/publications/cpp-disability/ Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits]. These publications have checklists, help sheets, application guides, and appeal guides. Call 604.875.0188 in Vancouver and 1.800.663.1278 elsewhere in BC.


*'''[http://www.tapsbc.ca/ Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)]''': based in Victoria, TAPS offers free legal help for people with income assistance, disability benefits, and tenancy issues. Call 250.361.3521.
*'''[http://www.tapsbc.ca/ Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)]''': based in Victoria, TAPS offers free legal help for people with income assistance, disability benefits, and tenancy issues. Call 250.361.3521.
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[updated June 2016]
[updated June 2018]


'''The above was edited by John Blois.'''


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