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PDF Version Of This Document  (91KB)
Updated: June 30, 2008
HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE
- Hardship assistance is available to BC Employment and Assistance applicants who are not eligible for income assistance due to a variety of circumstances and who have proven that all other funding sources have been exhausted.
- Hardship assistance is limited to three consecutive months for the following categories:
- Income in excess
- Assets in excess
- Awaiting other income
- Identity not established
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) required
- To be eligible for hardship assistance, a client or applicant must enter into an Employment Plan when requested.
- Hardship assistance continues to be issued for only one month at a time and eligibility must be re-established every month.
| Hardship Category |
Situation |
Repayable to the Ministry |
Three-month Limit |
| Awaiting
employment insurance (EI) benefits |
Persons
waiting for EI benefits, including those in the two-week waiting
period. |
Yes |
No |
| Strikes
or lockouts |
Persons
involved in labour disputes. |
Yes |
No |
| Income
in excess |
Families
with dependent children who have received income in excess of
income assistance rates, where the excess income could not have
reasonably been expected to meet basic needs. |
Yes |
Three months |
| Assets
in excess |
Families
with dependent children, applicants over 65 and persons with disabilities
who have assets in excess of specified exemption levels |
Yes |
Three months |
| Awaiting
other income |
Persons
awaiting other income including retroactive benefits from CPP,
OAS, DVA, WCB |
Assignment
or repayment depending on source of income |
Three months |
| Identity
not established |
Persons
who are awaiting identification |
No |
Six months |
| Citizenship
requirements not met |
Persons
ineligible for income assistance because citizenship requirements
are not met |
No |
No |
| Social
Insurance Number (SIN) required |
While
an applicant and/or adult dependent is awaiting a SIN card |
No |
Six months |
| Sponsorship
Default |
Persons
awaiting verification of a sponsorship default |
No |
No |
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| For
more information: |
The Ministry of Housing and Social Development Info Line at
1-866-866-0800 |
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