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

If someone who is applying for welfare has an immediate need for food, shelter, or urgent medical attention, their application can be expedited. A person in this situation should request an '''“immediate needs assessment”''' from the Ministry.  If they are not exempt from the 3 week work search, they may qualify for (non-repayable) hardship assistance from the Ministry while they do their work search. If they are exempt from the work search. , they are to proceed directly to their stage 2 eligibility interview.  The Ministry’s service standard is that a person requesting immediate needs assessment should have their situation assessed by the Ministry through a stage 2 eligibility interview, '''within one business day.''' If the Ministry is not able to do that, the service standard provides the Ministry should meet the person’s immediate need (e.g. by vouchers for food, bus tickets, shelter referral etc.) until the eligibility interview is conducted.  See the Ministry’s policy on immediate needs assessments at http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/application-and-intake/immediate-needs   

If the Ministry considers a recipient of welfare benefits to be employable, the person will have “employment-related obligations” under [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#section13 s 13 of the EAA] and [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/263_2002#section29 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.