Difference between revisions of "Welfare Eligibility (21:III)"

If the Ministry considers a recipient of welfare benefits to be employable, the person will have “employment-related obligations” under s 13 of the EAA and s 29 of the EAR. This means that they must actively look for work and accept any job offer that the Ministry considers “suitable” (appropriate). They must also not refuse suitable employment. For more information, see “Failure to meet employment-related obligations” under section III below.

Certain persons are exempted from having employment-related obligations; see EAR s 29(4) for details. For example, people with PPMB status or the PWD designation, single parents of children under 3, and people 65 and over do not have employment-related obligations. Recipients of assistance who have employment-related obligations must also have an Employment Plan (EP) under s 9 of the EAA. Even recipients with certain barriers to employment, such as drug and alcohol problems or other medical conditions, may be required to follow an EP. However, the EP is meant to be tailored to the abilities and skills of the recipient. EPs for recipients under the age of 19 focus on completing high school.  

An EP outlines the conditions (activities and expectations) that the Ministry thinks a person must complete to become employed or more employable and includes a timeframe. The EP may include independent work search, referral to job placement programs, specific training for employment, or other services. Recipients must complete an activity report monthly while they are looking for work, and every second month once they obtain work, until they become independent of income assistance.

People with the PPMB and PWD designation are not required to have an employment plan. The Ministry may encourage them to sign a “voluntary participation plan”, however this is not mandatory. Having a voluntary participation plan may however be required to get access to certain training programs.  

The Ministry has established various programs for employment, self-employment, and volunteering by people on income assistance, PPMB assistance, and disability assistance. These programs are optional if the person does not have employment related obligations.