The BC government recently announced important updates to BC’s COVID-19 vaccination schedule.

Notably, everyone who would like a vaccine should be able to receive their first shot by June. Also, British Columbians aged 16 to 74 who are clinically extremely vulnerable and have received their patient invitation letter can start booking their COVID-19 vaccine appointment as of March 29th.

For more information on vaccines for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/cev.

For more general information about BC’s COVID-19 vaccination schedule: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/plan.

“The Province, through BC Housing, has made a number of improvements to a program that helps seniors and people with permanent disabilities or diminished abilities with the cost of making adaptations to their homes for independent living.

Previously known as the Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program, the BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) program features a number of changes including, but not limited to: removing the need to obtain a quote for standard accessibility adaptations; ensuring more equitable access to funding by region and type of home adaptation; and increasing access to occupational therapists or other qualified professionals for assessments.”

For more information, please see the media release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AG0033-000497.

On March 16, 2021, The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR) announced a permanent increase of $175 per month to income assistance and provincial disability assistance rates. There will also be an increase of $50 per month to the senior’s supplement. 

DABC has been advocating for an increase of $300 per month, which is the amount that the provincial government temporarily provided to recipients of the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefit as COVID-19 relief last year. While we congratulate the provincial government for implementing this $175 rate increase and recognize that it is a positive step forward, we know that this is not enough to meet the needs of many people receiving provincial assistance. We will continue to advocate for a further increase that matches at least the poverty line and which is indexed for inflation year-on-year, in order to bring financial security to low-income people with disabilities.  

For more information about the rate increase, please see the provincial government’s press release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021SDPR0024-000483.