Hardship Assistance and Welfare (21:VI)

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 1st, 2023.

Applicants who do not qualify for regular monthly income assistance, PPMB benefits or disability assistance under the EAA or EAPWDA might still qualify for hardship assistance. See s 5 of the EAA and Part 4 of the EAR, and s 6 of the EAPWDA and Part 4 of the EAPWDR.

The Ministry provides hardship assistance only for the month the applicant requests it. Applicants who are still in need the following month must apply again. Hardship rates are different for people with and without PWD or PPMB status. Schedule D of the EAR and of the EAPWDR lists the maximum rates of hardship assistance. Section 1 of Schedule D in each Regulation states that the Ministry does not entitle applicants in this category to a specific amount of hardship assistance and the actual amount is at the discretion of the Ministry, based on the financial need of the applicant. However, in practice, the Ministry usually grants eligible applicants the maximum hardship rate. A table showing the maximum hardship rates is available online at this link: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/bc-employment-and-assistance-rate-tables

The minister may require that applicants for hardship assistance enter an agreement to repay any assistance received under s 5 of the EAA and s 6 of the EAPWDA. Only some categories of hardship assistance are repayable, as set out in Part 4 of the EAR and EAPWDR.

In order to qualify for hardship assistance, one must:

1. Be at least 19;
2. Live in BC;
3. Meet the citizenship requirements for income assistance; AND
4. Fall into at least ONE of the following categories:

a) The person has an immediate need for food, shelter or urgent medical attention and cannot complete the three-week work search without hardship assistance (“immediate needs assessment”)

b) They are waiting for a Social Insurance Number or other identification documents

c) They have applied for money from another source (e.g., Employment Insurance or Old Age Security), but they have not received it yet (They will need to pay this hardship assistance back)

d) They are on strike or locked out and they do not have money to support themselves (They will need to pay this hardship assistance back)

e) They have more income or assets than the Ministry allows people applying for welfare to have, but they have a dependent child or children and cannot use the income or assets to support themselves or their family (this hardship assistance will have to be paid back)

f) Their immigration sponsor cannot or will not support them and they are waiting for the Ministry to decide about the application made for income assistance

NOTE: If the Ministry declares that someone does not qualify for hardship assistance, this decision can be reconsidered and appealed.

A. Hardship Assistance and Supplements

Previously, hardship assistance recipients were not eligible for supplements for addiction treatment and special care. As of January 1, 2020, supplements for addiction treatment and special care were expanded to recipients of hardship assistance. Recipients of hardship assistance now have the same access to supplements for alcohol or drug addiction treatment and counselling or related services as recipients of income assistance. In addition, hardship assistance recipients are also now eligible for the following supplements: Prenatal shelter supplement, winter supplement, clothing supplement for people in special care, transportation to drug and alcohol treatment and reconsideration or appeal supplement.

Effective January 1, 2020, the following health supplements have also been extended to people receiving hardship assistance: Denture supplement, diet supplement, short term nutritional supplement, tube feed nutritional supplement, and natal supplement.

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