The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has released the following fact sheet on the $52 transportation subsidy for people receiving provincial disability assistance that was announced yesterday.

The Annual BC Bus Pass Program and the new Transportation Supplement for People on Disability Assistance

Beginning January 1, 2018, people receiving disability assistance, with the Person’s with Disabilities (PWD) designation, will get an extra $52 each month for a new transportation supplement.

The supplement creates fairness and will help people connect with their community, giving them freedom to work, shop, and participate in social activities.

How to use the Transportation Supplement for an annual bus pass:

• If someone with a disability who is on assistance would like an annual bus pass they can contact the Ministry of Social Development at 1-866-866-0800 or visit the BC Bus Pass Program website.
• If someone already has an annual BC Bus Pass and they want to keep it, they can. They don’t have to contact the ministry. Beginning with the January 2018 payment they will no longer have $52 deducted from their support payment.
• The BC Bus Pass can still be used in both TransLink and BC Transit areas.

How to use the Transportation Supplement for other transportation needs:

• If someone does not want or need a bus pass they can use the supplement to pay for other transportation costs (for example, HandyDART or a taxi).
• They don’t have to contact the ministry the $52 Transportation Supplement will be automatically added to the January 2018 payment.

More information about the supplement:

• As people’s needs may change over time the new supplement will provide flexibility. People can apply for the BC Bus Pass at any time during the year. They can also cancel their bus pass at any time and use their supplement for other transportation needs.

Why government made this change:

• Transportation is important to everyone on disability assistance.
• Government consulted with stakeholders and asked for their advice on the best approach to improve the system of transportation supports.

For more information:

Go to: www.buspass.gov.bc.ca or call: 1-866-866-0800

To download the fact sheet, please click here.

October is RDSP Awareness Month and the BC Government has issued a news release on the benefits of the RDSP and the work done by the RDSP Action Group and Access RDSP.

Access RDSP is a program operated by Disability Alliance BC, Plan Institute, and the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), made possible by the support of the Vancouver Foundation.

From the news release: “Access RDSP offers individuals and families one-on-one help with RDSPs and the Disability Tax Credit, free RDSP information sessions, a disability planning hotline, Indigenous navigation supports, and distributes the Endowment 150 grant to jump-start RDSP savings. Since launching Access RDSP, the partners have reached over 7,300 people, directly connecting them with the supports and resources they need to open an RDSP. Further, 85% of people supported through Access RDSP have either successfully opened an RDSP or are actively engaged in the process.”

To read the full news release, please click here.

The BC Government has announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2018, annual bus passes will be available to people on disability assistance through a new transportation supplement.

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has issued a media release with more details, which can be accessed here on the BC Government website or downloaded here in PDF format.

From the media release:

“People who have the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation can use the new supplement for an annual bus pass or for other transportation needs, such as HandyDART.

As individual needs can change over time the supplement will also provide flexibility. People can apply for the B.C. Bus Pass at any time during the year. They can also cancel their bus pass at any time and use the supplement for other transportation costs.

The new supplement responds to requests from the disability community to fix changes that were made to transportation supports for people on disability assistance. Government committed to addressing their concerns and consulted with stakeholders on the best approach.

The transportation supplement is $52 per month and will be on monthly assistance payments, starting with the Dec. 20, 2017, payment. It is expected to cost government approximately $70 million annually.

The B.C. Bus Pass can be used in both TransLink and BC Transit areas.”

Jane Dyson, executive director, Disability Alliance BC –

“Disability Alliance BC is pleased with today’s announcement of a new $52-monthly transportation supplement for people with disabilities receiving assistance. The additional $52, on top of the recently implemented rate increase, and increase to the annualized earnings exemption are very encouraging first steps from B.C.’s new provincial government. We appreciate the fact that the minister consulted and listened to stakeholders in designing the new supplement and look forward to working with his ministry to develop more poverty-reduction initiatives.””