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Difference between revisions of "Governing Legislation and Resources for Welfare (21:II)"
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Governing Legislation and Resources for Welfare (21:II) (view source)
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== E. Notable Changes to BC Welfare Law == | == E. Notable Changes to BC Welfare Law == | ||
===Eliminated the two-year financial independence test for all welfare applicants=== | === 1. Eliminated the two-year financial independence test for all welfare applicants === | ||
Prior to January 1, 2020, many people were required to show that they had been financially independent for two years before accessing welfare benefits. | Prior to January 1, 2020, many people were required to show that they had been financially independent for two years before accessing welfare benefits. | ||
As of January 1, 2020, regulation change OIC # 705 (B.C. Reg. 270/2019) removed the two-year financial independence eligibility requirement. Applicants are no longer required to demonstrate that they have been financially independent for at least two consecutive years prior to applying for assistance. | As of January 1, 2020, regulation change OIC # 705 (B.C. Reg. 270/2019) removed the two-year financial independence eligibility requirement. Applicants are no longer required to demonstrate that they have been financially independent for at least two consecutive years prior to applying for assistance. | ||
=== 2. Changed the definition of "spouse": cohabitation period increased from 3 months to 1 year === | |||
Prior to January 1, 2020, the ministry considered two people who lived together for three months as “spouses”, if the ministry was satisfied that they were living in a marriage-like relationship, with specific aspects of dependence or inter-dependence. | |||
The BC government has since changed the definition of “spouse” to require people to live together for one year in a marriage-like relationship before being considered spouses under the welfare legislation. Therefore, two people who live together, but are not married, cannot be deemed “spouses” until they have lived together for one year, and have specific aspects of dependence or inter-dependence. See the definition of “spouse” in section 1.1 of the EA Act and the EAPWD Act. | |||
=== 3. Ended the requirements to apply for Canada Pension Plan early retirement benefits: === | |||
Previously, people between the ages of 60 and 64 who received welfare (other than disability assistance) were forced to take early pension payments with the Canada Pension Plan. This means they received lower CPP retirement benefits when they turned 65. | |||
As of January 1, 2020, people between the ages of 60 and 64 are not required to apply for federal early Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement benefits to be eligible for income or disability assistance, or to avoid a reduction in the amount of their assistance. Applicants and recipients of early CPP have the option to cancel the CPP early retirement benefit up to six months after it starts. In order to do so, they must request cancellation in writing and pay back to the federal government the benefits they have received. | |||
=== 4. Expanded supplements for people receiving hardship assistance: alcohol or drug treatment. === | |||
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. | |||
=== 5.Security, pet and utility deposits === | |||
Previously, a person on welfare usually could not have more than two repayable security deposits outstanding with the ministry, and the ministry was not able to pay pet damage deposits that a landlord can require under the Residential Tenancy Act. The government has since removed the limit on the number of housing security deposits people on assistance can access and has introduced a repayable supplement for pet damage deposits. | |||
See The monthly repayment rate for deposit debt including for repayable security deposits, pet damage deposits and utility deposits is $20 unless a greater amount is consented to. | |||
For more information on repayable pet deposit supplements visit the Ministry policy at: | |||
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/general-supplements-and-programs/pet-damage-deposits#:~:text=the%20pet%20damage%20deposit%20does,owned%20by%20a%20cooperative%20association | |||
=== 6. Increasing crisis supplements for housing-related costs === | |||
Crisis supplements for housing-related costs when a person on welfare has an unexpected need related to their housing costs, which threatens the health of someone in the family or risks removal of their children, are no longer limited to a family unit’s maximum shelter rate. Crisis supplements for housing related costs can now be issued for a family for up to a family unit’s monthly benefit rate. See section 59 of the EA Regulation and section 57 of the EAPWD Regulation. | |||
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