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

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=== 2. Deductions and Exemptions from Income ===
=== 2. Deductions and Exemptions from Income ===


Earned and unearned income is deducted dollar-for-dollar from a recipient’s monthly cheque, subject to a list of deductions and exemptions set out in ss 1-9 of Schedule B of EAR and in ss 1-9 of Schedule B of EAPWDR. '''These sections should be carefully reviewed to determine if the applicant’s income is exempt or subject to deductions.'''
Earned and unearned income is deducted dollar-for-dollar from a recipient’s monthly cheque, subject to a list of deductions and exemptions set out in [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleb ss 1-9 of Schedule B] of EAR and in [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#scheduleb ss 1-9 of Schedule B of EAPWDR]. '''These sections should be carefully reviewed to determine if the applicant’s income is exempt or subject to deductions.'''


Money withdrawn from a disability trust for certain purposes is also exempt as income. See s 13 of the EAR, and s 12 of the EAPWDR. Also see s 7(1)(d) of Schedule B to the EAR and the EAPWDR.  
Money withdrawn from a disability trust for certain purposes is also exempt as income. See [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#section13 s 13 of the EAR], and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#section12 s 12 of the EAPWDR]. Also see [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleb s 7(1)(d) of Schedule B] to the EAR and the [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#section EAPWDR].  


Money from structured settlement annuity payments that is used for certain purposes is also exempt as income. See Schedule B, s 7 of the EAR and EAPWDR for details.  
Money from structured settlement annuity payments that is used for certain purposes is also exempt as income. See Schedule B, [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleb s 7 of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#scheduleb EAPWDR] for details.  


The following are '''some''' examples of income exempted by Schedule B of the EAR and EAPWDR. This list is far from exhaustive. Note that an applicant or recipient of welfare benefits '''must''' report their receipt of all income to the Ministry, even if it is exempt.  
The following are '''some''' examples of income exempted by [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleb Schedule B of the EAR] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#scheduleb EAPWDR]. This list is far from exhaustive. Note that an applicant or recipient of welfare benefits '''must''' report their receipt of all income to the Ministry, even if it is exempt.  
*Income tax refunds  
*Income tax refunds  
*Universal child care benefits  
*Universal child care benefits  
*Canada child tax benefits
*Canada child benefits
*Withdrawals from a Registered Disability Savings Plan  
*Withdrawals from a Registered Disability Savings Plan  
*Child support payments (as of Sept 1, 2015; before Sept 1 2015, payments were considered unearned income and deducted dollar-for-dollar)
*Child support payments
*CPP orphan’s benefit (as of Sept 1, 2015)
*CPP orphan’s benefit  
*A one-time gift, if it does not make the recipient exceed their asset exemption level  
*Gifts (including recurring gifts) and inheritances are exempt as income for recipients of '''disability assistance''' only.  For people receiving income assistance and PPMB benefits, inheritances and recurring gifts are NOT exempt as income and a one-time gift is exempt only if it does not make the recipient exceed their asset exemption level;
*A refund from Fair Pharmacare;
*Some portion of WCB Temporary Wage Loss Replacement Payments issued under ss 29 and 30 of the ''Workers Compensation Act'', if:   
*Some portion of WCB Temporary Wage Loss Replacement Payments issued under ss 29 and 30 of the ''Workers Compensation Act'', if:   
**at least one person in the family unit is has the PWD designation, and either  
**at least one person in the family unit is has the PWD designation, and either  
***the family unit has received PWD benefits for at least one month or
***the family unit has received PWD benefits for at least one month or
***the family unit has received PWD benefits in the past.
***the family unit has received PWD benefits in the past; and
*EI maternity and parental benefits, and EI benefits for caring for a critically ill child (as of October 1, 2016). Before October 1, 2016, such payments were considered unearned income and deducted dollar for dollar.
*EI maternity and parental benefits, and EI benefits for caring for a critically ill child. See ss 1-9 of [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleb Schedule B of the EAR] and ss 1-9 of [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#scheduleb Schedule B of EAPWDR] for a complete list of income exemptions.
 
See ss 1-9 of Schedule B of the EAR and ss 1-9 of Schedule B of EAPWDR for a complete list of income exemptions.


=== 3. Earnings Exemptions ===
=== 3. Earnings Exemptions ===
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Current earnings exemptions are as follows:  
Current earnings exemptions are as follows:  


*Family units, without children, receiving income assistance: $200/month  
*Family units, without children, receiving income assistance: $500/month  
*Family units receiving income assistance who have a dependant child or are caring for a supported child: $400/month (up from $200 as of  September 1, 2015)
*Family units receiving income assistance who have a dependant child or are caring for a supported child: $750/month
**'''Exception:''' a single parent of a child or foster child who has a disability that prevents the parent from working more than 30 hours per week has an earnings exemption of $500/month while receiving income assistance (up from $300/month as of September 1, 2015) 
**'''Exception:''' a single parent of a dependent child or supported child who has a disability that prevents the parent from working more than 30 hours per week has an earnings exemption of $900/month while receiving income assistance  
*Family unit receiving PPMB assistance: $500/month  
*Family unit receiving PPMB assistance: $900/month  
*Family unit receiving disability assistance:   
*Family unit receiving disability assistance:   
**$9600 per calendar year for a single adult (or single parent) with the PWD designation;  
**$15,000 per calendar year for a single adult (or single parent) with the PWD designation;  
**$12 000 for a family unit with two adults where one adult has the PWD designation, and the other adult does not.
**$18,000 per calendar year for with two adults where one adult has the PWD designation, and the other adult does not.  
**$19,200 per calendar year for families where two adults have the PWD designation.   
**$30,000 per calendar year for families where two adults have the PWD designation.   
 
If a child is under 19 and in school full-time, a family unit can still keep the entirety of that child’s income without it affecting their  benefits (although the child’s income must still be reported to the Ministry). If a child is under 19 and not in school full time, then any income the child earns counts toward the family unit’s earnings exemption. 


For more information on earnings exemptions, see EAPWDR schedule B, s 3, and EAR, schedule B, s 3.  
If a child is under 19 and in school full-time, a family unit can still keep the entirety of that child’s income without it affecting their  benefits (although the child’s income must still be reported to the Ministry). If a child is under 19 and not in school full time, then any income the child earns counts toward the family unit’s earnings exemption. For more information on earnings exemptions, see [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/265_2002#scheduleb EAPWDR schedule B], s 3, and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#scheduleb EAR, schedule B], s 3.  


'''It is very important to note that all earned income must be reported to the Ministry, even if it is below a person’s earnings exemption.'''
'''NOTE:'''Applicants must report all earned income to the Ministry, even if it is below a person’s earnings exemption.


== E. Citizenship Requirements ==
== E. Citizenship Requirements ==
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