Tag: disabilities

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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The Power of Attorney Project Podcast Feature: Law Reform – from a BC Perspective

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What is the Power of Attorney Project?

A two year technology-based project funded in part by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, that aims to educate adult children and seniors about Power of Attorney issues. In their Podcast series, legal, financial and social service experts share their knowledge and give individuals and families an opportunity to increase their understanding and to help them deal with some of the complex and difficult issues of aging.

The B.C. Perspective

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B.C.’s Representation Agreement Act inspired Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

One of Clicklaw’s core contributors, Joanne Taylor, Executive Director of Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry, was recently featured in a podcast. She explains B.C.’s unique legal tools that empower people in B.C. to plan for the future.

Nidus was founded by citizens and community groups who were involved in the community-based reform of British Columbia’s adult guardianship legislation. Nidus is currently the only community-based resource in Canada devoted to personal planning. Its existence sets British Columbia apart as a leader in addressing the critical needs of an aging population.

Nidus is the expert on Representation Agreements, which are a legal model for supported decision making.  B.C.’s Representation Agreement Act inspired Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (2008) which calls on governments to implement legislation that ensures all adults receive support with decision making without the need to take away or restrict their rights. The Convention has been ratified by Canada.

Listen to the Podcast here. Conversation topics discussed include:

  1. What is Nidus?
  2. What is Nidus’s role?
  3. What legal documents are available in BC to plan for incapacity?
  4. Is it true that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities looked to the Representation Agreement Act of BC for inspiration when it was drafted?
  5. What is the Nidus Personal Planning Registry and could you give us an example of how families can use it?

Webinar-Icon-Orange1-300x281September is Personal Planning Month