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Online Resources - BC Employment & Assistance

Online Resources

Welcome to the Ministry of Housing and Social Development Online Resource.

The Online Resource (OLR) is a one-stop source for all BCEA policy, procedures and program information for eligibility for ministry employment and assistance programs.

Information in the Online Resource is organized into Topic Categories.

  • To view an expanded list of available Topics, click on the appropriate category and then on the desired topic to have its home page displayed.
  • Topic home pages provide an overview and links to relevant acts and regulations, policy, procedures, contacts, rate tables and resources for the public, such as fact sheets and brochures.
  • Topics are updated regularly to provide the most current information available.

For more information on how to use the Online Resource and the index, please visit our Navigation Tips page.

A Table of Contents listing all the Topics of the OLR is also available to assist you. You can open this Table of Contents and go directly to any Topic home page.

For access to the index, click here.

What's New

November 5, 2009

Verification and Eligibility

Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities

The following frequently used MHSD forms in the above topics are now available for clients and applicants to use.
Two-Year Independence Assessment (HSD3267), Application for Income Assistance for Child in the Home of a Relative (HSD0080B), Child in the Home of a Relative Screening Consent (HSD3184), Direct Deposit Request (HSD2648), Shelter Information (HSD3037) and the Self-Employment Program Monthly Reporting Worksheet (HSD3010).

October 27, 2009

General Supplements

Procedures now include information on what to do if a client or supplier reports a chq as being lost or stolen and it has been cashed.

October 16, 2009 (effective October 1, 2009)

Employment Planning and Exemptions

Employment Programs and Community Services

Referral criteria for BC Employment Program has been expanded.

October 1, 2009

Verification and Eligibility

The 2010 Cheque Issue Schedule and full Cheque Date schedule have been updated in Resources for Staff and Resources for Clients.

September 29, 2009

Decisions, Reconsideration and Appeal

New policy and procedures have been drafted including the principles that govern ministry decision making and the steps to follow when communicating decisions. New topic includes new policy to offer written reasons when communicating original decisions.

Some procedures have been removed and added to the new topic, Original Decisions. Procedures regarding the reconsideration supplement have been amended to address only reconsideration supplements.

Procedures for issuing appeal supplements have been added to this topic.

Program Administration

Policy and procedures updates confirm when and how staff may assist a client, that the ministry has a legal duty to accommodate individual needs, and that the provision or signalling and/or withholding cheques from clients is intended only for purpose of determining eligibility. Best practices for communicating with clients with language barriers have been amended to ensure assistance is not delayed and that basic needs do not go unmet as a result of a language barrier.

Verification and Eligibility

Policy has been updated on how staff may assist clients who require help in obtaining documents.

September 24, 2009

Other Programs

Changes to the Case and Risk Assessment (HSD2790) form and procedures for Case and Risk Assessments simplify and clarify the FM assessment process.

September 17, 2009

Application

Verification and Eligibility

Other Programs

An amendment in policy to broaden ministry witness groups to include other government staff or health professionals.

September 3, 2009

Verification and Eligibility

Policy, procedures and Quick Reference Guide have been updated as supervisor approval will be required for all sanctions that could lead to ineligibility.

August 20, 2009

Employment Planning and Exemptions

Referral criteria for Supervised Independent Work Search has been added to policy.

August 10, 2009

Employment Programs and Community Services

Introducing changes to the BCEP referral criteria as part of the ministry’s continued response to the Economic Downturn (RED & BCEP IRED).

August 4, 2009

A subject index that provides a detailed alphabetical listing of information in the OLR. For directions on how to use it, please go to OLR Navigation Tips.

July 29, 2009

Verification and Eligibility

Hardship

Policy has been updated to ensure that a minimum weekly living allowance (MWLA) applies every week of the assignment period when issuing hardship assistance under the category Awaiting EI Benefits (Code C). This ensures that Service Canada deducts only the portion of clients’ EI weekly benefits which exceeds MWLA to reimburse the ministry for the hardship Code C provided to clients eligible for EI.

July 15, 2009

Verification and Eligibility

The PLMS letters were formalized and assigned ministry “forms numbers.”  Changes to the Recoveries topic provide PLMS staff with appropriate template letter form numbers and clarify roles and responsibilities for imposing and removing sanctions.

The PLMS letters were formalized and assigned ministry “forms numbers.”  Changes to the Compliance Reviews topic provide staff with appropriate template letter form numbers.

July 9, 2009

Health Supplements and Programs

The rate table for Fees for Medical Practitioners has been updated to include the amount ministry pays for the Application for Monthly Nutritional Supplement (HSD2847).