I Need to Apply for Disability Benefits: Difference between revisions

From Clicklaw Wikibooks
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 36: Line 36:
== Where to get help ==
== Where to get help ==
See the [[Resource List]] in this Guide for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:
See the [[Resource List]] in this Guide for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:
* The Legal Services Society publications: "[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1082 Your Welfare Rights: A Guide To BC Employment and Assistance]" and "[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1964 Social Assistance on Reserve]".
* The Legal Services Society publications: "[http://j.mp/weyH8C Your Welfare Rights: A Guide to BC Employment and Assistance]" and "[http://j.mp/xl1EjK Social Assistance on Reserve in British Columbia]".
*[[Advocacy Access]], a service of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities. Also try their [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/global/search?k=Advocacy+Access+Help+Sheet+series Advocacy Access Help Sheet Series].
*[[Advocacy Access]], a service of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities. Also try their [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/global/search?k=Advocacy+Access+Help+Sheet+series Advocacy Access Help Sheet Series].
*[[PovNet]], for contact and website information for welfare advocates near you.
*[[PovNet]], for contact and website information for welfare advocates near you.

Revision as of 00:51, 8 March 2012

If you have disabilities and you are financially eligible, you may qualify for either benefits for Persons with Disabilities (PWD), or benefits for Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to employment (PPMB).

To qualify for PWD benefits:

  • you must be at least 18 years old,
  • you must have a severe mental or physical impairment that is likely to last at least two years,
  • your disability must directly and significantly restrict your ability to do specific daily activities (either continuously or for extended periods of time), and
  • you must need significant help from another person to do specific daily activities, or else require help from an assistive device or assistance animal to perform those activities.

If you do not qualify for PWD benefits, you may still qualify for PPMB benefits. To qualify for PPMB benefits:

  • you must have a medical condition (other than an addiction) that seriously affects your ability to look for, accept or continue employment, and
  • your doctor must confirm that your medical condition has lasted for at least one year, or has occurred frequently in the past year, and is likely to last for at least another two years.

Please note that PPMB benefits are only available to people who have been on welfare for 12 out of the previous 15 months.

The criteria for PWD benefits are complicated. Try to get help from an advocate in filling out your application. A lot of people tend to minimize their disabilities. It is much better to put in a very thorough application, than to be turned down and have to appeal.

First steps[edit]

PWD benefits[edit]

  1. Ask a ministry worker for an application for PWD benefits.
  2. Complete the application carefully. It is more than 20 pages long and has three parts: Part 1 for you to complete, Part 2 for your doctor to complete, and Part 3 for an "assessor" to complete. The assessor can be your doctor, or an occupational therapist, physical therapist, social worker, registered psychologist, registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, chiropractor or nurse practioner.
  3. Mail your application to the address on the application.

PPMB benefits[edit]

  1. Tell a ministry worker you want to apply for PPMB benefits. He or she will do an assessment of your non-medical barriers to employment (e.g., lack of education, literacy or work history) and give you a medical report form for your doctor to complete.
  2. Your doctor must complete the application, including details about why your medical condition stops you from looking for, accepting or continuing to work.
  3. Get the completed medical report form from your doctor and take it to your worker.

What happens next[edit]

A decision will be made and you will be advised of the decision. If you are not happy with the decision, you can ask for a reconsideration. See the section "I have been denied or cut off welfare", as the process is the same.

Where to get help[edit]

See the Resource List in this Guide for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:


If you have contributed to the Canada Pension Plan through employment and have a disability that prevents you from working at any job on a regular basis, you may qualify for Canada Pension Plan disability benefits. To get more information or apply for CPP disability benefits, call Income Security Programs at 1-800-277-9914 or go to the CPP website.