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Online Resources - BC Employment & Assistance

Online Resources

Welcome to the Ministry of 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

May 1, 2012

Verification and Eligibility

Workers’ Compensation Board temporary wage loss replacement payments are exempt (in combination with earned income) up to a maximum of $500 (where at least one recipient in the family unit has the PWD designation) and up to a maximum of $750 (where both recipients in the family unit have the PWD designation).

Policy now includes a section on structured settlements. Payments from structured settlements are treated the same way as payments from trusts.

April 2, 2012

Effective April 2, 2012, Phase 2 of Integrated Case Management (ICM) is implemented.  As a result, housekeeping changes have been introduced throughout the topics to remove references to various Management Information System (MIS) codes and screens.  Other changes have been made to update systems-related text within the topics.  Additional updates of this nature will be added as they become available.

April 2, 2012

Further topics have been amended relating to the EPBC changes.

April 2, 2012

Authority Level Matrix

The Authority Level Matrix has been amended to reflect changes to the spending authority and responsibility levels.

The specific changes pertain to Time Limits; Employment Plan; Confirmed Job Supplement; Medical Transportation, Moving, Transportation and Living Costs and Life-Threatening Health Needs.  The Authorities and Responsibilities in these topics will be updated as soon as possible.

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As of April 2, 2012, the Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC) replaces services offered in legacy programs (e.g., BCEP; EPPD; CAP; and Bridging).  As a result, it was necessary to update all topics and modify language and references associated with these changes.  Two new topics have been created called Employment Readiness Information Questionnaire (ERIQ) and Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC).

March 19, 2012

The following ministry employment programs are replaced by the Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC) effective April 2, 2012:

  • British Columbia Employment Program;
  • Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities;
  • Community Assistance Program; and,
  • Bridging Employment Program.

March 8, 2012

Verification and Eligibility

As of February 1, the Canada Citizenship Certificate no longer is a wallet –sized card or has a picture.

February 29, 2012

Employment Programs and Community Services

The British Columbia Employment Program (BCEP) is replaced by the Employment Program of BC (EPBC) on April 2, 2012.  Referrals to BCEP stop at close of business on February 29, 2012.  Referrals to the EPBC start on April 2, 2012.

February 28, 2012

General Supplements

Procedures now provide staff with instructions on when to use new template cover letters, and advising legal representatives that if there is eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit, the ministry will recover the Funeral Costs supplement directly from the CPP Death Benefit program.

February 24, 2012

Verification and Eligibility

Decisions, Reconsideration and Appeal

Information on the reconsideration and appeal supplements have been added, including procedures. The Promise to Repay form (SD2737) and Repayment Agreement Appeal Benefit form (SD2749) have also been added to the Forms and Letters sections of the topics.

February 1, 2012

Verification and Eligibility

Effective February 1st, Ministry of Health introduced new client rates for residential care services and assisted living services in BC. Policy and procedures have been updated to reflect this change.

February 15, 2012

Verification and Eligibility

Ministry of Children and Family Development and Ministry of Social Development have developed a protocol on how the two ministries will share information on the status of a child when cared for under the Child, Family, and Community Service Act (CFCSA).

December 14, 2011

February 14, 2012

Decisions, Reconsideration and Appeal

Policy is updated to refer to the Procedures section for more information on implementing a tribunal decision, and to emphasize that evidence submitted to the appeal panel must be in support of the information and records before the ministry when the reconsideration decision was made.

January 30, 2012

General Supplements

The topic now includes information on how to contact the Bus Pass program by email.

January 25, 2012

Verification and Eligibility

Director of Employment Standards Branch Determinations are considered financial awards and exempt up to the asset level for the family unit.

December 14, 2011

General Supplements

Policy changes clarify eligibility and remove the repayment option from the Moving, Transportation and Living Costs (MTLC) supplement.

Hardship

Staff are to issue assistance payable to the spouse when it is the spouse who is awaiting the EI benefit and not the primary applicant of the IA file.

December 8, 2011

Verification and Eligibility

The Trusts topic has been updated to include instruction on filing legal opinions and details on where staff are to send trust documentation for processing.

November 15, 2011

General Supplements

Policy has been clarified to reflect messaging to clients and stakeholders regarding the October 31, 2011 deadline.

September 30, 2011

Other Programs

Changes to existing procedures for continuing with a maintenance action in progress when a client is no longer in receipt of assistance, and for FM referrals to reflect the approved Ministry Standard.

September 29, 2011

Verification and Eligibility

Effective September 1, 2011, the Ministry of Children and Family Development changed their security screening process and how they notify MSD of the results. This will affect all families that require security screening due to a change in household composition.  No new applications are being accepted on this program as of March 31, 2010.

September 28, 2011

Verification and Eligibility

The 2012 Cheque Issue Schedule and full Cheque Date schedule have been updated in Resources for Staff and Resources for Clients.