Tag: benefits for aboriginal people

Updates on BC Disability Benefits

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Important changes are coming December 1, 2015

1 – People receiving Persons with Disability (PWD) benefits will be able to hold more assets with no impact on their benefits due to some changes effective December 1, 2015.

See our new Common Question, How are BC disability benefits changing on December 1, 2015? for more info on the changes and what resources will be updated.

 

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2 – The BC Ministry of Social Development & Social Innovation in consultation with the RDSP Action Group (made up of leaders from the financial and disability communities), has released a new resource on How to Start and Manage a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) in British Columbia.

The RDSP is a long-term-savings plan designed by the Government of Canada to help people with disabilities and their families save money for the future.

 

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3 – Disability Alliance BC has a new resource on Filing Income Taxes for People receiving PWD/PPMB as part of their Tax Aid BC program. The help sheet describes how people receiving BC disability benefits can prepare and submit an income tax return for free over the internet.

 

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BCANDS provides health and disability related services to First Nation/Aboriginal persons including assistance with PWD applications.

4 – Effective July 1, 2015, the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) began overseeing the adjudication of new applications for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and the Monthly Nutritional Supplement (MNS) programs for over 200 First Nation communities within BC (on reserve).

The programs are adjudicated and administrated by BCANDS on behalf of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (formerly Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada).

More Resources & Services:

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Benefits and Services: Social Assistance on Reserve

New on Clicklaw

Social Assistance on ReserveFood, shelter and clothing: these are the basic necessities that directly impact our quality of life. Meeting basic needs can be a challenge on reservations. If you live on reserve and are struggling to pay for food, shelter and clothing you can apply for social assistance.

The LSS Aboriginal Legal Aid BC website has information to help get you started with an application. Below are highlights from the website; visit the site for more detail:

Who can get social assistance

You must be:

  • an adult (19 or over)
  • live on reserve in BC; and
  • one of the following:
    • a Canadian citizen
    • a permanent resident
    • a Convention refugee, or
    • a sponsored immigrant whose sponsor can’t or won’t provide support. (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada will decide whether this is the case.)

What is social assistance?

Social assistance is money and other benefits for people who:

  • live on reserve
  • don’t have enough money to meet their needs
  • have no other reasonable way of getting money

In addition to regular benefits, social assistance benefits can include additional benefits for: people with certain types of physical or mental disabilities, people with medical conditions and people who face undue hardship issues like hunger and eviction. Some of these additional benefits are short-term and time-limited.

Where and how to apply for social assistance benefits

You can apply for social assistance with the band social development worker for the reserve you live on. You can reach them by calling the band office for your reserve.

For more information on the types of benefits, how to apply, and who can help, visit the LSS website here: Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC