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Your B.C. Government

Support for Low Income Families

By creating new programs that provide direct supports to low-income families and reducing taxes for low-income earners, British Columbians are keeping more of the dollars they earn, and getting support to find and keep housing and raise a family.

What your B.C. Government is doing for Support for Low Income Families:

  • With the improvements your B.C. Government is making to the MSP Premium Assistance Program, those in the greatest financial need will actually come out ahead.
  • For example, a senior couple with an income of $35,000 will see their annual premium cost fall by more than $200.  A family of four earning $30,000 will see their annual costs reduced by more than $250.  In total, approximately 180,000 British Columbians will see their premium costs reduced or eliminated.
  • Your B.C. Government will introduce a B.C. HST credit, paid quarterly with the GST and Low Income Climate Action tax credits to offset the impact of the HST on those with low incomes.
  • The Province is providing $420 million in additional funding to meet greater demand for income assistance as a result of the recession.
  • As a result of tax cuts made since 2001, an additional 325,000 low-income British Columbians now pay no provincial income tax.
  • Other low-income earners have seen income tax reductions of more than 70 per cent.
  • Your B.C. Government introduced the largest monthly increase in welfare rates ever. The rate for persons with disabilities is now the third-highest in Canada.
  • Your B.C. Government is expanding the medical Travel Assistance Program, and creating the BC Family Residence Program to help provide accommodation for family members travelling with their kids for treatment at B.C. Children's Hospital.
  • Your B.C. Government increased the Low Income Climate Action tax credit to low-income families by 5 per cent on July 1, 2009. That means low-income families will be eligible for $105 per adult and $31.50 per child annually. This new benefit will put an additional $15 million a year back in the pockets of the families and individuals who need it most.
  • Shelter rates have been increased $50 and are now the highest in Canada for employable singles and couples.
  • Rates for families with children are up between $97 and $200 a month.
  • Single parents now have the second-highest payments in Canada.
  • Housing achievements undertaken by the provincial government in the past eight years totalled $2 billion in housing and support programs. This year, the provincial allocation is $469 million, more than four times what was spent in 2001.
  • Your B.C. Government is providing a Northern and Rural Homeowner benefit of up to $200 for homeowners in the area of the province outside the Capital Regional District, Greater Vancouver Regional District and Fraser Valley Regional District for the 2011 tax year.
  • Introduced the Rental Assistance Program in 2006, providing rent payment assistance to more than 8,200 low-income, working families with children whose combined income is less than $35,000. The average monthly rental assistance provided to these families is about $350.
  • The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program has been improved and expanded, with 15,700 seniors' households – that's 3,700 more households than 2001 – receiving an annual rental subsidy of $1,800.
  • The threshold for the Homeowner’s Grant has been raised to $1.05 million and there is now no threshold for low-income seniors, people with disabilities or veterans. We’ve also increased the Basic Homeowners Grant by $100 to $570 to help make home ownership more affordable.
  • Created a new Rent Supplement Program for families earning up to $35,000. A family of four could receive up to $765 per month ($9,200 a year) in rental assistance.
  • Increased the home owner grant by $100 and eliminated the threshold for low-income seniors, veterans and the disabled.
  • Your B.C. Government is providing $30 million for the RuralBC Secretariat to enhance community economic development.
  • The Healthy Kids Program now provides $700 per child per year for additional dental and eye care on top of MSP Premium Assistance.
  • After Fair PharmaCare was introduced in 2003, 300,000 families received more support than they did in 2001; under this program, the vast majority of British Columbians now pay the same or less for their prescription drugs.
  • Full child-care subsidy for parents earning up to $38,000 - now serving 50,000 low-income children. A single parent with a child under six is now saving $550 a month in child-care costs.
  • Your B.C. Government now covers the cost of insulin pumps for eligible children with type 1 diabetes.
  • Newborn babies in British Columbia will soon be screened at birth for 19 disorders, up from six, so they can be treated to avoid lifelong health issues.
  • British Columbians can now simply dial 8-1-1 to get 24/7 health information, medical advice and help navigating B.C.'s health-care system.
  • The Province created a task force composed of representatives from remote communities and farmers to develop strategies to get fresh food grown in B.C. to remote communities.

For more information:
Healthy Kids Program
Social Assistance Rates
Social Assistance Fact Sheets
Rental Assistance Program
Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER)
B.C. Pharmacare