Difference between revisions of "Financial Help for People with Disabilities"

People with disabilities have options to get financial help from the government. Learn about the government programs available, and where you can turn to get help and find more information.

Someone can get '''disability assistance''' from the BC government if they are designated as a “person with disabilities”. If you qualify for disability assistance, you get a higher monthly income than someone on basic income assistance in BC. You also get a wider range of medical benefits (such as coverage for health equipment), a higher asset limit (meaning you can own more and still qualify for assistance), and more income exemptions.  

To qualify for disability assistance:  

*You must be at least 18, live in BC, and meet immigration rules.

*You must also need help from another person, an assistive device, or an assistance animal.

To get disability assistance, you apply to the government Ministry responsible for welfare in BC, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. To start, you apply for welfare and attend an eligibility interview.  

Shortly, we describe options for getting help in applying for benefits.

Several tax benefits are available to people with disabilities. A key one is the '''disability tax credit'''. It helps a person with disabilities or those supporting them reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay.  

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A '''registered disability savings plan''' (RDSP) is a savings plan intended to help parents and others save for the long-term financial security of a disabled person.  

Anyone under 60 who is eligible for the disability tax credit can establish an RDSP. For more information, see the federal government website at [http://www.canada.ca/rdsp canada.ca/rdsp].

   

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides benefits to workers who become disabled. If you become disabled and cannot work at any job on a regular basis, you may qualify for a monthly '''disability benefit under the CPP'''.

The amount of your disability benefit is based on how much you contributed to the Canada Pension Plan while working. The federal government website provides current benefit amounts at [https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-disability-benefit/benefit-amount.html canada.ca/cpp].

To qualify for a CPP disability benefit:

#You must be under age 65.

“Severe” means you have a mental or physical disability that regularly stops you from doing any type of gainful work. “Prolonged” means your disability is long-term and indefinite or is likely to result in death.

You must apply in writing for the CPP disability benefit. To get the application form, go to [https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-benefit/apply.html canada.ca/cpp] or call toll-free 1-800-277-9914.

Shortly, we describe options for getting help in applying for benefits.  

Disabled workers can also seek help through the Employment Insurance (EI) program. EI provides benefits to people who lose their jobs. It also helps those who can’t work because of sickness, or need time off work to care for a family member.

For more on EI benefits, see the federal government website at [http://www.canada.ca/ei canada.ca/ei].

You may be able to get compensation from [https://www.worksafebc.com/ WorkSafeBC] if you're a victim of a work accident or have a work-related illness.   

The Canada Pension Plan offers a [http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/services/pensions/cpp/disability/voc-rehab.shtml voluntary program] to help CPP disability benefit recipients return to work. The program offers vocational counseling, financial support for training, and job search services.

Several government programs offer financial help for students with disabilities.

The federal government offers a [https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities.html grant program for students with a permanent disability]. It is designed to help with the cost of post-secondary education.

If you have used the funds available through that federal grant program, you can apply to receive the BC government’s [https://studentaidbc.ca/explore/grants-scholarships/assistance-program-students-permanent-disabilities assistance for exceptional services and equipment] for disabled students.

The BC government offers a student loan [https://studentaidbc.ca/repay/repayment-help/repayment-assistance-plan-borrowers-permanent-disability repayment assistance plan for borrowers with a permanent disability]. This plan helps you manage your student loan debt by reducing your monthly payment and letting you pay back what you can reasonably afford.

Yes. If the BC Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction denies you disability assistance or reduces your benefits, you have the right to challenge their decision. See our information on [[Income Assistance: Reconsiderations and Appeals (Script 288)|reconsiderations and appeals of income assistance, no. 288]].

Not if you have an outstanding arrest warrant for an indictable or hybrid offence anywhere in Canada. If you do, you cannot get income or disability assistance in BC. You must first do something about the warrant. See our information on [[Outstanding Warrants and Welfare (Script 204)|outstanding warrants and welfare, no. 204]].

For help in applying for disability benefits, you could seek out an '''advocate'''. Advocates are community workers trained to help people, including with the paperwork involved. PovNet has a [http://www.povnet.org/find-an-advocate/bc Find an Advocate Map at povnet.org]. Clicklaw’s [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap HelpMap] lists dozens of advocates in BC.

At '''student legal clinics''' in the Lower Mainland and Victoria, law students help people with disabilities who cannot afford a lawyer. The students help with applying for disability benefits and with appeals. In Victoria, call 250-385-1221 or visit [https://www.uvic.ca/law/about/centre/ uvic.ca/law/about/centre]. In the Lower Mainland, call 604-822-5791 or visit [http://www.lslap.bc.ca/ lslap.bc.ca].   

'''Disability Alliance BC''' has help sheets on [http://disabilityalliancebc.org/category/publications/help-sheets/ BC disability benefits] and [http://disabilityalliancebc.org/category/publications/cpp-disability/ Canada Pension Plan disability benefits].  

:Toll-free: 1-800-663-1278