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Version of Fact Sheet 
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February 17, 2004
$80
MILLION BUDGET LIFT
Background
- The 2004-2005
budget for the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance will be $1.3 billion.
- These funds
will support this government's commitment to assist those most in
need while helping those who are able to work to move into employment
and a brighter future.
- The 2004/05
budget is $80 million more than was forecast in last year's service
plan.
- In the 2003/04
service plan the caseload was estimated to decline to 98,000 cases.
However the 2004/05 budget forecast indicates the caseload will
drop to 108,700 - 10,700 cases higher than the service plan estimate.
| Change
in Forecast for 2004/05 (caseload) |
2003/04
Service Plan Forecast for 2004/05 |
2004/05
Forecast |
Increase |
| Temporary
Assistance |
54,000
|
56,500
|
2,500
|
| Disability
Assistance |
44,000
|
52,200
|
8,200
|
| Total
Caseload Increase |
98,000
|
108,700
|
10,700
|
- This revision
is based on two factors:
- a slower
rate of decline in the temporary assistance caseload than previously
estimated. This reflects the changing nature of the caseload
that includes more multi-barriered clients who require more
supports to find employment.
- a higher
rate of growth for the disability assistance caseload than previously
estimated that takes into account the demographics of an aging
population.
- The resulting
$80 million budget lift accounts for the extra costs required to support
persons with disabilities as well as the additional spending required
to support those employable clients who have barriers to find employment.
| (caseload) |
2001/02
Actual |
2002/03
Actual |
2003/04
Forecast |
2004/05
Budget |
| Expected
to Work |
84,114
|
60,115
|
33,140
|
23,000
|
| Temporarily
Excused |
27,181
|
24,234
|
23,661
|
23,500
|
| Persons
with Persistent Multiple Barriers |
- |
- |
9,799
|
10,000
|
| Persons
with Disabilities |
44,060
|
46,175
|
50,100
|
52,200
|
| Total
Caseload |
155,355
|
130,524
|
116,700
|
108,700
|
- Since 2001/02,
the expected-to-work caseload has fallen from 84,114 to a projected
23,000 2004/05, a decline of 61,114 or 73 per cent.
- Since 2001/02
the persons with disabilities caseload has increased from 44,060 to
52,200 in 2004/05, an increase of 8,140 or 18.5 per cent.
- British Columbians
with disabilities receive the highest rate of income assistance and
have access to a number of specialized employment programs.
- This supports
the government's commitment to provide for those most in need while
supporting persons with disabilities to actively participate in their
communities.
Future Caseload
Estimate
- Despite the slowing
decline of the temporary assistance caseload and the increasing disability
assistance caseload, the ministry expects the overall caseload to
decline by 8,000 in 2004/05.
| (caseload) |
2003/04
Forecast |
2004/05
Budget |
Increase/
(Decrease) |
| Temporary
Assistance |
66,600
|
56,500
|
(10,100) |
| Disability
Assistance |
50,100
|
52,200
|
2,100
|
Time Limits
- The ministry
believes that the most recent exemption to time limits policy will
increase the annual average caseload by about 1,200 cases.
- This translates
into about $9-12 million over the course of the year.
| Contact:
|
Richard
Chambers
Director of Communications
250 387-6489 |
Updated: November 21, 2005
 |
