Changes Effective December 1 2015 for people receiving the Persons with Disabilities benefit (PWD) | DABC

Changes Effective December 1 2015 for people receiving the Persons with Disabilities benefit (PWD)

December 12, 2015 by DABC

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation has made the following changes:

Increased the asset limit for single persons from $5,000 to $100,000. Couples where both adults have PWD now have a $200,000 asset limit, up from $10,000. This means people receiving PWD can have these amounts in savings and still be eligible for benefits.

Exempted gifts, including recurring gifts, as income. “Exempted gifts” means that gifts will not effect your cheque; for example, you could receive $50 a month from a family member or friend and it will not make any difference to your assistance.

Exempted education and training allowances, scholarships, grants and bursaries (student loans are still only exempt up to the amount of the student’s education and daycare costs). This means that people receiving PWD will be able to receive training allowances etc. without it effecting their cheques.

Removed the annual $8,000 “independent living” spending limit on trusts. This means that people who hold trusts can now take out as much as they want every year.

disability benefits income money / financial

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Disability Alliance BC offers the following ways to access our services: over the phone, virtually, or in-person at our office located in downtown Vancouver. As the demand for our services is very high, we do not take walk-in appointments.

Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. Our mission is to support people, with all disabilities, to live with dignity, independence and as equal and full participants in the community. We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research and publications.

We acknowledge and have deep gratitude to work together on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selíl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations of the Coast Salish people. We honour the many territorial keepers of the lands.

DABC is a proud member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD).

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