FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27th, 2016

In March 2016, at the invitation of the Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation, a small group of stakeholders from the province’s disability sector met with Minister Stilwell and senior ministry staff.

This meeting was held in relation to the messaging conveyed from the 2016 provincial budget announcement regarding the province’s bus pass program, and to further the commitment of the government to work with stakeholders for increased opportunities and equality for all people with disabilities within British Columbia.

During this meeting a number of priority areas facing persons with disabilities were discussed, foremost being the critical need to increase the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) assistance rate to a level that will ensure the health, well-being and inclusion of one of the province’s most vulnerable populations, both currently and in the future.

Other areas discussed included the need for increased information sharing and collaboration with stakeholders by government, including working together to ensure accurate, plain language messaging in relation to any changes to PWD benefits. The stakeholder group additionally requested the elimination of the annual $45 bus pass administration fee.

We are pleased that the Minister has begun the process to address the areas discussed at the March meeting and, as a first step, has eliminated the annual bus pass fee and with it, one of the many barriers faced by British Columbians with disabilities.

We look forward to the ongoing work and the forward movement of the province to address the priority areas outlined during the March meeting, all of which are necessary for the realization of government’s commitment to make British Columbia the most progressive province in Canada for people with disabilities.
______________________________________________________________
Neil Belanger – Executive Director – British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
Faith Bodnar – Executive Director – Inclusion BC
Jane Dyson – Executive Director – Disability Alliance BC
Al Etmanski – Co-Founder Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) / Parent Advocate
Richard Faucher – Executive Director – Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion
Dr. Michael J. Prince – Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy – University of Victoria

June 23, 2016

Dear Community Partner,

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation has announced that it is eliminating the $45 annual administrative fee for people on PWD benefits who receive a bus pass through the Bus Pass Program.  People on PWD who use the bus pass will no longer have to reapply for it on an annual basis.

The Ministry is sending a letter to PWD bus pass holders this week. The letter states that there will be a $25 increase in the PWD support rate beginning September 1, 2016 (payment date August 24) and bus pass holders will have the option of keeping their bus pass or having a $52 “transportation allowance” added to their cheque each month. People on PWD who do not have a bus pass will have the $52 transportation allowance added to their September cheque automatically.

If you have a bus pass already and want to keep your bus pass you do not have to do anything.  If you have a bus pass and want to cancel it to get the additional $52 cash amount added to your cheque beginning September 1 you need to contact the Ministry by August 5 to let them know.  If you choose the $52 cash amount you can still use your bus pass until the end of August.

After that you still have the option to switch back and forth between the bus pass and $52 cash amount on a monthly basis.  To do this you need to contact the Ministry by the 5^th of the previous month to let them know (e.g. contact the Ministry by October 5^th to start or stop your bus pass for November).

People on PWD who receive a Comforts Allowance, Room and Board, or a PWD top-up payment will also benefit from the $25 increase and have the choice between a bus pass or a $52 per month transportation allowance starting September 1, 2016.

Three ways to contact the Ministry about your Bus Pass

By Phone: Monday to Friday, 9 am – 4 pm, call 1-866-866-0800.

By Email:  You can email the BC Bus Pass Program at SDSIBUSPA@gov.bc.ca.   Allow up to five business days to receive a response by email.

Online via My Self Serve: After Aug 5th, you can access services online through My Self Serve at www.myselfserve.gov.bc.ca, once registered.

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